Technological advancement over the years has had a great impact on the lives of people, both positive and negative. Today, almost any information can be sourced from the internet. Technology is all about making life easier, which is why the market is full of awesome gadgets. While most of these gadgets are beneficial to the human race, they have a bad impact on education and students themselves.
Gadgets have literally taken over our lives as there is a gadget for every function. Gadgets are used in our homes as well as offices. Sadly, students have caught the craze. Students are increasingly using gadgets to find information and entertainment. Gadgets are popular among students as they are almost always in a competition to own the latest gadget. The most common gadget among students is the smartphone. Gadgets may appear cool but they can significantly affect the education of students.
Poor attention span
Gadgets such as mobile phones and tablets can reduce the attention span of a student thereby affecting their learning. Research shows that the average student’s span is reduced by at least 4 seconds from 12. A lower attention span causes a student to have a hard time concentrating in class. Poor concentration translates to an inability to grasp things taught in class. The result of this is that the student is likely to get bad grades. A poor attention span also means that a student can be easily distracted when studying or working on an assignment. Such students are likely to have a hard time completing even the simplest of tasks.
Poor sleeping patterns
Most students are so obsessed with their gadgets that they use them well into the night. Laptops, tablets, smartphones, and iPods are the greatest culprits as they can be used in bed. Using these gadgets for long periods at night may have adverse effects on a student’s sleeping patterns. Some of these gadgets emit an artificial blue light that suppresses the release of melatonin, making it more difficult to fall asleep. This inability to fall asleep on time reduces a person’s REM sleep. Students need to get enough REM sleep so that they can stay alert while in class. Therefore, gadgets impair education by reducing the alertness of students.
Laziness
It is true that gadgets such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones allow students to easily find information on the internet. However, some students may become so accustomed to such shortcuts that it becomes difficult for them to do their own research and complete their own assignments. Such students will develop an extreme dependence on gadgets to complete academic work.
Time wastage
When a student is obsessed with gadgets he/she ends up spending too much time on the gadget. Smartphones and other gadgets that allow students to access the internet can be used to browse the internet and social media for hours on end at the expense of schoolwork. Videogames and iPods can also consume so much of a student’s time that he/she barely has enough time in a day to study.
Negative health effects
Obsessive use of gadgets leads to a sedentary lifestyle that is evidenced by weight gain and bad posture. Some students are so obsessed with gadgets that they may either become obese or develop complications with their backs, necks, hands, and wrists. Furthermore, backlit gadgets such as laptops and iPhones are associated with headaches and eye problems. In severe cases, the person may eventually become blind.
Despite the overuse of gadgets, it is sometimes necessary for students to use these gadgets for the sake of their education. In such cases, there are a few things you can do to avert the adverse health effects associated with using gadgets. These include:
- Exercise your sight by blinking after every few minutes or focus on a particular spot for some time.
- Expose your eyes to natural light during the day to help mitigate the effects of extensive exposure to artificial light.
- Maintain a distance of at least a forearm’s length from your computer or mobile phone.
- Wear protective glasses if you must use electronic gadgets for extended periods.
- Take regular breaks when using gadgets.
- Improve your diet by incorporating foods rich in Zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants. These nutrients are good for your eyesight.
When it comes to gadget usage among students, the best remedy is to cut down on the number of hours spent using them. This is because the more you use electronic gadgets, the more likely you are to become addicted to them. Gadgets are much like alcohol and drugs; once you get hooked, you cannot stop thinking about them.
A student’s education is only as good as his/her ability to concentrate. Concentration goes beyond the classroom. Granted, a good student should be able to listen to his/her professor clearly in order to achieve the learning outcomes. However, students also learn through individual studies and by completing tasks and assignments outside the classroom. All these require the student to set aside any distractions and focus only on the task at hand. Students who are addicted to their gadgets may be incapable of this much-needed concentration.
Being distracted by gadgets, they prefer addressing paid writing services online to get necessary essay writing assistance from academic writers. Such students will feel the need to log onto their computers or smartphones as soon as they open their books.
