Today, smartphones have become a very popular learning tool. More specifically, educators have been using smartphones to enhance their teaching and students' learning. Using smartphones, educators can ensure flexible course delivery and provide learners access to online learning resources. In this study, the author examines how smartphones can be used as an effective learning tool for distance education. This study utilized a survey of university students in Karachi, Pakistan to find the effects of using smartphones in their learning activities and what factors inhibit their use of smartphones in their learning.
Top1. Introduction
Educational Technology is the field of study that investigates the process of analyzing, designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating the instructional environment, learning materials, learners, and the learning process in order to improve teaching and learning (Mishra et al., 2009). In education, educational technology plays a very significant role by assisting academicians integrate new technologies and tools into their classroom. Academicians can use educational technology to make their classes more focused towards needs of learners. Educational technology provides unique opportunities for academicians to engage their students in unique, innovative, and equitable ways and to expand their network and connect with other teachers and educators (School of Education, 2022).
Technology, especially information and related technology, has affected every aspect of our lives. Today, the impact of information technology (IT) is very evident in academics. Smartphones have rapidly become an integral element of our daily routine (Fawareh & Jusoh, 2017). The global rise in the use of smartphones has transformed the world of academics in both developed and developing worlds (Tagoe, 2014; Aljaber, 2021). Learners are no longer solely dependent on paper-based learning resources. The learning now takes place synchronously and asynchronously across geographical boundaries (Aljohani & Chandran, 2019; Amaliyah et al., 2021; Younes et al., 2021).
In their inception, smartphones were mainly used as an alternative to digital camera. Over the time, smartphones have even replaced digital watches. It is rare to find someone who owns a smartphone as well as a digital camera and digital watch. A smartphone can be considered a mini computer itself (Fawareh & Jusoh (2017; Komalavalli et al., 2020;). Besides basic call features, smartphones provide many amazing, advanced features such as web surfing, email, photo/vide/document sharing, biometric, access to social media sites to mention just a few (Zaki, 2019). Arguably, smartphone is the single most important driver of exploding use of social media sites including Facebook (Masiu & Chukwuere, 2018). From learners’ point of view, a smartphone is a smart device that they can use to gain instant access to knowledge and achieve their learning objectives (Astuti et al., 2020; Ta’amneh, 2021; Tortorella et al., 2021; Yulkifli et al., 2022). For example, students can use smartphones to take notes, connect with learning management system (LMS), watch and record videos of lectures, record audios of explanation, access online libraries, connect with the teachers, listen to news and podcasts, read e-books, attempt online tests and assessments, collaborate with their peers, manage their time effectively etc.
According to Sarfoah (2017), the increased proliferation of smartphones has resulted in an associated increase in the number of social media users and the developing world has surpassed developed world in terms of number of mobile phone users. According to newzoo.com (2022), Pakistan was placed among the top 20 countries with respect to number of smartphone users. Pakistan has been ranked among developing nations that are quickly adopting mobile and IT.