


































Global Research in Higher Education 
ISSN 2576-196X (Print) ISSN 2576-1951 (Online) 

Vol. 8, No. 1, 2025 

www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/grhe 

46 

 

Original Paper 

The Impact of Smartphones on Effective Classrooms and 

Control Measures 

Zhao Yuan-yuan
1*

, Song Ming-zhi
2
 & Liu Yang

2
 

1
 Department of Accounting and Finance, Qingdao City University, Qingdao, China 

2
 Intelligent Construction Department, Qingdao City University, Qingdao, China 

 

*
 Zhao Yuan-yuan is the first author, Song Ming-zhi is the second author, and Liu Yang is the third 

author. 

 

Received: January 8, 2025     Accepted: January 20, 2025   Online Published: January 21, 2025 

doi:10.22158/grhe.v8n1p46            URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/grhe.v8n1p46 

 

Abstract 

In recent times, smartphones have increasingly been incorporated into college classrooms as 

educational instruments. However, they represent a “dual-edged weapon”, offering ease in teaching 

while simultaneously contributing to a rising trend of students using their phones improperly during 

class. Therefore, how to reasonably control the use of smartphones in college classrooms is an issue 

worth exploring. 

Keywords 

Smartphone, College Classroom, Control Countermeasures 

 

1. Introduction 

The practice of students utilizing cell phones in college and university classrooms has been prevalent 

for quite some time. In the early days, cell phones mainly served the communication function and the 

entertainment function was relatively single, and the frequency of students using cell phones in the 

classroom was relatively low. As science and technology advance, smartphones have rapidly expanded 

their functionalities, including games, novels, short videos, and shopping, all accessible at a touch. 

While enhancing convenience and entertainment, this has posed a significant challenge to classroom 

instruction. 

 

 

 



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2. The Impact of Smartphones on Classroom Instruction 

Smartphones are a general term for cell phones with independent operating systems that support users 

to expand, install, and have the autonomy to uninstall applications and achieve wireless internet 

connectivity via mobile communication networks. By connecting to wireless networks and installing 

applications independently, users can choose to access external information, where educational content 

positively influences efficient classrooms, whereas non-educational content may have adverse effects. 

2.1 Positive Influence 

The positive impact is mainly reflected in the use of intelligent mobile learning software. Taking 

“Super Star Learning APP” as an example, the teaching resource library provided by the learning 

software greatly enriches the content of lesson preparation; in the course of the lesson, the classroom 

activity controls such as signing in, selecting people, voting, questionnaires, accompanying exercises, 

grouping tasks, etc., can increase the interaction between teachers and students, and improve the 

efficiency of the course statistics; after the lesson, through the software, assignments and exams can be 

issued to better understand students’ mastery of knowledge. After the class, the software can be used to 

distribute homework and exams to better understand the students' mastery of knowledge. 

2.2 Negative Influence 

The negative impact lies in the use of entertainment software as well as some communication software. 

For most people, learning is boring, and compared with the games, chatting, short videos, online 

shopping, etc. on the cell phone, there is no attraction, which makes the students who already lack 

self-control become the “low head” in the classroom, and the smartphone has a serious impact on the 

students' concentration on classroom learning. 

 

3. Reasons for the Negative Impact of Smartphones on Classroom Instruction 

3.1 External Causes 

3.1.1 Teaching Paradigm Shift 

The current “Internet +” environment, cell phones into the classroom to assist teaching is in line with 

the trend of the new era of network wave. Network technology has revolutionized the way knowledge 

is acquired. The traditional teaching model has struggled to keep pace with these changes, necessitating 

proactive adjustments to classroom teaching methods. The integration of network technology with 

traditional teaching offers significant convenience to both students and teachers. In this evolution, 

smartphones have become indispensable. Students’ use of cell phones in the classroom has shifted from 

being covert to overt. However, it remains unclear whether they are using their phones to process 

learning-related information or merely using them for entertainment purposes, often under the guise of 

“learning”. In the name of “learning”, the practice of “play”, not a few. 

 

 



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3.1.2 Changes in the Learning Environment 

In high schools, there is typically a ban on cell phones on campus, fostering a strong learning 

environment. Students tend to exercise restraint with their phone usage, even during weekends at home, 

where parents often remind them verbally to focus on studies and limit leisurely phone use. After 

stepping into the door of the university, students independently arrange after-school time, whether in 

class or out of class, no one will be forced to prohibit or reduce the frequency of playing cell phones. 

