research papers

How Technology Affect College Students

1.0 Introduction

It is a fact that we live in a high technology world with classrooms of high technology. Students now have the chance to enjoy the benefits of using iPads in classrooms, the opportunity to integrate tweets during presentations and the teachers also have the benefit of teaching students through the use of smart TVs. The use of internet facilitates communication internationally or even nationally and helps the students maintain close ties with family and friends most especially those leaving far away. In accordance to different researches, many college students use internet for interpersonal communication which is mostly through emails, instant messaging as well as chat programs (Gemmill & Peterson, 2006). The major benefits that are associated with the use of technology while teaching include increasing the interaction of students, adding diversity of the lessons and enabling the idea of bringing new knowledge and perspectives to the class. But despite the advantages that students may enjoy from the use of high technology, many other negative impacts may result as a result of using the technology inappropriately or over-usage. This essay majorly aims at evaluating the main benefits that students are likely to embrace when they use high technology in classes as well as negative impacts that may affect students learning and concentration in class. The essay also aims at evaluating the literature showing the studies that have earlier been conducted on the impacts of technology to college students. For teachers, students and parents to enjoythe best of the advancement in technology, they must be able to recognize their weaknesses and try and get rid of them ( DeLoatch, 2015).

Just like any other aspect, the advancement in technology has it benefits as well as its consequences. Many of college teens spend a significant portion of their time in screen and most especially computers and smartphones. Not all the time the teens spend on the computers or the smartphones goes to waste since it may also be beneficial to the student’s college experience. The student is able to learn about various technological devices as well as several uses before going to the college and thus the student is more prepared for the class. The best advantage of useof technology is the ability to connect with people both internationally and nationally but many students use internet just to fill all the time they have, neglect normal social interactions or even avoid other life responsibilities (Inoue, 2007). Other negative implications of technology to students may include loneliness, increased stress, disruption in paying attention in class, reduction in the grades attained, study disruptions, negative peer feedback and internet addiction as well (Ahlquist, 2013).

2.0 Literature Review

This is generally the theoretical background proving the arguments of other studies earlier conducted on the impact of technology to college students.Different researchers express different reviews and therefore over time there havebeen mixed reviews in literature in regardless to college students’ use of technology. Some of the studies focus on the benefits of using such technology to the students, while others focus on the negative side of the technology use to students.A study conducted by Lloyd, Dean & Copper in 2007 put into consideration a variety of technological media that was used by college students. The study determined the effects such technology had on the relationship of the peers, their wellness and their scholastic involvement. After carrying out the study, they concluded that the students who use the technology can either suffer or benefit due to the fact that despite the advantages of technology advancement, there are also disadvantages. They mentioned certain benefits of using the technology which included entertainment, acquisition of knowledge and socialization. Some of the negative impacts of technology use by college students that they identified included health impacts, reduction in academic success because many students focus on the entertainment, effect on personal relationship. They therefore stated that professionals of student’s affairs need to understand how and why the students are using such technology and examine their overall goal (Wilson, 2007).

Another study conducted that focused on freshman as well as seniors found that a great percentage of students spend their time online though doing a variety of activities. They accounted for different activities and how time was spend on such activities from the data obtained. The hours spend on computers are 11-15 hours, 3-5 hours on course activities and study using electronic device, 1-2 hours creating as well as sending emails, 1-2 hours just surfing the internet for pleasure, 1-2 hours listening or downloading music and 1-2 hours playing computer games (Wilson, 2007). Therefore this only shows that computers have really declined the values of college students since their time is most spend doing what is more appealing to them like computer games and sending emails thus impacting on academic success.

Gemmill and Peterson also conducted a study in 2006 in which they asked question which determine the extent to which technology disrupt or even occupy the time of college students and if it contributes in any way to their stress levels. Their findings on the study suggested that 25% of the total students encounter disruptions as a result of the technology which eventually leads to higher stress (Gemmill & Peterson, 2006).

Student scan be able to obtain library sources online instead of spending much of their time doing baseless things. The time students invest in the use of the advanced technology speaks volumes since it greatly influences their normal flow of life.

3.0 Methodology

Different methodology has been used determining the implications of technology to college students both positively and negatively.

3.1. Use of technology patterns and behaviors as a survey measure. This involves evaluating the time or hours per day the students spend when checking their emails, used internet for school related work, communicated via instant messages or even talked on a cell phone. Then the total hours spend on the different activities are evaluated to come up with a conclusion.

3.2 Encouraging procedures and participation of the students. This is generally to conduct a survey selected students on the issue of stress, disruptions, academic interaction among other aspects as a result of technology use. The students are able to mention the impacts they have experienced due to technology use and several responses are then evaluated to make a conclusion.

3.3 Interviews to different students. Different responses are obtained and then rated to determine the strong and weak responses. The responses from different students will help determine the percentages of students who have negative implication and those that have positive implication.

3.4 Use of questionnaires. They are developed to enable the student answer developed question. Some of the questions in relation to technology use in colleges may include: does technology use in colleges result to stress? Does the use of technology by college students result to academic degradation? How does technology enhance teaching in colleges?

4.0. Project Timeline

The project will generally evaluate on the impacts of technology to college students both positively and negatively. The project will take four weeks in general in which the time will be allocated as follows.

References

Ahlquist, J. (2013). Benefits and Consequences of College Students Online: The Dark Side.