INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Smartphones are equipped with multi-media phone features, which

include camera function, sound recording function, video function and

many others. These features assist student to drive their learning process

and dreams effectively. The use of smartphones may improve the

efficiency of student’s study activities by allowing them to continuously

search for study-related information and by facilitating framework (Chen

& Yan, 2016; Hawi & Samaha, 2016). Also, academic learning is now

innovative as a result of smartphone and other media in promoting and

advancing 21st century needed skills and knowledge (Tulenko & Bailey,

2013; Emerson & Berge, 2018). Moreover, smart phones play a very

significant role in higher learning student’s information seeking behavior

in meeting their learning and research needs (Sumathi, Lakshmi &

Kundhavai, 2018).

A smartphone is so handy and becoming a multipurpose mobile

device that can assist people to perform their daily professional activities.

Smartphones are used by many to access information and knowledge

from the Internet. In fact, some people develop knowledge by accessing a

pool of knowledge from the Internet using their smartphones. Hence,

smartphones can definitely be taken as to enhance education

(Almunawar, Anshari, Susanto & Chen, 2015). Nowadays, students can

access information and knowledge easily from the Internet and they can
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also have discussions in social networks and get quick answers from

peers, lecturers or even experts. Many college students use smartphones

to help them study. Many educational institutions, especially higher

education institutions, are considering to embrace smartphones as part of

learning aids in classes as most students (in many cases all students) not

only own them but also are also attached to them. Students use

smartphones as learning aids due many reasons such as they provide

convenience, portability, comprehensive learning experiences, multi

sources and multitasks, and environmentally friendly. They also use

smartphones to interact with teachers outside classes and using

smartphones to manage their group assignments (Muhammad,

Mohammad, Almunawar, Masitah, Danang, Wicaksono & Miftachul,

2017).

Related studies in this area are mostly done internationally, and

has limited study nationally. Locally, In Agusan del Sur State College of

Agriculture and Technology, only a few studies have investigated about

Academic use of Smartphones in classroom learning activities. This

research sought to investigate on academic use of smartphones in

classroom learning activities. It is for that reason that this study was

undertaken.
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Objectives of the Study

This study aimed to determine the academic use of smartphones in

classroom learning activities.

Specifically, it sought to:

1. Determine the profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Course

1.2 Year level

2. Determine the level of Academic Use of Smartphones in terms of:

2.1 Learning purposes

2.2 Communication purposes

2.3 Usefulness

3. Determine if there is significant difference on the student’s

Academic Use of Smartphones when group according to their

profile.

Significance of the Study

This study will be beneficial to the following stakeholders of the

College of Teacher’s Education of Agusan del Sur State College of

Agriculture and Technology.

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Administrator. This may serve as the basis on the kind of policies that

will be formulated and maybe be implemented about the academic

use of smartphones in classroom learning activities.

Teachers. This study may serve as a guide on how they may teach the

students in academic use of smartphones in classroom learning

activities.

Students. The result of this study will give them insights about

academic use of smartphones in classroom learning activities.

Future Researcher. The study will provide useful information that may

help future researchers in their related studies. This study will add

to the collection information that would be useful to future

researchers with the same concept of study.

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

This study covered the students of Agusan del Sur State College of

Agriculture and Technology. However, this study focused only on the

Bachelor of Secondary Education students. Furthermore, this study

gathered data that was delimited to the indicators of this study for

Academic Use of Smartphones such as learning purposes, communication

purposes and usefulness.

Time and Place of the Study

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The researcher was conducted the study during the first academic

year 2019-2020 in Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and

Technology, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur.

The Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology

(ASSCAT) started as a settlement known as Manobo farm school for the

people for upper Agusan in 1908. In 2016, Agusan del Sur State College

of Agricuture and Technology (ASSCAT) offers College of Arts and Sciences

(CAS). In 2017 board exam for teachers ASSCAT produced top 5 and just

recently ASSCAT produced top 4 and top 10. In 2018 Agusan del Sur

State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) is already ISO

certified and soon to be Agusan del Sur State University.

Operational Definition of Terms

To facilitate a better understanding of this study, the following

terms were hereby defined operationally:

Smartphone a mobile phone that performs many of the functions of a

computer, typically having a touchscreen interface, internet access,

and an operating system capable of running downloaded

applications and is use as a tool in learning.

Learning is the knowledge acquired through experience, study, or being

taught. It is activity of someone who learns.

Communication is the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or

behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your

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ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else. It is a message that

is given to someone.

Usefulness is the quality of having utility and especially practical worth

or applicability.

Conceptual Framework

Independent Variables Dependent Variables

Profile of the respondents Academic use of

smartphones in classroom
Course learning activities
Year level
Learning purposes
Communication
purposes
Usefulness

Figure1. Conceptual Paradigm

Figure 1 shows the conceptual paradigm of the study. The

independent variable of the study was the students profile with the

indicators of course and year level. The dependent variable of the study

was the Academic Use of Smartphones. It has three indicators namely

learning purposes, communication purposes and usefulness.