Impact of Cellphone on Students: Detrimental Effects on Learning Process

This article explores the detrimental effects of cellphone on the learning process of students in the classroom. It discusses the impact of cellphone on attentiveness, focus, and memory, and how it contributes to anxiety, depression, and psychological stress. The article also suggests ways to regulate the usage of cellphones and maximize its benefits in the education system.

Running head: IMPACT OF CELLPHONE ON STUDENTS
IMPACT OF CELLPHONE ON STUDENTS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Thesis statement- Cellphone has been proved to be detrimental to the learning
process of the students in the classroom. Students undergoes lot of distraction while studying
when they use cellphones while studying due to which their performance in the test or quiz
deteriorates as they are unable to focus. Most of the students use cellphone in the classroom and
any kind of notification interferes in their performance at the exam due to loss of concentration,
focus, alertness and attentive nature which is a quintessential element in the classroom.
Introduction
According to Pew Research Centre, over 72% of the Americans having a cellphone tend
to use 5 hours a day while the data for global average stands for over 43%. The huge discrepancy
in the usage of the cellphones is reducing the productivity of the students. When a student use a
cellphone it disturbs it mental space to concentrate however students are unable to realize its
detrimental effect. Any notification which props up on their cellphone diverts the attention at the
cost of the study schedule. Further, it also contributes to impaired memory which hampers the
student to recall their memory in the actual examination. A research was conducted where some
students were not allowed to use cellphone while other half were allowed to use cellphone during
a class lecture. After the lecture, a quiz was conducted to assess their attentiveness. The worst
performance was derived from the students with cellphone the other group without cellphone
were the best performers. A major fraction of the student use a wide spectrum of social media on
their mobile phones to check out the activities of the people. The students are swayed by the
buzz of the social media and they tend to demonstrate as they are awed by the flashy and
flamboyant style of their peers. They often fail to understand the detrimental effects and the
impact the phone is creating on their academics.

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Common issues
Anxiety concerns and Nomophobia
According to Mendoza et al. (2017), students are over-dependent on their cellphones, and
being unable to access their mobile phones they tend suffer from nomophobia which means fear
of not having to use their phone. This leads to chronic anxiety issues to the younger generation at
cost of their valuable study time. Mendoza et al., (2017) argues that it hampers their academic
performance as anxiety peaks when they are devoid of phone for over 10 minutes. The author
explores the experiences which a student undergoes can be described by Murayama as FOMO
which can be inferred as fear of missing out the fun.
On the other hand, the Educause Center for Applied Research [ECAR] (2012) survey
finds that the students who integrate their learning process through mobile and IT technology and
devices like smartphones and tablet computers excel in their academic performance. The survey
asserts that 67% of the students have confirmed their academic success due to smarter study
which these devices offer to learn (Neier & Zayer, 2015). The device has an immense potential
to provide new options to their study module and facilitate to learn new things proactively than
the archaic study style.
Psychological stress
Mendoza finds the mobile phone categorically enters the mind without realizing the
period of time we spent hence becoming an integral part of our lives. The excessive usage of
mobile phones leads to decline in the understanding of the major concepts of their academics
which forms the basis of the whole course. Lacking in these in essential and core areas is

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extremely crucial for the students to secure good grades. However, due to interference of mobile
phones in the vital phase of their life, their career might be jeopardized.Coupled with the
psychological stress that adds to the life of the youth, it degrades the quality of life as these stress
are extremely harmful for the upcoming generation. Mendoza states that social media takes a
heavy toll on their life thus mounting a burden in their peaceful life.
According to Gikas, despite the negative impact the mobile phone on the lives of student,
however, it depends on the full discretion of the student how they use a mobile phone in their
learning process. As many students have claimed that usage of these devices have ironed out the
issues due to faster communication which helps them to sort queries in their academic. The
author finds assisted learning provided by these devices aids in accessing content faster, the
students also claims due to mobile phone the view the videos of the instructor instantly thus
enhancing their learning process. The student find mobile phone has eased the communication
with their fellow students due to which they can clarify their issues more promptly (Gikas &
Grant 2013). The research lacks a crucial component that mobile phone provides a brilliant
interface to access information from anywhere and anytime thus facilitating mobilizing the
information instantly. Thus it can be concluded that a student can regulate the usage of mobile
phones further they can use more judiciously and minimize the impact of the cellphones on their
study module.
Depression issues
According to Mendoza, the mobile phone is known to hamper the sleep cycle which can
affect their biological clock because excessive usage of phones. The smart phone can also lead to
depression triggered by the internet addiction. Constant checking of the mobile application and

