10 Uses of Electronic Devices in Education and Learning

Electronic devices such as tablets, phones, laptops and cameras can support learning when they are used with a clear purpose. In education, these gadgets help students research information, take notes, collaborate, create presentations, communicate with teachers and participate in virtual classrooms.

The benefits are strongest when schools set rules around distraction, privacy and appropriate classroom use. Gadgets should support learning, not replace teaching or give students another way to drift away from the lesson.

Quick Answer: What are the uses of electronic devices in education?

Electronic devices are used in education for research, digital notes, presentations, collaboration, communication, virtual classrooms, information storage and checking facts. Their main advantage is that they make learning more flexible and interactive, but they work best when students have clear expectations for how and when to use them.

Key Takeaways

• Electronic devices can improve access to learning materials by putting notes, books, research and classroom tools in one place.
• Gadgets can support student-centered learning because students can work at their own pace and use different formats to understand a topic.
• Technology improves collaboration through shared documents, classroom platforms, group chats and virtual learning spaces.
• Devices are most useful when rules are clear because phones and tablets can also create distraction when they are not managed well.
• The best classroom use is intentional: research, notes, communication, presentations and accessibility are stronger uses than passive screen time.

Best Uses of Electronic Devices for Students

• Research: finding sources, checking facts and using academic databases.
• Note-taking: saving lecture notes, PDFs, images and audio where permitted.
• Collaboration: working in shared documents, classroom platforms and group projects.
• Presentations: creating visual, audio and video material for class.
• Communication: receiving updates from teachers and classmates through approved school tools.
• Virtual learning: joining online classes, discussions, whiteboards and learning management systems.

1. Improves overall student performance

According to the study of Behnke, Gilliland, Schneider and Singer in 2005, the usage of gadgets such as tablets in class can contribute to improved student performance, it also can contribute to the decrease in the number of students who perform poorly in class.

Not only that, gadgets also help improve the efficiency of teaching methods and learning capacities of students using tablets in class.

Overall, the usage of electronic gadgets has made activities conducted in classrooms more flexible. The various features and functions of gadgets in class also play a part to efficiently transform teaching and learning methods, because of this, different senses of students are activated through the use of these gadgets.

Also see Transforming Education with Electronic Gadgets: Improving Student Performance and Enhancing Teaching Methods

2. Enables student-centered learning

Traditionally, learning is dependent on teacher-centered strategies. But with the transformations in the teaching methodologies and the availability of gadgets in the classroom, learning has deviated away from this focus.

According to the study of Nah, Lim, and Yih in 2012, electronic gadgets help facilitate and expound student-centered learning through providing additional functions that enable students’ active role in the classroom. Their independence and ability to control their learning pace using these gadgets have fostered personalized participation.

Also see Empowering Students through Electronic Gadgets: How Student-Centered Learning is Revolutionizing Education

3. Enhances knowledge-retention

Retention is one crucial factor in determining whether students are successfully learning in class. Correlatively, the activation of students’ multiple senses while using electronic gadgets in class, may help with their knowledge retention.

For instance, according to the study of Krause, Mogalle, Pohl and Williams in 2015, social gamification can help increase knowledge-retention among students.

Also see The Power of Gamification in Education: Boosting Motivation, Engagement, and Knowledge Retention

4. Enhances presentation and illustration of lectures

Content is no longer presented through traditional methods such as the usage of boards, hardcopy drawings, and old school black and white projectors, through the usage of gadgets in the classroom, audio-visual and media presentations became not only available but portable for students.

Both students and teachers can also customize the ways through which information can be presented in class using electronic gadgets. These ways usually improve participation inside the classroom.

Also see Revolutionizing Education: The Impact of Gadgets on Multimedia Content in the Classroom

5. Enhances collaboration

Due to the personalized and multiple functions of gadgets in class, collaboration consequently increases among students especially in terms of classroom participation and engagement.

As mentioned earlier, the usage of gadgets makes learning flexible. In the same way that collaboration becomes more voluntary as opposed to traditional learning methods due to the features and accessibility of gadgets. This is most apparent in virtual classrooms, online discussions and online activities.

Also see: The Power of Technology in Education: The Collaborative Benefits of Gadgets in the Classroom

6. Can be used for research purposes

This is the most widely known use of using gadgets in the classroom. No longer do students have to physically go to libraries and browse hardcopy books for simple research or homework. Information is within their grasp in matters of seconds.

Also, researching online is not only limited to Google or Google Scholar. Schools often also provide access to paid research scholarly digital database such as Ebsco and Jstor. These database platforms are no longer confined within library computers but can also be accessible through tablets and mobile phones of students.

Also see: The Impact of Gadgets on Student Research Skills and Habits

7. Can be used for easier access to materials and easier storage of information

No longer do students traditionally take notes but they can store books and notes through pdf or e-book copies or through taking pictures of lecture notes. They can also record audios and videos of lectures and discussions for as long as it is permitted by the lecturer or professor. Also, anytime they need materials, these materials can be accessible through the most portable gadgets such as mobile phones.

