Distraction Or Not? the Study of Cellphone Use in the College Learning Environment

Abstract

Cellphone usage by college students has increased tremendously over the past decade as technologies have advanced. Most college students have a cellphone within their reach in their classes. Typically, there is a perception of faculty members frowning at any type of cellphone use in the learning environment. But could these devices really be beneficial to the learning environment? Or are these devices just a distraction as historically been presumed? This study attempts to discover how cellphone usage is perceived in a college environment and whether usage should be encouraged in the classroom. A survey of college students comprised of different classes, genders and ages were asked about personal cellphone usage, distractions in the classroom and faculty cellphone guidelines within the classroom. This study tests the expected theory students do not consider cellphones a distraction in the classroom. The study also assumes most faculty members do not encourage cellphone use of any type within their classrooms. It attempts to discover how students are using their devices within the classroom in a beneficial way to their learning experience. Can their cellphones be integrated within a classroom environment as a valuable tool for learning or will these devices always be considered a distraction?