You are so cool. I hope the jerk DOES plagiarize, so you can bust his ass on out of there.
People in my biz classes text-message all the time, but none of the profs have thrown them out because we weren't in discussion groups or anything besides a droning lecture. However, I have no doubt that if it were a seminar setting, they'd be out of there -- especially because it's now an enforceable policy in the dept.
But that was a good rant...keep us posted on Mr. Big Guy Asshat.
Ooh, nothing better than catching a plagiarist. Hope it happens! Yeah!
I liked squashing people like that as a student when there were open discussions.
Today seems to be Problem Child Week. ProfGrrl also has a post on poor quality students. As I relayed in a comment there, yesterday I had a student melt down & cry because she got an 85. And now your butthead...
I think these obno-kids need a wake up call! You go get 'em, Mel!!
I've just been writing about this too. Who cares if you embarrassed the guy - he shouldn't text message for 30 minutes in your class and if he does he deserves any and all embarrassment he gets! Students like that really annoy me - the only bright side is that I've had some of them where I've just kept asking them to give me evidence for their points from the reading, and they get annoyed enough with me that they hyperprepare and come in to the next class practically having memorized the reading, so they can in fact have the evidence. They think they've then got one over on me, but I know what's really happened. 
Of course some of them are simply hopeless.
I advise students that while I'm a big fan of technology, a lot of it won't really help them in the classroom. Rather than try to copy down everything I say with their audio recorder or tap it out on a keyboard, sit back, listen and engage, please!
Most of the laptops are serving up games or IM windows in front of the wordprocessing window when I walk by: just further proof of my belief that they'd be better served to come ready to listen and talk about the readings they've done.
But, oh, that would presume they've done the readings when we all know that the mere purchase of a book or photocopying of an article suffices, don't we?
Excellent post. I look forward to the follow-up when rewrites come in!
I tell them that phones have to be turned off right up front. Beyond that, after 25 years in the classroom, I just let the sleepers sleep & give them the grades they deserve. You can't force enlightenment on the wilfully ignorant. Besides, there are plenty of students who know why they're in class. For those, I'll do whatever it takes. I don't demand more than ordinary human intelligence & mature engagement. Perhaps Mr. Textmessage will flunk out & have to work for a living for a while; he may then return to college with a different attitude.
Commenting by HaloScan
