College students believe they have skills that allow them to engage in multitasking.
The term multitasking comes from computer processing, where computer processors perform more than one task simultaneously.
College students are not capable of multitasking. Students think they are multitasking or engaging in several activities concurrently, such as texting friends, visiting social sites, listening to music and listening to professors during class time. Research shows that this may make them feel as if they are accomplishing more work.
However, students are concentrating on only one activity at a time. That is, they are switching or sequentially performing tasks. Students hide their smartphones under books, papers or desks and text friends, visit social sites and play games during class time. Students engaged in these activities during class time think they can listen to lectures at the same time. Research shows students cannot do so and earn lower grades.
Professors charged with the responsibility of providing a classroom environment conducive to learning undertake this responsibly seriously in most cases. However, some professors believe it is acceptable behavior for students to use their smartphones during class time for personal use if they do not distract students. This is spurious thinking. The students using their smartphones to text friends, visit social sites or play games are distracted and cannot pay attention.
Kevin Synnott
Hampton