Smart Phone Use for Learning: A Study On University of Ghana Students

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to find out the use of smartphones for learning among students at the University of Ghana. The main objectives pursued by this study were to investigate the adoption factors most relevant in student use of a smartphone as a learning tool, and also to investigate the role of educators (lecturers) in students’ resolution to learning via smartphones, as well as investigate factors that inhibit the use of smartphones as a learning tool. In accomplishing the objectives above, the study adopted a survey to gather data from students across all the levels of the University. In total, two hundred and fifty (250) students were sampled. The response rate for the study was about 97.6%. The study found significant statistical associations between all the smartphone adoption factors, i.e. performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social expectancy, facilitation conditions and students’ willingness and ability to learn with smartphones. Again, the study found out that crucial to students’ resolution to use smartphones for learning is the role lecturers play. For example, students indicated they would use smartphones to learn on condition that it granted them access to resources online put there by their lecturers. Finally, the study found that inhibiting factors moderate at least, the relationships between adoption factors like: performance expectancy; effort expectancy; and facilitation conditions, and students’ willingness and ability to learn with smartphones. By way of recommendations, the study recommends that the University should constantly ensure that IT systems are most of the time compatible with all the generations of smartphones, especially as it is a key facilitation condition. Again, the study recommends that the University should provide students with resources that are necessary to enhance smartphone learning. Regarding recommendations for future study; other researchers should attempt examining smartphone learning in other contexts, i.e. other Universities, as well as carry out a comparative study iii among the institutions so as to amply inform authorities on how smartphone learning can be integrated into the learning activities of Universities in Ghana