Smart Phone Use in a Higher Educational Setting
INST 525 Eileen O'Sullivan

Potential Obstacles

May be a distraction

Students report being distracted by other student's texting in the classroom and non academic use of laptops. (Smith, Caruso, & Borreson, 2010)

Instructors at Purdue who used social media (Hotseat) as a method of collecting student feedback expressed concern that students do not know how to pay attention or regulate themselves, student use of mobile device in the classroom is disrespectful and instructors worry that the online conversation will devolve into jokes and distraction at best, and criticism of the course and instructor at worst (Aagard, Bowen, & Olesova 2010).

Cost

Smart phones require dataplans in addition to voice plans. The additional cost can be $15 per month and up depending upon usage. All currently require contracts. (Anderson, 2009). Students currently near the cost of smartphones. If smartphones were to become required in the classroom, an institutional discussion about their cost and financial accessibilty would need to begin.

Spotty Coverage

Many smartphones can access wireless internet networks as well as cellular telephone networks. Wireless coverage is not yet ubiqutous at all campuses and at all learning locations (such as off site training centers or hospitals) and the dual network access offers a better chance of connectivity. (Len, Fontelo, Green, Ackerman and Liu, 2007, February 21). However, even these dual networks can prove unreliable or inaccessible. Strong cellular signals are dependent upon cellular provider towers, distance to towers, cellular traffic as well as building construction and campuses topography.

Keeping Up with Demand for Mobile Applications

If smart phones become universal on campuses and the cost of mobile web service drops, "institutions could be quickly overwhelmed with demands for technical support and development of new mobile services," (Smith & Caruso, 2010).

The growing embrace of mobile devices on college campuses could create enormous demand for web-enabled eReaders like the Apple iPad, a device already used on campuses across the country just five months after its release.

"In the next few years, I see smart phones saturating the collegiate market, but at the same time, devices similar to the iPad will become increasingly popular among young people," Hanley said. (Survey Finds Smartphones Transforming Mobile Lifestyles of College Students, cellular-news)

Lack of Data Supporting Desired Learning Outcomes

Because smartphones are a relatively new tool being used in the classroom, data on their effectiveness and use is limited. Preliminary evidence from Purdue University's experience with Hotseat suggests smartphones may improve student engagement and satisfaction rates when used in courses presented in large lecture halls (Aagard, Bowen, & Olesova, 2010).