Table 6 Teachers Perceptions Regarding Negative Effects of Using Smartphones in Higher Education
Category | Activity | No. of Respondents | Percentage of Respondents | Example of Quotations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Distraction | Socializing via online medium | 10 | 47% | Respondent # 13: “I think Smartphones have reduced the students’ span of concentration. They have to socialize so frequently on their Smartphones that they could hardly concentrate on their studies continuously for few minutes” |
Wastage of time | Playing Games | 9 | 40% | Respondent # 16: “Present generation is spending too much time on their Smartphones … playing games, watching movies, socializing, etc. Very little time is left for them to engage in other activities.” |
Watching Movies | 9 | 40% | ||
Limited Learning | Not a substitute to class room learning | 6 | 27% | Respondent # 7: “…. everything cannot be learned by watching videos or listening audio. Classroom provides an environment that ignite student mode of enquiry and eagerness to learn which I think is missing when it comes to learning using Smartphones.” |
Medical illnesses | Technostress | 7 | 33% | Respondent # 5: “My personal observation is that students are stressed out because of Smartphones; they get less time to sleep and perform other physical activities due to which their health is also deteriorating.” |
Emotional Detachment | Less physical interaction | 10 | 47% | Respondent # 12: “I feel the bond between students and teachers is becoming weak because of Smartphones. e-mails and SMS are not a substitute for face to face meeting between a teacher and his students.” |