Time for Digital Detox: Misuse Of Mobile Technology And Phubbing

Abstract

With the expansion of the technology, people - especially the students-have a vast array of e-communication tools at their fingertips and feel as appertained to them. Current researches have estimated that 100% of university students have their own mobile phones and all of them bring their devices to the courses. Minority of the students use their smartphones to enhance learning, such as to look up pertaining information about the lesson, take pictures of information on the blackboard; however majority of them use smartphones for personal affairs during courses. Keeping in touch during lesson hinders students' learning experience and, it also occurs during examinations, although it is illegal. The purpose of this study is to explore some of the challenges associated with mobile phones in college classrooms. A sample of students from different departments was surveyed to assess the extent to which the technology is considered a serious source of distraction in the classroom and also during the exams. We examined and enlightened several social aspects of this multi-faceted larger societal theoretical concept of technological connectivity; namely phubbing, cheating during courses and students' opinions towards cell phone regulations and instructor behaviors. According to the results, the pattern of percentages within genders reveals the intention of students. Male students seem calmer, whereas female participants appear more sensitive about disturbing their classmates. The size of the classroom also has a big impact. As the class becomes larger, students behave more uninhibited and phub without being noticed. Majority of the students are distracted by their classmates and also confess that they can cheat with the help of their phones. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.