Losing focus with tools

Technology provides professors the ability to teach students more effectively in the classrooms and students the opportunity to advance their education in ways past generations could not. It also provides a channel of communication for effective learning from hundreds to thousands of miles away for online students giving the opportunity for higher education to more students, around the world.
Technology can also be a distraction and can take away from the learning environment when it is used inappropriately. Personal music players, cell phones, laptops and desktop computers in the classroom can easily take away from the learning experience. Also, as smart phones are becoming more advanced, students are able to listen to music, connect to the Internet and text-message all at the same time on the same handheld device.
Ruthann Dennis, a Weber State University sophomore studying anthropology, said she uses technology often.
“I use technology every day for homework,” she said. “All of my math assignments are online and it is very helpful because it explains and goes into great detail to help you learn the problem.”
This kind of technology helps students receive extra explanations of class materials outside of class time. It also helps professors as they have less and less time to spend with individual students as enrollment continues to grow and classes continue to get larger.
“I usually start my research online,” said Tim Maw, a senior studying history.
“You can find a lot of good information in a short period of time.”
Time is crucial for students in and out the classrooms. Forms of technology like search engines on the Internet are a lot faster than searching through a textbook page by page. Students can also find a wide range of opinions and viewpoints from multiple authors.
New technology is very helpful for students but can become a distraction and take away from valuable lecture information.
“I think technology can be a distraction,” Dennis said. “People who use laptops will sometimes take notes but sometimes they will be on Facebook.”
This seemed to be a common theme among students at WSU.
“Laptops and texting are a distraction,” Maw said. “Students need to know when to use technology in the classroom and when not to.”
If technology is used correctly it can provide students with knowledge to help learn and advance their education. If it is used incorrectly during class time it can become more of a disadvantage to students rather than an advantage.
Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter have become part of most college students’ daily lives. These sites are also a distraction outside the classroom as much as they are in the classroom.
“I will get on the Internet to start doing my homework and I end up spending an hour on Facebook,” said David Furr, a junior studying business. “It can be very distracting sometimes and makes it hard to start studying with all the other fun things to do on the Internet.”