Term of Award
Spring 2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies (Ed.D.)
Document Type and Release Option
Dissertation (restricted to Georgia Southern)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
Digital Commons@Georgia Southern License
Department
College of Education
Committee Chair
Daniel Chapman
Committee Member 1
John Weaver
Committee Member 2
Ming Fang He
Committee Member 3
Julie Garlen
Committee Member 3 Email
JulieGarlen@cunet.carleton.ca
Abstract
In 2007, we hardly anticipated the ubiquity of Smartphones in high school classrooms. This dissertation explores Problematic Smartphone Use impact on Adolescent students’ learning and how their preoccupation and reliance on Smartphones influences Creativity, Empathy, Attention, and Solitude (or their ability to be alone). Through my discussion with colleagues and conversations with students in various states and academic settings, I learned that many students who spend so much time on their phones are dissatisfied with their academic success. I observed that students were frustrated with their inability to self-regulate; they do not like to be without their phones throughout the day; there is less divergence in their responses on creative assignments. I see less Empathy reflected in their writing about literature, whether topics or characters, and decreased Empathy for people face-to-face. Students seem less open-minded and willing to consider other ideas or belief systems, and more students do not like to risk being "wrong" or think differently. They are more likely to agree with a wrong answer or questionable stance than state something contrary to the opinion. Finally, they struggle to pay attention, and the length of time they can follow along in class with aural accompaniment or read aloud has decreased, and the number of pages they will read at home has decreased. More research on Adolescents’ Smartphone use and the interplay of Self-efficacy, Self-regulation, and metacognition is necessary, as technology advancements are continuous. We need to protect the humanness of children.
Recommended Citation
Van Buskirk, Tara L., "Search, Copy, Paste: How Students' Reliance on Smartphones Influences Learning" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2773.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/2773
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
