An electronics-free college student is as rare as a dodo bird these days. College kids are forever tinkling on their various gadgets at all hours of the day.
It is not surprising that the obsession with technology have reached new heights. In fact, it’s an addiction. In a study, it was found that nearly 98% of college students own a digital device. 38% of them say they could not even go 10 minutes without switching on some sort of electronic device.
Scarily, the University of Maryland did a study where students were made to go cold turkey from technology for 24 hours. The results showed that a large percentage of students experienced symptoms similar to drug and alcohol withdrawal.
Whether this obsession is good or bad, it's hard to ignore the merits of a technology in the classroom. 3 out of 4 students even went to far to say that they wouldn't be able to study without technology.
With 82% relying on devices to write papers, 81% using them for research, 70% for taking notes in class and 65% for making class presentations, our academic landscape may just collapse without the Internet and a laptop.
Most traditional educators may fuss and say that technology just creates a big distraction in the lecture theater. More likely than not, you will find students on Facebook then taking notes.
But being on social networking sites may not always be a bad thing. 8% of students use social networking sites to contact their tutors. Students that use Twitter in class were found to average 5 grade points higher due to increased engagement.
It seems that over the last 10 years, technology has become the foundation of education. With so many academic processes hinged on it, it’s not going anywhere. Frankly, we’re glad it’s not.
Via: OnlineEducation.net
