Student Use of Technology in the Classroom

1. Student Use of Technologyin the Classroom Devin Qiu Ryan Peterson

2. Introduction We are conducting research to observe the influence that technology may have on students in the classroom. The study is significant because in recent years technology has become more accessible and acceptable in the classroom. • Is technology overbearing in the classroom? • Is technology abused by Wentworth students? • Do Wentworth students use technology in the classroom more responsibly than students of other institutions?

3. Literature Review We will observe the affects that technology has on participation and collaboration of Wentworth Students and students from surrounding institutions. The Review of Literature offered input on the effects of technology in the classroom, though few sources have actually conducted structured studies on the topic.

4. Kulesza, J. (2011). More Technology, Less Learning? Information Systems Education Journal. 9. http://isedj.org/2011-9/N7/ISEDJv9n7p4.pdf Morderntechnologies are supposed to enhance student learning, but this study finds many contradicting effects of technology on students. This study examines the extent to which technology should be allowed in the classroom. It explores potential drawbacks of overusing technology in the classroom. Reisman, S. (2005). Keeping Technology at Bay in the Classroom. The Ivory Tower. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=1516099&tag=1 This article explores technology use from ipods to laptops and more. It also examines student use of the internet and other technological intrusions. Fang, B. (2009). From Distraction to Engagement: Wireless Devices in the Classroom. Educause Review. http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/distraction-engagement-wireless-devices-classroom This article focuses on the dampened classroom experience when technology is abused. Students are distracted from technology and also may miss opportunities to be engaged in the subject. Grabmeier, J. (2007). Study Finds Link Between Facebook Use, Lower Grades in College. Ohio State Research. http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/facebookusers.htm This study finds a correlation between student facebook use and grades, though the study is questionable. James, K. (2011). 100% of Colleges and Universities are Doing Social Media. Edu Guru. http://doteduguru.com/id7310-100-of-colleges-and-universities-are-doing-social-media.html This study puts an emphasis on the fact that all universities and colleges use social media to connect to students. Marklein, M. B. (2012). Teachers Embrace Social Media in Class. USA Today. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2012-03-04/facebook-twitter-social-media-classroom/53358382/1

5. Research Methods Our team will use a questionnaire to gain an understanding of the affects of technology in the classroom. The survey is both hardcopy and electronic. It will be distributed over the Internet and to participants in person. We will administer the survey to Wentworth students at various locations across campus practicing convenience sampling The survey will be available to Wentworth students and students from other school via Facebook on the Internet and responses will be kept separate. We will require two weeks to distribute and collect the questionnaires. Our target population is all college students, and our sample size is one hundred students, which will consist of fifty Wentworth students and fifty non Wentworth students.

6. Research Instrument A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents Advantages • Inexpensive • Do not require as much effort from the questioner as verbal or telephone surveys • Standardized answers that make it simple to compile data Disadvantages • Standardized answers may frustrate users • Questionnaires are limited by the fact that respondents must be able to read the questions and respond to them • Questions cannot be ambiguous

7. Results Surveys Completed Wentworth Students 67 Hard-Copy 40 Online 27 Non-Wentworth Students 52 Hard-Copy 4 Online 48 Population All College Students Sample 119 Of the 44 hard-copy questionnaires that were distributed, 15 were distributed in the library and 29 were distributed in the cafeteria.

8. Devices Used for Non-Class Related Internet Use

9. Use of Technology During Class

10. Time Spent on Internet Related to Class All of the time I spend on the Internet during class is related to class.

11. Facebook Use During Class How often do you use Facebook during class?

12. Twitter Use During Class How often do you use Twitter during class?

13. Students Listening to Music During Class

14. Strictness of Teachers on Laptop Use My professors are strict in enforcing policies regarding laptop use in class.

15. Strictness of Teachers on Cell Phone Use My professors are strict in enforcing policies regarding cell phone use during class.

16. Distraction of Technology During Class How often do you find your use of technology to be a distraction during class?

17. Distraction from Other’s Technology Use During Class How often do you find others’ use of technology to be a distraction during class?

18. Conclusions • Approximately 35% of all students always check their Facebook during class. • Wentworth students are on social media sites less frequently than students from other colleges. • Wentworth students spend more time on the Internet that is not related to class than students from other schools. • Professors at Wentworth are less strict about laptop use and more strict about cell phone use during class than professors from other schools • Wentworth Students are more distracted from technology during class than students who attend other schools

19. Recommendations • WIT Professors enforce stricter policies on laptops to make students less distracted. • Professors enforce stricter policies on cell phone use due to the data showing that about 40% are not strict on this subject.