•Cell Phones turned off and away. People will find that their thumbs remember where the keys are even if they aren’t used for 80 minutes.•Laptops? My preference is that they be stowed during the class as well. I’d like to have students interacting with me and with their fellow students. Students who really find them useful for either (a) taking notes, or (b) following materials from the class website (for example, a student might find it easier to read what’s on the screen on their laptop screen), may do so. But this is not the time to read e-mails, write e-mails, browse the web, catch-up on facebook, play computer games, etc., etc., etc.There’s nothing particularly new about those rules. They’re rules of common courtesy. I’m hoping that I don’t have to put on my Keystone Kop outfit and police this class. I’d far rather rely on you to insist on the respect you owe each other. End of rant. 
