How technology affects students’ learning: an exploratory study on similarities and differences in school and home work between high school and university students

Abstract

This thesis aims to explain and show the different use of technology done by the students of the fifth grade of high school and of the university, in the field of learning. This difference is done both in the usage of technology at school or at university and in the use of it at home. For this thesis, an ad hoc questionnaire has been made, administrated online. The sample of students who contributed to the research consists of 86 young adults. They answered 38 questions divided into the use they do of technology and technological tools at school/university and at home. This research is fundamentally focused on the attention, concentration, related to mental fatigue, and interest of young people in learning through technology. The results show differences between the students of the fifth grade and those of the university, in particular in the aspect of autonomy and freedom of use in formal contexts. Attention and concentration are stimulated especially at the university, also thanks to the ease of use and the speed of taking notes with technological devices. While for both groups of students, the prolonged use of technological means causes visual and mental fatigue. Most of the sample says that they are interested in technological innovation, even if they use it more in their free time.