The Use of Digital Devices in the University Classroom: Exploring and Comparing Students’ Perceptions and Practices

Abstract

Dealing with students’ use of digital devices and the resulting interruptions and distractions in university classrooms has become part of the daily challenges for teaching faculty in higher education. This exploratory study (N = 46) investigated first semester students’ perceptions, experiences, and time estimates regarding their use of digital devices for non-course-related activities. Questionnaire data were complemented with and compared to tracking data from the students’ laptop use in class through logs generated by the time management software RescueTime. Results indicate that approximately a quarter of class time is lost to non-course-related activities and that students underestimate their own laptop use in comparison to the tracking data. Nevertheless, they are aware of the distractive potential of digital devices, and this awareness increased over the ten-week research period. However, the study suggests that this awareness has little effect on the students’ actual behavior and that they give in to the digital temptations despite knowing the potential for distraction.