How Students Are Using Technology

The success of smart phones, tablets, and other portable web-enabled devices probably began with the young adult, professional crowd, but since then it has undeniably trickled down to young students — both in college and lower grades — and how they are putting these technologies to use.  Anyone who thinks he or she may be onto the next quantum leap in portable technology had better have an ear to the ground, listening out for how young people are spending their mobile tech time.  What are all these young people doing with technology, anyway?  How are students really putting things to use?  

The website onlineeducation.net has designed an infographic that is based on a student technology study. Amusingly, when students abstained from using digital devices for 24 hours, they experienced withdrawal symptoms comparable to those experienced by smokers deprived of cigarettes. Slightly less than 40% of students reported that they could not go more than 10 minutes without using a digital device of some kind. These same students felt that their laptops were more important than their text books, and furthermore, students performed better in classes that used social media by an average of about 5 grade points. The infographic is below.  Click to expand.