GADGETS MAY LEAD TO LOWER GRADES

MARIONNE C. BALTAZAR

Research has shown that the use of gadgets can lead to lower students’grades. This is because cellphones, laptops and other electronic devices can be distracting for students.

According to research, when attention is divided between two tasks, fewer items may be recalled later on. It also shows that smart phones can reduce the ability to think and intense multitasking decreases the efficiency of completing a given task.

Previous studies had also demonstrated that divided attention may induce poor performance on exams.

In a study published recently, 118 students who belong to the same class were divided into two groups, with only one group allowed to have laptops and cell phones open for non-classroom purposes.

Results were that the group using devices scored lower on exams. Those who didn’t use a device but were in the same classroom also scored lower - because of distraction from surrounding devices.

These findings are alarming as divided attention is having an insidious effect that is impairing their exam performance and final grade.

Given the effects electronics have on students, teachers need to “explain to students the damaging effect of distractions on retention — not only for themselves, but for the whole class.

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The author is Teacher III at Porac National High School