A study by the web based studying platformon, StudyBlue, studied 1,000 students about their study propensities and the impact mobile devices have had on their learning, and the top five takeaways were posted by eCampus News. With students owning an average of seven mobile devices and spending almost four hours every day utilizing their portable PCs, tablets, or smartphones, it is not surprising that studing on has changed in like manner.
- Students collaborate to improve their grades
Students can now work together by using collaborative study apps on their mobile devices, and 90 per cent of those surveyed believed this helped improve their grades.
- Students still cram
Students still procrastinate when it comes to studying, with nearly 60 per cent saying they put off studying until the last minute and rarely study for small quizzes, and mobile devices help them cram. A study conducted by Wakefield Research and CourseSmart found that 53 per cent of respondents would be more likely to complete a reading assignment in time if it were available on their mobile device, and 88 per cent have used their mobile device to study for an exam at the last minute.
- Students use both pen and paper, as well as technology
Although on the average, students use pen and paper during 43 per cent of their studying time, they also use mobile devices, with laptop use accounting for 26 per cent of studying time. Additionally, smartphones are used 14 per cent of the time, and tablets 12 per cent of the time.
- Students turn idle time into study time
The flexibility and mobility of smartphones and tablets is allowing students to study all over the place. Almost a quarter of students said they study during idle time at work or school on their smartphones. Additionally, about 20 per cent of respondents said they use their smartphones to study while commuting, 13 per cent while eating, five per cent while exercising, and 10 per cent even admitted to studying while in the bathroom.
- Students still study in bed
While it has always been common for students to study or read assignments in the comfort of their bed, digital content and the Internet are now available in the palm of their hands. With this flexibility, 22 per cent of students are now using their smartphones to read and study in bed.