Examining the Affects of Student Multitasking with Laptops During the Lecture

This paper examines undergraduate student use of laptop computers during a lecture-style class that includes substantial problem-solving activities and graphic-based content. The study includes both a self-reported use component collected from student surveys as well as a monitored use component collected via activity monitoring “spyware” installed on student laptops. We categorize multitasking activities into productive (course-related) versus distractive (non course-related) tasks. Quantifiable measures of software multitasking behavior are introduced to measure the frequency of student multitasking, the duration of student multitasking, and the extent to which students engage in distractive versus productive tasks. We find that students engage in substantial multitasking behavior with their laptops and have non course-related software applications open and active about 42% of the time. There is a statistically significant inverse relationship between the ratio of distractive versus productive multitasking behavior during lectures and academic performance. We also observe that students under state the frequency of email and instant messaging (IM) use in the classroom when self-reporting on their laptop usage

Social Media Multitasking, Academic Performance, and the Fear of Missing Out

In college, social media use that is not directly associated with classroom activities (i.e., nonacademic social media use) can serve as distractions that undermine academic performance. The purpose of this quantitative investigation was to examine the potential relationships between nonacademic social media multitasking, academic performance (measured as self-reported, overall grade point average), and fear of missing out. Though some research indicates that social media use is associated with poor academic outcomes, the mechanism of this relationship is less understood. The variables that were examined included nonacademic social media multitasking (independent variable), academic performance (dependent variable), and fear of missing out (independent variable). The framework for the study was based on Baumeister and Leary’s belonging hypothesis and van dur Schuur et al.’s scattered attention hypothesis. The sample consisted of 99 U.S. undergraduate college students enrolled at public, 4-year universities who were recruited through SurveyMonkey. Data were collected via online survey, which consisted of the Fear of Missing Out Scale, items from Ozer’s study on social networking and academic performance, and a demographic questionnaire. Data analysis consisted of simple linear regressions and a hierarchical regression model. Analysis revealed no significant relationship between nonacademic social media multitasking and academic performance. There was, however, a significant predictive relationship between fear of missing out and nonacademic social media multitasking. While nonacademic social media multitasking should not be encouraged in class, social media has potential educational benefits, when properly harnessed leading to positive social change

Personality, Technology, and Learning

Computers continued encroachment on today’s society can be seen in a college lecture hall, where a growing number of students use laptops for their academic needs. Current academic laptop use research predominantly makes broad generalizations across users, indicating that laptop use in the classroom has negative influences on academic outcomes. However, this research neglects to take into account possible individual differences in the users. It is hypothesized that students\u27 levels of conscientiousness and impulsivity would moderate the relationship between laptop use and academic performance, while a student’s multitasking experience would mediate this same relationship, forming a moderated mediation model. Using an online sample of college aged students (N= 195), the hypothesized moderated mediation model was not supported. Students\u27 levels of conscientiousness or impulsivity do not moderate the relationship between laptop use and academic performance, and a student’s multitasking experience does not mediate this same relationship

Can I Have Your Attention? Implications of the Research on Distractions and Multitasking for Reference Librarians

The media have identified the last decade as “the age of distraction.” People today find it harder to work on long, sustained tasks because distractions are eroding their attention span, fostering a culture of discontinuity. Fields as diverse as psychology, business, education, human-computer interaction, and communication studies have produced a wealth of studies on interruptions, distractions, and multitasking–research that has important implications for reference librarians. The nature of our jobs invites interruptions by the public, requires familiarity with the latest technology, stimulates curiosity about a broad range of subjects, and demands adeptness at multitasking–all factors which can atomize attention

Interactive lectures: Clickers or personal devices?

Audience response systems (‘clickers’) are frequently used to promote participation in large lecture classes, and evidence suggests that they convey a number of benefits to students, including improved academic performance and student satisfaction. The limitations of these systems (such as limited access and cost) can be overcome using students’ personal electronic devices, such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops together with text message, web- or app-based polling systems. Using questionnaires, we compare student perceptions of clicker and smartphone based polling systems. We find that students prefer interactive lectures generally, but those that used their own device preferred those lectures over lectures using clickers. However, device users were more likely to report using their devices for other purposes (checking email, social media etc.) when they were available to answer polling questions. These students did not feel that this distracted them from the lecture, instead, concerns over the use of smartphones centred around increased battery usage and inclusivity for students without access to suitable technology. Our results suggest that students generally preferred to use their own devices over clickers, and that this may be a sensible way to overcome some of the limitations associated with clickers, although issues surrounding levels of distraction and the implications for retention and recall of information need further investigation

