Mobile Phone Usage Patterns among Post-Adolescent School Students

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify "How post-adolescent school students use mobile phones". That was conducted according to the survey research design and implemented through three objectives. Determining the extent of mobile phone use among post-adolescent students, identifying the mobile phone usage patterns of post-adolescent school students, and identifying the problems faced by the students due to the use of mobile phones. As the sample for this research, eighty students were used, who were studying Advanced Level Technology stream from selected two schools in Kurunegala Education Division. Data analysis was carried out in both quantitative data analysis and qualitative data analysis. The pilot survey was conducted with ten students in grade 13 who did not belong to the research sample. According to the data analysis, the following conclusions were reached. Mobile phone usage among post-adolescent students has increased rapidly in the year 2020 and all students are currently using mobile phones. These students frequently use mobile phones and weaning them from using mobile phones is an impossible task, so what can be done is to get them to use mobile phones effectively. Further, post-adolescent school students often try to keep their mobile phone private and use it privately. They used mobile phones to get the information needed for their studies and to engage in their studies. Also, the use of mobile phones for non-academic activities was very high. Use of mobile phones caused to weaken the relationships between their family members as well as social relationships. The use of mobile phones had caused health problems for the students. And the parents' lax policies regarding their children's mobile phone use and their lack of knowledge about mobile phone is the main reason for students' mobile phone use to slip away from their control. However, mobile phones can be used to increase the academic performance and it is important to introduce data packages at affordable prices. And, it is also important to introduce special mobile phones with separate software for the use of students as well as to provide systematic training to both students and teachers on how to use mobile phones to increase learning performance. According to the above conclusion and the information obtained from the data analysis, the following suggestions are made to guide post-adolescent students to use mobile phones effectively: Implementation of a series of training programs for students and teachers on the effective use of mobile phones for academic purposes at the school level, and conducting an awareness program on the use of mobile phones for parents. According to the facilities available in the school, students are directed to use smart classrooms and tab computers in a planned schedule. Implementation of projects to encourage students to learn through exploration, applying for concessional data packages for students in consultation with communication institutes, and arranging sponsorships for communication institutes to get data scholarships for students, are the other recommendations.

KEYWORDS: post-adolescent, student, mobile phones, usage patterns