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notification creates an urge among the students to check their mobile phone often. This enables
them to get drawn towards the technology irrationally which often drag to the students into
depression. The research has not explored the health issues which can take a heavy toll on their
life. It becomes necessary for students to strike a balance in correct usage of the phone in their
academic further notifications can be blocked or kept in a silent mode. However, this has not
helped much as students feel extreme anxious to check their phone.
The missing link
According to Neier & Zayer, the mobile phone is can be regarded as the storehouse of the
information. A proper counseling is required for the students to understand the harmful
implications of the mobile phone and the influential role it can play in their academic life. Neier
& Zayer discusess the pros and cons of the mobile must be clearly laid down through a proactive
training in cases where the performance of the students has deteriorated largely due to
unnecessary scrolling of the information. The parents and teachers can also play where they can
completely bar the students or impose penalties or can even cut their percentage if a student is
found using mobile phones the class lectures. According to Neier’s research, regulatory
framework coupled with punitive measures can control the students from being entrapped in the
vicious circle of information overload. Further social media can be used for testing students
online where interactive groups can be formed to share their project or assignments, teachers can
take live classes and sort queries through video conferencing. Hence, maximization of the
benefits from the social media can create a peer pressure to perform better. The computing
devices with the recent advent of internet of things and artificial learning can bring a revolution
in the education systems (Neier & Zayer, 2015). The potential in this field is yet to tap
completely which makes the future prospects of the technology quite progressive and inevitable.

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Conclusion
With the emergence of technology and increased presence of the students online and the
social activities of the youth online the rationality in the usage need to be achieved accordingly.
Unrestrained online presence have dragged many youth to frequent cyber-attacks and bullying.
The student’s awareness or a campaign on the issue can be popularized by the social activists. A
campaign on the social media itself will attract a lot of students to participate through which the
message can reach like a wildfire. It will enable students to become proactive participants and
volunteer to address the issues. The youth of the country forms the vibrant demographic dividend
which can add economic prosperity to the country. This will help in the nation building process
as the youth forms a crucial part of the nation which can contribute for the growth and progress
of the nation. The cause is a concern but the loopholes on the issues can be fixed with prompt
engagement from all the stakeholders. There might be lot of challenges in controlling the
nomophobia among the current generation where the mobile forms a potent tool to enter the
world of internet sensation. The school and colleges across the country can bring structural as
well as infrastructural changes in regulating the excessive usage of phones. Nomophobia is
recent phenomenon cure of which is possible through a multi-pronged approach. The device like
smart phone and tablet computer can also bring online contests and application to check further a
student’s portal can minimize the time how a student spends their time on their mobile phones.
The vulnerable section of the students can be given more focus and check on their behavior can
be done. Volunteers for the issue can also portend vital solution for the raging issue. The students
of today form the assets of the tomorrow hence for improvised capacity building of the current
generation is necessary and crucial for the future of the nation.

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References
Gikas, J., & Grant, M. M. (2013). Mobile computing devices in higher education: Student
perspectives on learning with cellphones, smartphones & social media. The Internet and
Higher Education, 19, 18-26.
Mendoza, J. S., Pody, B. C., Lee, S., Kim, M. W., Kim, M., & McDonough, I. M. (2017). The
Effect of Cell Phones on Attention and Learning: The Influences of Time and
Nomophobia.
Neier, S., & Zayer, L. T. (2015). Students’ perceptions and experiences of social media in higher
education. Journal of Marketing Education, 37(3), 133-143.

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