Is smartphone a tool for learning purpose? - A survey among students of a dental college in Telangana state

Introduction: Smartphone and mobile internet service usage by students has increased in the recent years and therefore presents a significant potential as learning tools. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the usage of smartphones for learning purposes among dental students. Materials and Metho...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pavithra Bikumalla, KVNR Pratap, T Madhavi Padma, V Siva Kalyan, P Vineela, L Surya Chandra Varma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
Series:Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jiaphd.org/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2017;volume=15;issue=4;spage=373;epage=377;aulast=Bikumalla
_version_ 1818012872594161664
author Pavithra Bikumalla
KVNR Pratap
T Madhavi Padma
V Siva Kalyan
P Vineela
L Surya Chandra Varma
author_facet Pavithra Bikumalla
KVNR Pratap
T Madhavi Padma
V Siva Kalyan
P Vineela
L Surya Chandra Varma
author_sort Pavithra Bikumalla
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Smartphone and mobile internet service usage by students has increased in the recent years and therefore presents a significant potential as learning tools. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the usage of smartphones for learning purposes among dental students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted at a teaching health-care institution in Telangana among dental undergraduate students. Data were collected about their smartphones and connections, general use of smartphones, smartphones for learning purposes, and their attitude toward smartphones for learning purposes. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results: Out of the 300 dental students, 259 students owned smartphones and 248 students had access to internet services. Most popular devices were Androids and iPhones. A total of 86% students used their smartphones to take photos and record their work. Majority (80%) of them used smartphones to obtain study material. Out of all the participants, 53% had apps related to dental education. Most of the students preferred their smartphones to library to access information and study materials. The attitude of the students was positive toward mobile learning, and majority of them expressed that smartphone usage for educational purposes should be encouraged by the college and staff. Conclusion: Majority of students use smartphones for educational purposes. It was observed that students prefer to access information from online resources to library. Therefore, this might present an opportunity for educators to design suitable teaching interventions and develop diverse learning approaches.
first_indexed 2024-04-14T06:26:12Z
format Article
id doaj.art-63e78d48442246318d905a06fc1d78bb
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2319-5932
2350-0484
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-14T06:26:12Z
publishDate 2017-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry
spelling doaj.art-63e78d48442246318d905a06fc1d78bb2022-12-22T02:07:50ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry2319-59322350-04842017-01-0115437337710.4103/jiaphd.jiaphd_67_17Is smartphone a tool for learning purpose? - A survey among students of a dental college in Telangana statePavithra BikumallaKVNR PratapT Madhavi PadmaV Siva KalyanP VineelaL Surya Chandra VarmaIntroduction: Smartphone and mobile internet service usage by students has increased in the recent years and therefore presents a significant potential as learning tools. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the usage of smartphones for learning purposes among dental students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted at a teaching health-care institution in Telangana among dental undergraduate students. Data were collected about their smartphones and connections, general use of smartphones, smartphones for learning purposes, and their attitude toward smartphones for learning purposes. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results: Out of the 300 dental students, 259 students owned smartphones and 248 students had access to internet services. Most popular devices were Androids and iPhones. A total of 86% students used their smartphones to take photos and record their work. Majority (80%) of them used smartphones to obtain study material. Out of all the participants, 53% had apps related to dental education. Most of the students preferred their smartphones to library to access information and study materials. The attitude of the students was positive toward mobile learning, and majority of them expressed that smartphone usage for educational purposes should be encouraged by the college and staff. Conclusion: Majority of students use smartphones for educational purposes. It was observed that students prefer to access information from online resources to library. Therefore, this might present an opportunity for educators to design suitable teaching interventions and develop diverse learning approaches.http://www.jiaphd.org/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2017;volume=15;issue=4;spage=373;epage=377;aulast=BikumallaDental studentslearningsmartphonessocial media
spellingShingle Pavithra Bikumalla
KVNR Pratap
T Madhavi Padma
V Siva Kalyan
P Vineela
L Surya Chandra Varma
Is smartphone a tool for learning purpose? - A survey among students of a dental college in Telangana state
Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry
Dental students
learning
smartphones
social media
title Is smartphone a tool for learning purpose? - A survey among students of a dental college in Telangana state
title_full Is smartphone a tool for learning purpose? - A survey among students of a dental college in Telangana state
title_fullStr Is smartphone a tool for learning purpose? - A survey among students of a dental college in Telangana state
title_full_unstemmed Is smartphone a tool for learning purpose? - A survey among students of a dental college in Telangana state
title_short Is smartphone a tool for learning purpose? - A survey among students of a dental college in Telangana state
title_sort is smartphone a tool for learning purpose a survey among students of a dental college in telangana state
topic Dental students
learning
smartphones
social media
url http://www.jiaphd.org/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2017;volume=15;issue=4;spage=373;epage=377;aulast=Bikumalla
work_keys_str_mv AT pavithrabikumalla issmartphoneatoolforlearningpurposeasurveyamongstudentsofadentalcollegeintelanganastate
AT kvnrpratap issmartphoneatoolforlearningpurposeasurveyamongstudentsofadentalcollegeintelanganastate
AT tmadhavipadma issmartphoneatoolforlearningpurposeasurveyamongstudentsofadentalcollegeintelanganastate
AT vsivakalyan issmartphoneatoolforlearningpurposeasurveyamongstudentsofadentalcollegeintelanganastate
AT pvineela issmartphoneatoolforlearningpurposeasurveyamongstudentsofadentalcollegeintelanganastate
AT lsuryachandravarma issmartphoneatoolforlearningpurposeasurveyamongstudentsofadentalcollegeintelanganastate