I doubt the ban will have the intended positive impact needed to overcome what a solid majority of students see as seriously negative. Quite some time ago, the

I doubt the ban will have the intended positive impact needed to overcome what a solid majority of students see as seriously negative. Quite some time ago, the CEO of a company I worked for could not seem to manage his fascination with his laptop. Banned laptops at most company meetings. So there I was, right along with others, sans laptop, puzzled as to just how the meeting could be productive. And the questions came... Almost every question was answered: I don't know and will follow up after the meeting when I can get access to the information. Back then I was very seriously annoyed. Today, I find it hilarious! Eventually, I and a few others said we either bring our machines or we basically skip the meetings because meeting up only to make a work list of all the items needing discussion was silly, and an insult to everyone capable of doing the meetings without getting sucked into Facebook. Eventually, people were allowed to bring their actual tools to meetings instead of pretending. But, getting there was an expensive, painful process. This ban will play out in similar ways. Many students will use their device in similar ways and it becomes part of their process. They will want to take notes, pictures, audio and write things. If the goal is to get them the skills needed to participate in learning without the phones, why not be direct about it? Make that part of the curriculum and call it a day?