Skip to main content
Log in

Use of Visual Prompts as a Pedagogical Strategy to Reduce Digital Distraction in College Classes

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:
TechTrends Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Technology is recognized as a valuable learning tool, but research indicates that students are also distracted by the use of technology in class. Since college students constantly rely on their devices for learning, it has become imperative for instructors to find effective ways of integrating technology into their lessons while reducing digital distractions. In this study, we investigated the effects of behavior strategies related to in-class device usage among undergraduate students. Students were provided with visual prompts corresponding to various class activities to direct their use of devices in class. At the end of the semester, we surveyed the students about their perspectives on the visual prompts strategy for device usage. The majority of students found value in the use of technology devices in class for their learning (efficient work, notetaking, concentration) and indicated overall positive effects of the visual prompts strategy. For successful technology integration in college classrooms, instructors should consider using strategies such as visual prompts to enhance students’ learning experience and reduce digital distraction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiyeon Park.

Ethics declarations

Ethics Approval

Approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Eastern Kentucky University was granted before conducting this study.

Consent

Participants consented to participate in the study.

Conflict of Interest

Authors have no known conflict of interest to disclose. Authors have no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Park, J., Ok, M.W. Use of Visual Prompts as a Pedagogical Strategy to Reduce Digital Distraction in College Classes. TechTrends 68, 325–337 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-024-00930-9

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-024-00930-9

Keywords

Navigation