College students in a recent study said that they spent 20 percent of classroom time using smartphones and digital devices for activities unrelated to class.
Nearly 11 percent said they spent more than 50 percent of their class time using digital devices for non-class purposes. "During the typical four years they're in college classrooms, the average student may be distracted for two-thirds of a school year," said survey author Barney McCoy, associate professor of broadcasting and journalism at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The survey included over 675 students in 26 colleges. The amount of time that college students spend distracted by these devices is on the rise. McCoy first surveyed students in 2013, when smartphones were a bit less ubiquitous in the classroom.What Activities Claim Their Attention?
In response to the question “If you use a digital device during class for non-class purposes, please describe all those purposes," the answers were:- 87% time texting
- 76% email
- 75% time checking the time
- 70% - social networking
- 42% - web surfing
- 10% - games
Students admitted digital devices can interfere with their learning.
However, most said they won't (or can't) change their behavior.- 30% believed their digital devices weren't distracting them from learning.
- One-fourth said that their used of digital device was their choice.
- 13% it was worth using digital devices, even if they caused distractions.
- 11% said they couldn't stop using digital devices.
