Impact of Mobile Phones on Academic Performance of Grade VI Pupils

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

A mobile phone is a wireless handheld device that allows users to make and receive calls and to send text messages, among other features. The earliest generation of mobile phones could only make and receive calls. A mobile phone may also be known as a cellular phone or simply a cell phone. The presence of cell phones presents both opportunities and challenges for today's students. This study was carried out to find out the impact of mobile phones on pupils' academic achievement whether can it be a helpful academic tool, or a hurtful academic disruption on the pupils.

METHODS

The descriptive survey research design was used. This study carried out in Francisco De Castro Elementary School. The population of the study was made up of 60 grade 6 pupils that are 20% of the total population of 300. A self-structured questionnaire was used to gather information from the respondents. The questionnaire is a close-ended one, whereby respondents were only allowed to choose their answers from the boxes provided. The researcher used Percentage, Mean, Standard Deviation, Correlation, and Chi-Square.

RESULTS

This study showed that the majority of the respondents were male which is 33 (55%) while 27 (45%) were female. 40 respondents were between 10-12years, 19 between 13-15 years while just 1 was between 16-18 years. Then, 42 (70%) respondents make use of their phones frequently while 18 (30%) did not. Consequently, the pupils' academic achievement got an average mean of 84.02that fall on the Satisfactory level which is 80-84 percent. The researcher found out that the pupils' academic achievement and use of a mobile phone for academic purposes like doing their assignments and research was significantly related. However, there is no significant relationship between the usage of mobile phones for academic purpose and other activities such as face booking, gaming, and browsing. Therefore, Mobile phones can be academic useful but with limitations and with parents' guidance.

DISCUSSIONS

It was then recommended that pupils can use mobile phones at the school but must be continuously informed on the positive and negative effects of their usage and of the problems deriving from the over-dependency and unregulated use of their mobile phones. Similarly, Schools may have policies to restrict cell phone use at school and should consider integrating mobile devices into lesson plans.