Also, according to the study of Behnke, Gilliland, Schneider and Singer in 2005, the usage of gadgets such as tablets create increase in the information received by students.

8. Can be used by students to verify information

Due to the easier access to information, students can practice initiative to verify among themselves the data presented to them. Hence, improving their information fluency and critical thinking.

Speaking of critical thinking, wondering how you can improve critical thinking in writing? Here are 5 Tips on How to Improve Critical Thinking Skills in Academic Writing

According to the study of Mada in 2017, gadgets can help develop learning skills such as assembling, evaluating and utilizing information.

While according to the study of Thomas, O’Bannon and Bolton in 2013, since students can verify information themselves through the internet, this increases communication, collaboration and cooperative problem solving amongst students and even teachers.

9. Can be used for easier communication

Students and also teachers no longer have to disseminate information through text messages or emails individually, but with electronic gadgets, platforms for portable and easier sharing of necessary school-related information is possible such as Facebook groups, Google classroom and other learning management systems such as Schoology.

Also, collaboration is easier between students and teachers given the instructional features most gadgets have that can be utilized for learning.

Also See: Revolutionizing Education: How Technology is Enhancing Learning through Collaborative Spaces, Learning Management Systems, and Social Media

10. Can be used for virtual classroom or virtual learning

A virtual classroom is a platform through which learning is conducted online. Inside the virtual classroom, mechanisms such as video conference, online whiteboard and chat boxes are used by students and teachers.

This is essentially useful for learning flexibility and maximizing the benefits of technology in education. According to the study of McBrien and Jones, virtual classroom is a platform that can increase students’ engagement and participation due to the digital tools and mechanisms that students can use.

Also see: Maximizing the Potential of Virtual Classrooms: Advantages, Research, and Actionable Steps for Institutions

When Gadgets Hurt Learning

Electronic gadgets can also hurt learning when they become a distraction. Social media, games, messaging and unrelated browsing can pull students away from the lesson. The best classroom technology plans set clear rules, explain when devices are useful and make sure students understand the difference between learning time and personal screen time.

Conclusion

There you go! We have gone through all the 10 benefits and uses of allowing electronic gadgets in classrooms. However, these benefits can only be maximized if there is supervision in the usage of these gadgets. For instance, social media applications should be minimized or banned during discussions unless needed and related to ongoing classroom activities. Other educationally unrelated use of these gadgets should also be minimized. Otherwise, the usage of electronic gadgets in classrooms may cause distraction and hence be counterproductive for students.

Bio

Charm Jayme is a Marketing Executive at Inkmypapers  in Singpore. She loves books, coffee and breakfast.

FAQ: Electronic Devices in Education

What are the main uses of electronic devices in education?

The main uses are research, digital note-taking, presentations, communication, collaboration, virtual classrooms, information storage and fact-checking. These uses help students access learning materials faster and participate in more flexible classroom activities.

What are 10 advantages of gadgets for students?

Ten advantages include better access to information, improved research, easier note storage, stronger collaboration, more interactive presentations, faster communication, virtual learning access, better knowledge retention, student-centered learning and easier fact-checking.

Are electronic gadgets good for learning?

Electronic gadgets can be good for learning when they are used for a specific educational purpose. They become less helpful when students use them for unrelated browsing, games, social media or messaging during class.

How can teachers use gadgets without distracting students?

Teachers can reduce distraction by setting device rules, choosing the right tool for the lesson, using approved classroom platforms and giving students specific tasks such as research, quizzes, presentations or collaboration.

Related Education and Technology Posts

• AI and Assistive Technology in Education: Insights with Dr. Brian Friedlander – HGG657
• Transforming Education with Electronic Gadgets
• Maximizing the Potential of Virtual Classrooms

Sources

Ellis-Behnke, R., Gilliland, J., Schneider, G. E., & Singer, D. (2003). Educational benefits of a paperless classroom utilizing tablet PCs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts-USA.

Krause, M., Mogalle, M., Pohl, H., & Williams, J. J. (2015, March). A playful game changer: Fostering student retention in online education with social gamification. In Proceedings of the Second (2015) ACM conference on Learning@ Scale (pp. 95-102).

Mada, A. (2017). The Perception of Students and Lecturers on the Benefits, Opportunities and Challenges of the Use of ICT Gadgets During Lectures. The Fountain: Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 1(1), 108-132.

McBrien, J. L., Cheng, R., & Jones, P. (2009). Virtual spaces: Employing a synchronous online classroom to facilitate student engagement in online learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 10(3).

Nah, E. A., Lim, T. H., & Yih, B. (2012). Enhancing student-centered learning through usage of television commercials via wiki. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 67, 144-155.

Thomas, K. M., O’Bannon, B. W., & Bolton, N. (2013). Cell phones in the classroom: Teachers’ perspectives of inclusion, benefits, and barriers. Computers in the Schools, 30(4), 295-308.