Curbing Digital Distractions in the Classroom

Year 2017, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 214 - 231, 14.07.2017

Corey Seemiller

Abstract

Whether banking, communicating, watching television, or shopping, people can now do
nearly anything on their personal digital devices. This digital access even extends to the
college classroom where students use their personal devices for a multitude of non-class
related purposes. Findings from a survey of 193 college undergraduates found that during
class, students access particular types of platforms more frequently than others, providing
insight into what they are doing when they are on their devices. Overall, students more often
engage in accessing class information, utilizing online communication, using online photo
sharing, and information seeking than other platforms. Based on the findings of the study,
recommendations for educators are offered.

Keywords

Technology, Clasroom, Digital distraction, Learning

References

• Abel, J. P., Buff, C. L., & Burr, S. A. (2016). Social media and the fear of missing out: Scale development and assessment. Journal of Business & Economics Research, 14(1), 33-44.
• Bayless, M. L., Clipson, T. W., & Wilson, S. A. (2013). Faculty perceptions and policies of students’ use of personal technology in the classroom. Faculty Publications. Paper 32. Retrieved on 10 March 2017 from http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/businesscom_facultypubs/32
• Bjorklund, W. L & Rehling, D. L. (2010). Student perceptions of classroom incivility. College Teaching, 58, 15-18. DOI: 10.1080/87567550903252801. 230
• Campbell, S. W. (2006). Perceptions of mobile phones in college classrooms: Ringing, cheating, and classroom policies. Communication Education 55(3), 280-294.
• Cheever, N. A., Rosen, L. D., Carrier, L. M., & Chavez, A. (2014). Out of sight is not out of mind: The impact of restricting wireless mobile device use on anxiety levels among low, moderate and high users. Computers in Human Behavior, 37(2014), 290-297.
• Cheong, P. H., Shuter, R., & Suwinyattichaiporn, T. (2013). Managing student digital distractions and hyperconnectivity: Communication strategies and challenges for professorial authority. Communication Education, 65(2), 272-289.
• D’Angelo, J. M. & Woosley, S. A. (2007). Technology in the classroom: Friend or foe. Education, 127(4), 462-471.
• Duncan, D. K., Hoekstra, A. R., & Wilcox, B. R. (2012). Digital devices, distraction, and student performance: Does in-class cell phone use reduce learning? Astronomy Education Review, 11(1), 1-4.
• Flanigan, A. E. & Babchuk, W. A. (2015). Social media as academic quicksand: A phenomenological study of student experiences in and out of the classroom. Learning and Individual Differences, 44(2015), 40-45.
• Foerde K., Knowlton B.J., Poldrack R.A. (2006). Modulation of competing memory systems by distraction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 103, 11778–11783.
• Frier, S. (2016). Snapchat passes Twitter in daily usage. Bloomberg Technology. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-02/snapchat-passes-twitter-in-dailyusage
• Froese, A. D., & Carpenter, C. N., & Inman, D. A., Schooley, J. R., Barnes, R. B., Brecht, P. W., & Chacon, J. D. (2012). Effects of classroom cell phone use on expected and actual learning. College Student Journal, 46(2), 323-332.
• Greenwood, S., Perrin, A., & Duggan, M. (2016). Facebook usage and engagement is on the rise, while adoption of other platforms holds steady. Pew Report. Retrieved on 10 March 2017 from http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/11/11/social-media-update-2016/
• Kamanetz, A. (2015). How to get students to stop using their cellphones in class. Retrieved on 10 March 2017 from http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/11/10/453986816/how-to-getstudents-to-stop-using-their-cellphones-in-class
• Kuznekoff, J. H. & Titsworth, S. (2013). The impact of mobile phone usage on student learning. Communication Education, 62(3), 233-252.
• McCoy, B. (2013). Digital distractions in the classroom: Student classroom use of digital devices for non-class related purposes, Faculty Publications, College of Journalism & Mass Communications. Paper 71. Retrieved on 10 March 2017 from http://digitalcommons. unl.edu/journalismfacpub/71
• Miller, M., Berg, H., Cox, D., Carwile, D., Gerber, H., McGuire, M., ...Williams, J. (2011). A bird’s eye view of an I-phone world: Differing perceptions of cell phone use in academic settings. Eastern Education Journal, 40(1), 3-10.
• National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2016). Job outlook 2016: Attributes employers want to see on new college graduates’ resumes. Retrieved on 10 March 2017 from http://www.naceweb.org/s11182015/employers-look-for-in-new-hires.aspx
• Piraino, A. B. & Wilson, L. B. (2015). An engaging distraction: Cell phones in the classroom. In Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (Vol. 2015, No. 1, pp. 2511-2516).
• Rainie, L. & Zickuhr, K. (2015). Americans’ views on mobile etiquette. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech Report. Retrieved on 10 March 2017 from http://www. pewinternet.org/2015/08/26/americans-views-on-mobile-etiquette/
• Robles, M. M. (2012). Executive perceptions of the top 10 soft skills needed in today’s workplace. Business Communication Quarterly, 75, 453-465.
• Rosen, L. D., Whaling, K., Rab, S. A., Carrier, L. M., & Cheever, N. A. (2013b). Is Facebook creating ‘‘iDisorders’’? The link between clinical symptoms of psychiatric disorders and technology use, attitudes and anxiety. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 1243-1254.
• Sample, M. (2012, March 20). Best practices for laptops in the classroom. The Chronicle of Higher Education.
• Sana, F., Weston, T., & Cepeda, N. J. (2013). Laptop multitasking hinders classroom learning for both users and nearby peers. Computers & Education, 62(2013), 24-31.
• Seemiller, C. & Grace, M. (2016). Generation Z goes to college. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Smith, A. (2012). The best (and worst) of mobile connectivity. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project.
• Tindell, D. R. & Bohlander, R. W. (2011). The use and abuse of cell phones and text messaging in the classroom: A survey of college students. College Teaching, 60(1), 1-9.
• Ugar, N. G., & Koc, T. (2015). Time for digital detox: Misuse of mobile technology and phubbing. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 195(2015), 1022-1031.
• Washington, M. C., Okoro, E. A., & Cardon, P. W. (2013). Perceptions of civility for mobile phone use in formal and informal meetings. Business Communication Quarterly, 77(1), 52-64.