ASSESSMENT OF UNDERGRADUATES AWARENESS AND USE OF SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS FOR LEARNING

Abstract

This study was carried out to identify Undergraduate Awareness and Use of Smartphone Applications for Learning. The research was carried out as survey research using relevant literature from journals, magazines, books, and the internet. Four research questions were raised and analyzed for the purpose of the study. A random sampling technique was used in the selection of three hundred and fifty (350) undergraduates from the seven departments in the Faculty of Education. The data were collected with questionnaire instruments and analyzed using simple percentages. The result revealed that; undergraduate students in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin, are fully aware of the use of smartphone applications for learning, to a very high extent, students in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin makes use of their smartphone online classes, research, and join other educational communities in Podcast and Blogs, undergraduate Student do not differ in their awareness of smartphone applications for learning based on sex, student do not differ in their use of smartphone applications Awareness based on academic level, undergraduate students’ academic level significantly differ in their use of smartphones for learning across academic levels, and male and female students do differ in their use of smartphone applications. Based on the results, it was recommended that students should install and use apps for academic purposes frequently and use as many as possible that aid their studies, students should ensure that their frequent use of Social Media Apps aid their studies. , authorities of higher institutions should put in place some regulations on the use of smartphones particularly during lectures to reduce the rate of distraction as a result of smartphone use, students should be encouraged to develop interest in cloud-based apps such as Dropbox and OneDrive used for saving files online and undergraduate students must understand the dangers of smartphone addictions and know what works for them.