Social media and self-control: The vices and virtues of attention

Self-control, the capacity to resist temptations and pursue longer-term goals over immediate gratifications, is crucial in determining the overall shape of our lives, and thereby in our ability to shape our identities. As it turns out, this capacity is intimately linked with our ability to control the direction of our attention. This raises the worry that perhaps social media are making us more easily distracted people, and therefore less able to exercise self-control. Is this so? And is it necessarily a bad thing? This paper analyzes the nature of attention, its vices and virtues, and what currently available evidence has to say about the effects of social media on attention and self-control. The pattern that seems to be emerging is that, although there is an association between higher use of social media and lower attentional control, we do not yet know whether it is social media use that makes people more distracted, or whether those who use social media the most do so because they are more easily distracted. Either way, the rise of the ‘Web 2.0’ does raise questions about whether the virtues of attention will change in the future, and whether this will bring with it a transformation in the way we shape our selves

Students\u27 use of personal technology in the classroom: analyzing the perceptions of the digital generation

Faculty frequently express concerns about students’ personal use of information and communication technologies in today’s university classrooms. As a requirement of a graduate research methodology course in a university in Ontario, Canada, the authors conducted qualitative research to gain an in-depth understanding of students’ perceptions of this issue. Their findings reveal students’ complex considerations about the acceptability of technology use. Their analysis of the broader contexts of students’ use reveals that despite a technological revolution, university teaching practices have remained largely the same, resulting in ‘cultural lag’ within the classroom. While faculty are technically ‘in charge’, students wield power through course evaluations, surveillance technologies and Internet postings. Neoliberalism and the corporatisation of the university have engendered an ‘entrepreneurial student’ customer who sees education as a means to a career. Understanding students’ perceptions and their technological, social and political contexts offers insights into the tensions within today’s classrooms

Social media in the english classroom: a study on the use of whatsapp messenger by english teaching training program students of Universidad Andrés Bello Casona de Las Condes campus

Tesis (Profesor de Inglés para la Enseñanza Básica y Media y al grado académico de Licenciado en Educación)The reason behind the use of WhatsApp Messenger (WM) by the English Teaching Training Program (ETTP) students and its possible effects on their engagement is a problem that has not been addressed in the Chilean context. The present study was designed to fill this gap. The purpose of this study was to examine the dynamics of the English class regarding the use of mobile devices. Moreover, this study aimed at examining the reasons behind the use of WM by ETTP students of UNAB Casona Las Condes Campus and its possible effects on their engagement in the English class. The method used in this investigation followed the characteristics of a sequential explanatory design. The results were obtained through two observations, a questionnaire, and a focus group. This research study concluded that the use of smartphones and specifically WM has grown exponentially as it is constantly affecting our daily routine and habits, and also what happens inside the classroom. The results revealed there were several themes attributed to disengagement that might trigger students to use WM in the English class, such as boredom, short attention span, and demotivation.Las razones de los estudiantes de Pedagogía en Inglés para usar WhatsApp Messenger (WM) y sus posibles efectos sobre el involucramiento que estos tienen en las clases de inglés es un problema que aún no ha sido tratado en el contexto chileno. El presente estudio fue diseñado para suplir esta falencia. El propósito de esta investigación fue examinar las dinámicas de la clase de inglés en relación con el uso de dispositivos móviles. Además, este estudio tenía el propósito de examinar las razones de los estudiantes de Pedagogía en Inglés de UNAB Campus Casona de Las Condes para usar WM y los posibles efectos que su involucramiento pudiera tener en la sala de inglés. El método usado en esta investigación siguió las características de un diseño secuencial explanatorio. Los resultados se obtuvieron a través de dos observaciones, un cuestionario y un grupo focal. Este estudio de investigación nos permitió concluir que el uso de smartphones y específicamente el uso de WM han crecido de forma exponencial de manera que este afecta constantemente nuestras rutinas diarias y hábitos. Los resultados revelaron que existen varios temas que se pueden atribuir al desenganche y que pueden causar que los estudiantes usen WM en la clase de inglés, como el aburrimiento, el corto periodo de concentración y la desmotivación