ABSTRACT
Smartphone devices are potential avenues for
reviewing instructional materials, an invaluable resource for immediate
feedback and other education purposes. This study investigated a survey of the
use of Smartphone by Undergraduates in Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences in College
of Medicine, Ambrose Alli Uuniversity, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. Descriptive
survey design was used. From a population of 4304 medical students, a sample of
230 students was drawn using accidental sampling technique. Questionnaire was
used as data collection instrument and data collected was analyzed using
frequency count, percentage and mean statistics. The study revealed high level
of awareness and use of smartphones by medical students for their academic
works. Result also shows smartphones has made tremendous impact on their
medical education most especially with High
Speed Browsing, Saves time and money going to cybercafé/college library,Easy
and fast internet access.High risk of radiation when using smartphone, Operational
difficulties, high rate of
internet subscription,were identified as the major problems they
encountered in using smartphones. The study recommended the need for medical
university management to collaborate with IT companies to develop smartphones
capable of supporting their seeking of medical and health information which
improve students’ academic performance. Furthermore, medical college
management should collaborate with network service providers to reduce cost of
internet subscription to students that will encourage continues use of
smartphone to support their seeking of medical and health information.
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1
Background of the Study
Globalization has changed our
lives and one of the ways in which it is changing our lives, every day, is how
we communicate; thanks to advancements in Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT).It is an undeniable fact that technology has become an
integral part in today’s society. In
today’s world, digital technology changed so rapidly and integrates into our
society at such an accelerated rate, it is hard to keep up with it, let alone
reflect on the effects it has on our lives. In line with this, Vieitez, Carcia,
and Rodriquez, (2001) expresses that, technological revolution in academic
organization has not only improved efficiency but also help reduce the problem
of boredom. In addition to this, Roberts, and Pirog, (2013) point out that, the
advancement of technology has also been a dominant force in effecting students’
academic life and helps facilitate the knowledge-constructed
classroom. To this end, Gaskell and Mills (2010) stresses
that, it was proven that mobile phone technologies played an important role in
education; also mobile phone technologies offered a major chance in enhancing
access to learning and enabling many institutions, especially in higher
education to develop learner support as well as learning opportunities in ways
which would build on modern techniques. Similarly, Raento, Oulasvirta, and
Eagle (2009) added that recent developments in mobile technologies have
produced a new kind of device: a programmable mobile phone, the smartphone.
Smartphone
are arguable another revolutionary invention of our time, besides computer and
internet technologies. Smartphone is one of the most ubiquitous, dynamic and
sophisticated trends in communication. Smartphone technology is growing by
leaps and bounds. The use of mobile computing devices such as smartphones is
rapidly increasing in the population. According to Gartner, Inc., a technology
research and advisory firm, by 2013 mobile phones will overtake personal
computers (PCs) as the most common Web access device worldwide, and by 2015
over 80% of the cellular phones sold in markets will be smartphones (Gartner
Newsroom. 2010). Smartphone evolution from the mobile phone influences how
users tend to think of these devices, as reflected in the handset design.
Beale, (2005) asserts that Smartphones are predominately communication devices,
with additional computing power built in. Smartphones are the new generation of
mobile phones; they have emerged over the last few years and already have
conquered the market.
Interestingly, Smartphone represents the current
pinnacle of mobile phone development, coupling phone capabilities with the
additional functionalities of a computer. In this convergence between phone and
handheld computer, the phone has the dominant genes. A Smartphone is an
increasingly more common type of mobile phone, which can be described as a
mobile phone with characteristics similar to the ones of a computer. Student
can check e-mail, browse the Internet and add personal functionality by downloading
applications using smartphone. Smart products are leading this era and
functioning as the new buzzword. Unlike a normal mobile device a smartphone has
a vast amount of both local storage and memory. Smartphones have operating
units like computers. Smartphones act as mobile entertainment units where a
user can: watch videos, listen to music, update blogs, (as well as audio and
video blogging.). To this end, Alfawareh and Jusoh, (2014) buttress that
Smartphone is a mobile phone running a complete operating system in a manner
similar to a traditional computer, which offer advanced computing abilities and
connectivity options. They provides high quality performance and quick access
to data and information management, mobile audio and audio-visual calls, mobile
teleconferencing, sending and receiving emails and quick and easy internet
access.
Furthermore, Today'smobiledevicesaremultifunctionaldevicescapableofhostingabroadrange of medical apps(applications) for students in the medical and health sciences. In line with this, Mohapatra
et al, (2015) assert that
mobile technology is one
of the latest strings of technological innovations that
can be integrated into medical education.
They also agreed that Smartphone use is increasingly integrated in the daily practice of medicine.
Similarly, Yousuf, (2015) added that Smartphone
applications are used
in the form of efficient medical communication, research,
diagnostic
and reference
tools, and even in patient monitoring and examination.
Smartphone
technologies can be used in having current information about changes made in
course scheduling, deadlines and upcoming events and it can also increase
interactivity and collaboration through the use of discussion forums and chat
rooms.
However, the
use of smartphone entails the process of utilizing smartphone technology and
its applications for the purpose of answering a need or providing solution to a
problem.
There are numerous possibilities of using smartphone
technology within and out of the lecture room.
According to Kohet al. (2014), they opined that medical apps
were
perceived by
medical students
to help improve their clinical decision
making, saved time,
allowed faster
access to national clinical practice
guidelines, allowed faster
access
to common laboratory reference values,
helped in making
differential diagnoses,
enabled
useful
medical related calculations,
allowed faster
access to reliable sources
of medical knowledge,
allowed faster
access to reliable sources of clinical skills, allowed accurate medicine
dosages calculation,
allowed easier medicine dosages
calculation and
allowed faster
access
to evidence-based medical practice. In
the same view, Bruce, (2010), opines that. Students can also
access course materials so that they can learn at a convenient time and place.
