What effects does technology have on students in Lubbock?
Technology may be a double-edged sword. While technology continues to expand and improve our everyday lives, some individuals regard it as a hinderance. Based on a survey I completed; I wanted to investigate the positive and negative effects of technology on students' lives by surveying my college peers. The survey's replies offer helpful details about how technology affects students' daily routines, focus, and even interactions with their instructors. The survey's overall findings highlight the difficult position that technology plays in students' lives, presenting both advantages and disadvantages that may have an impact on their general well-being, mental health, and academic performance.
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The Mix of Technology and Focus:
Students' replies show a wide variety of opinions on whether technology positively or negatively impacts attentiveness. Some students are indifferent, acknowledging both the benefits and disadvantages of educational technology. One student, for instance, said that technology "hurts my attention span," emphasizing how excessive use of technology may impair focus. This demonstrates how some forms of technology, particularly those unrelated to academic work, may occupy students' attention and impair their ability for long-term focus. On the contrary, some students think that using technology helps them stay focused. That was brought out by one student, "school technology stuff obviously helps me stay focused as it gives me a list of tasks," emphasizing how digital tools may help students manage their time and stay on track. Yet another student brought attention to the drawbacks of personal technology, stating “I have a lot more freedom and honest temptations when I get on my phone rather than my computer”. This highlights how technology used in academia, smartphones and other personal gadgets can cause distractions. In summary, although technology can improve focus and organization for certain students, personal technology—like smartphones—presents an important hurdle by introducing distractions and diminishing attention span
Professors and Technology:
Students usually like it when professors use technology to teach. Many of them point out how easy and convenient it is because it centralizes resources and lets students learn at their own pace. . One student shared, “Yes, 3/4 of my professors use technology and I prefer it. It allows us to stay and be on the same page as them but also at our own pace. I think it's extremely helpful when they have slides for each lecture day so we can refer to them, so I feel a lot better and set in classes that use technology.” Students like having class notes and other materials on hand for reference because it helps them remember things and stay on track. Some people see technology as a sign of how far society has come, as one student put it “Yes, they do. I feel like professors using technology is a good thing. It shows that as humans, we are constantly evolving and finding new ways to do things.” Some, though, say they do not have strong feelings either way, which shows that the effect of technology can change depending on the class or the way it is taught. Some people like non-technological, hands-on methods in some subjects, like art or studio lessons, where physical connection works better. People think technology is helpful when used correctly, but worries about becoming too dependent on it, especially in fully online settings, show that digital tools and old-fashioned ways of doing things need to be balanced. In general, students like it when teachers use a variety of methods to meet their needs.
How has using technology, especially social media, changed your mental health or stress level while you're in school?
Students' mental health has been affected in many ways by using social media while in school. Social media has had a negative influence on certain people by encouraging self-comparison and feelings of inadequacy. One student mentioned, “Sometimes social media shows people doing a lot better than u are so it can make u feel bad abt urself,” demonstrating the harmful effects of seeing the achievements of others. Another student elaborated on these struggles, explaining how social media has negatively changed their mental health and perception of others, saying that it sends them into an alternate universe. Additionally, they highlighted the negative consequences of internet propaganda and negative comments, which have impacted their mental health, noting “It just takes away the joy of being online and wanting to see what others are up to now that we’re in college and separated.” These responses give example how social media creates stress and dimmish the overall experience of staying connected in school.
However, some students see social media as a two-edged sword with advantages and disadvantages. Although a student admitted that social media “can hinder [mental health] at times,” they also recognized its potential to be “beneficial.” Another pointed out that social media has been a useful tool for maintaining social relationships and communication despite its drawbacks, pointing out, “Using social media while being in school has had its ups and downs, but I feel like it’s a good way to stay communicative and social.” According to these responses, social media may be a useful tool for preserving connections, particularly for lonely college students. However, the usefulness of social media varies depending on how it is used.
When you want to learn, do you like to use digital tools (like computers or tablets) or stick to old-fashioned ways (like writing things down by hand)?
Depending on the situation, students value classic handwriting and digital technologies when it comes to learning preferences. Since handwriting helps with comprehension and recall, many kids find it fine. One student explained, “When I want to take notes, it’s usually by hand because it’s been proven to be the best form of notetaking as it helps the student remember and memorize their notes better.” Likewise, another student expressed their interest, for “writing down by hand to help memorize,” highlighting the advantages of physical writing for cognition. These answers show that, especially for tasks requiring deeper processing and memory, conventional approaches are still seen as an essential part of education. For general convenience or in a fast-paced classroom, however, digital instruments like laptops and tablets are recommended. One student noted that during class, they “most likely type [notes] as I am on the clock and don’t have much time to think about what I want to write.” Others said they absolutely preferred digital tools, with comments like "Digital tools but still using writing tools for retention purposes,” and “I use computers and tablets.” Although many students still depend on handwriting as an additional approach for greater recall and learning, overall digital technologies are recognized for their quickness and usefulness. This implies that for students, a well-balanced strategy combining digital and conventional approaches is most successful.
Do you think that you and other Texas Tech students have the same access to technology? Does that affect how you study?
Though there are few exceptions, most respondents said that Texas Tech students usually have equal access to technology when asked whether such is the case. Many feel that the college guarantees equal use for every student by providing enough technology tools on campus. One student remarked, “Yes, I believe everyone who attends TTU has equal access to technology,” while another added, “I do believe we have the same amount of access to technology on campus, it doesn’t affect my studying; I just procrastinate a lot.” These answers imply that access to technology connects to human behaviors like procrastination which may be more important than technological availability when it comes to studying. Another student said, “I think it’s relatively even, but there are a higher percentage that have the most up-to-date and pricey pieces of technology, but it doesn’t severely set other students back, I don’t think.” Showing that even if everyone has basic technological access, differences in the quality of personal technology might occur. Still, this does not appear to hinder students' capacity for study. Although Texas Tech's access to technology seems fair overall, individual circumstances and study habits are seen as more important for academic achievement than technology differences.
Do you think you and the other students at Texas Tech can use technology the same way? Does that change the way you study?
Responses to questions on whether Texas Tech students utilize technology similarly and if it changes their study habits showed differing opinions. Many students agreed that while everyone has access to comparable technology, each person uses it differently. One student shared, “I think everyone uses technology differently,” while another explained, “Each person is different, so they would not use technology the same way. These overall changes the time it takes for people to study and how effective it is.” These answers imply that how technology is used for learning is highly affected by each person's habits and interests, which could lead to lower results and output. According to others, not every student makes the most of their ability, even when the resources are equally accessible. One commenter said, “yes, I think we can, but I do not think all do use technology in the same way. So far it has not changed the way I study, but eventually, it can when I am introduced to someone who knows the ins and outs of studying specific areas.” Overall, the answers show that while technology is available, how students use it varies, and how they use it will affect their study habits
What ways do you use technology to help them study? For example, do you use online tools, e-books, or class platforms?
Students use a variety of technological tools, including note-taking applications, internet resources, and classroom platforms, to aid in their academic work. Some use applications like Kilo notes on their tablets to take structured notes, while others depend on class platforms to access materials and assignments. Some students prefer digital forms over physical copies, even for tasks like annotating, and online tools and e-books are also widely used. Additionally, some students apply books and internet resources together with handwritten notes to help them remember what they have learned, while others study well with flashcards and other resources. These techniques show the many ways that technology helps them achieve their goals in school.
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