INS 1502 fulltext THE USE AND EFFECT OF SMARTPHONES IN STUDENTS’ LEARNING ACTIVITIES: EVIDENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON.

THE USE AND EFFECT OF SMARTPHONES IN STUDENTS’ LEARNING ACTIVITIES: EVIDENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON. Noah Darko-Adjei Department of Information Studies, School of Information and Communication Studies, College of Education, University of Ghana, Legon. Email: Abstract The use of smartphone is gradually becoming a compelling learning tool used to enhance teaching and learning in distance education. Its usage ensures flexible course delivery, makes it possible for learners to access online learning platforms, access course resources and interact digitally. The purpose of this study was to examine the use and effects of the smartphone as a learning tool in distance education at the University of Ghana. The study was based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and included 294 total respondents. The survey research design and questionnaires were employed for the study. The major objectives of the study were: to find out the students’ perceived ease of use of a smartphone in learning activities, to determine the perceived usefulness of smartphone in students’ academic achievement, to investigate the effect of the use of the smartphone in students’ learning activities, and to investigate the factors that inhibit the use of a smartphone as a learning tool. The findings revealed that the distance learning students find it easier to use a smartphone in their learning activities. The findings also revealed that the use of smartphones performed remarkable roles among the distance learning students of the University of Ghana in their academic activities. However, the findings found a negative effect on the distance learning students and revealed some inhibiting factors in the use of smartphones which included smartphones freezing during important learning moments, unstable internet connectivity, intruding calls during class hours, and the screen and key sizes, which made the smartphone uncomfortable for learning, as compared to laptops. Keywords: Smartphones, Mobile learning, Distance Education, Undergraduate, University of Ghana. 2 Introduction The emergence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and internet facilities have drastically affected almost every facet of human life. Currently, it is greatly evident in the way of teaching and learning. Nowadays, smartphones have become a part of every person’s life. Globally, “People around the world have adopted this new and exciting technology as one of the most important required facility in their everyday life” (Fawareh & Jusoh, 2017, p.1). Globally, the explosion of smartphones and its related devices has greatly transformed teaching and learning in developed nations where developing nations are not the exception (Tagoe, 2014). The proliferation of these facilities has changed the style of learning whereby students or learners no more solely depend on paper-based materials. The introduction of the internet led to the emergence of smartphones which enables learning to take place irrespective of the geographical location or period of time. Arguably, smartphones came to the scene to replace the works of the camera, video recorders, digital watches, etc. For instance, it is becoming so rare for an individual to purchase a digital camera for personal use except for commercial purposes, and the extent at which people yearn for digital watches has reduced as a result of the introduction of smartphones. In effect, it becomes redundant for one to purchase such gadgets which can be found in smartphones. Fawareh and Jusoh (2017) postulated that having a smartphone is like having a tiny computer in a pocket. It is blatant that, the potency of smartphone is not only meant for placing of calls and receiving of calls. Usually, there are amazing features such as for browsing, checking health status, sending and receiving emails, watching videos, listening to music, chatting, sharing photos, videos and other