They also can access links to relevant websites, videos, further reading and
online tutorials (supplementary activities) that extend or support learning.
Emails or text messages can also be used to give instantaneous feedback of
students‟ assessment. Smartphone is a major information technology device and
students feel the urge to adapt to it in order to ‘‘keep up with the time’’. It
can be noted that medical students use smartphone as it relate to their
academic performance.
Demaray
and Elliott (2010) opine that academic performance is a multidimensional
construct composed of the skills, attitudes, and behaviors of a learner which
contribute to academic success. Academic performance is the demonstration of a
student’s level of competence and mastery of a subject. For a medical student
to perform well and be competent in the field of study, it is important that
the student make use of relevant and pertinent information that will enhance
his/her performance; with smartphones, students have access to any kind of
information as it relate to the academic performance at any point, place and
time. To this end, Taylor and Harper (2001), portray that smartphones and its
use have special place and impact in students’ life and their academic
performances specially. The Smartphone is doubtless a tool that has the power
to make its user master of his or her own sector of the digital world.
Additionally, with the aid of these smartphones, medical students learn faster
outside the classroom
by having
quick access to the internet and
easy retrieval of required medical
and health learning resources while they also keep abreast of recent
trend and development
as it affects their medical
academic performance, learning and research
needs.
Smartphones are
redefining the way
almost everything is done in the medical academic
environment and
area ready tool
for faster access to all
medical knowledge geared
towards achieving the medical learning
and research objectives of the students.
Smartphone has now become a part of the daily life of medical students for
without it they would be lost in this high tech (technology) world.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Smartphone play
a very
significant
role to medical students
in seeking and gathering information in
order to meet their learning and research needs. Severalrelevantmedicalandhealthinformationareavailableindiversemediawhichmedical
students can have access to through their smartphones.It is quite regrettable
that despite the numerous advantages of smartphone, most medical students do
not know how to use, search or to get the right information in the course of
their academic work. Most often, even to synthesize and analyze the information
becomes a nightmare to some medical students.These are
some of the major challenges the medical students encountered
in accessing desired information
using such mobile devices. The inability of medical
students to overcome these problems automatically makes it impossible to
explore the potentials of the smartphone. Despite their relative importance in medical education,little is known about use of smartphone on academic
performance of medical students. Hence, it is against this backdrop, the
researcher wish to investigate, a survey of the use of smartphone by
undergraduates in Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences in Ambrose Alli University,
Ekpoma.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The major objective is a survey of the
use of
smartphone by undergraduates in Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences inAmbrose
Alli University, Ekpoma.
The specific objective includes the following; to
1.
Find out the level
of awareness and
use of smartphones by
medical students for their academic works.
2.
Find out the relevance/purpose of smartphones by medical students.
3.
Find out some of the medical resources and services smartphones are used
for by medical students
for their academic works.
4.
Find out the impact of smartphones on academic performance of medical
students.
5.
Find out the major problem encountered by medical students in using smartphones in gathering information for their academic works.
1.4 Research
Question
The
following research questions were formulated for this study:
1.
What is the level of awareness and use
of smartphones by medical students?
2.
What is the relevant/purpose of using
smartphone by medical students?
3.
What
are the medical resources and services that smartphones are used for by medical students
for their academic works?
4.
What are the medical apps
commonly downloaded by medical students for their academic works?
5.
Is there any impact of use of smartphone
on academic performance of medical students?
6.
What are the major problems encountered
by medical students
when using smartphone?
1.5 Scope
of the study
This
study investigated a survey of the use of smartphone by undergraduates in Faculty
of Basic Medical Sciences in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpo|ma.
1.6 Significance
of the study
It is hoped that the findings of this study will benefit various
educational stakeholders. It would be useful to medical students in determining
the many opportunities that smart phone provides in their academic lives.
Medical lecturers would be guided on how integrating smartphone
technology will create a richer environment for teaching and learning.
The smartphone companies would be more informed and therefore
invest in providing smartphones at a reduced price.
Curriculum planners and policy makers would be aware of the
numerous possibilities of using smartphone technologies in learning, so as to
assist in implementing and designing activities to support the various learning
styles.
The findings from this study would also complement other studies
and provide appropriate information for content developers and mobile learning
developers in designing smartphone applications for medical learning at the
university level.
This research would contribute to the body of educational research
in that it explores students’ academic performance with multiple indicators of
learning, which is satisfaction and academic performance. The research may
provide literature so as to add more information on innovative use of
smartphones to enhance educational experiences of medical university students.
1.7 Limitation
of study
This
study involved the following limitations. First, even though, there are other
mobile devices that can be used to study academic performance of medical
student, this research was only limited to the use of smartphone. Second, this
study should have covered the entire medical student in Ambrose Alli University
in order to draw a general conclusion on the subject, but it is restricted to
students in the faculty of basic medical sciences in Ambrose Alli University
due to time and financial constraints. Thirdly, the literature and tools that
was used for this research was not easy to come by.
1.8 Operational
definition of terms
The following are the conceptual definitions of key terms used in
this study:
Academic performance: the level of students’ academic success in their various subjects.
Mobile application: It is a
piece of software that runs on the Internet on a smartphone which can be
downloaded from websites.
Smartphone: A device which has features of both a computer and a mobile phone (cell
phone).
Medical student: A student who enrolled at a medical school,
or a person following a course of study leading to qualification as a doctor,
medicine, physician, nurse.
Usage: To
do something with a device in order to achieve a purpose
University: This
is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which grants
academic degree in various subject and typically provides undergraduate
education and postgraduate education.
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