As time goes by, students find that just playing with their cell phones after class is no longer enough to 

satisfy their fun-loving nature, so using their cell phones to chat, play games, and swipe short videos 

during class time becomes commonplace. Since no one asks questions in class, and since they can get 

by without listening to class, students certainly do not value classroom teaching, and playing with their 

cell phones in class becomes a common occurrence. 

3.1.3 Network Technological Advances 

Time is developing, society is progressing, the function of cell phone is also more and more colorful. 

From single-player games to online games such as King’s Glory and Peaceful Elite, from single 

communication software to the current chatting and dating APPs such as WeChat and QQ, and then the 

short videos such as Jitterbug and Shutterbug that have sprung up in recent years, etc., the colorful 

functions of cell phones have greatly occupied students’ time after school, or even in class. 

 

External causes

Teaching 

paradigm 

shift

Changes in 

the learning 

environment

Advances in 

network 

technology

Smartphones Negatively 

Impact Classroom Instruction

 

Figure 1. External Reasons for the Negative Impact of Smartphones on Classroom Instruction 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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3.2 Internal Causes 

Students generally lack self-discipline. Throughout their growth from kindergarten to high school, 

students remain under their parents’ supervision. Given their limited life experience and discernment, 

they often rely on their parents’ advice or adhere to their parents’ arrangements for most daily decisions. 

After entering university, students are largely free from parental management, but their ability to 

manage themselves is seriously lacking. It is precisely during this period that students begin to use 

smartphones on their own, and the various tempting functions inevitably make students lose themselves 

and eventually rely heavily on their cell phones. 

 

4. Reasons for the Negative Impact of Smartphones on Classroom Instruction 

4.1 Strict Control of the Classroom 

First of all, in the classroom, cell phone vibration or ringing can easily attract the attention of students, 

affecting the overall quality and progress of teaching, so you can ask students to turn their cell phones 

to silent mode in class, and at the same time to remind the students who play with the cell phone; 

Secondly, to enhance interaction with students, teachers should integrate their own work or life 

experiences, or link book knowledge with real-life scenarios during the teaching process. This 

approach not only aids students in deepening their memory but also stimulates their enthusiasm and 

concentration; Lastly, increasing the utilization of smart mobile learning software can decrease the 

opportunities for students to engage in leisure and entertainment activities within the classroom setting. 

This will help students to deepen their memory and at the same time mobilize their motivation and 

concentration; finally, to increase the frequency of using smart mobile learning software, so as to 

reduce the opportunity for students to use cell phones to relax and entertain themselves in the 

classroom.  

4.2 Teaching According To the Ability of the Student 

Each student has his or her own specialties, such as language, politics, writing, etc. Teachers can tailor 

their instruction to each student based on their unique characteristics and the course content, making it 

more accessible for students to grasp the knowledge presented in textbooks. This personalized 

approach necessitates a thorough understanding of each student by the teacher. Consequently, to ensure 

that teaching aligns with students’ needs and to achieve a high-quality education, some colleges and 

universities have adopted small class sizes. Some researchers believe that small class teaching is 

conducive to the full mobilization of the “teacher-student” double subjective role, to stimulate students’ 

learning initiative, creativity and inner potential.  

 

 

 

 



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4.3 The Essence of Learning 

The vital mission of higher education is to nurture high-caliber talents for the nation. For many students, 

enrolling in university aims to secure a fulfilling job upon graduation, with the necessary skills and 

knowledge for that occupation typically acquired through daily studies on campus, but unfortunately, 

most students do not understand the jobs that they will probably be engaged in in the future, and 

therefore do not recognize the importance of classroom learning. Based on the current situation, it is 

recommended that colleges and universities set up a full-time career counselor, from the beginning of 

enrollment on a regular basis to introduce students to the current state of the industry after graduation 

will probably be engaged in the workplace. To ignite students’ internal drive for learning, it’s crucial to 

transform the mindset from “they want me to learn” to “I want to learn!” By doing so, students will 

undoubtedly become more engrossed in classroom activities, thereby significantly mitigating the 

adverse effects of smartphones on their learning.  

 

Strict control of the classroom

teaching according to the 

ability of the student

the essence of 

learning

lower

higher

  

Figure 2. Control Countermeasures against Smartphone Influence on College Students’ 

Classroom Learning 

 

4. Conclusion 

As a product of the times, smartphones have long been a “part” of our lives and are inseparable. 

However, in the classroom, students’ energy is limited, and the presence of cell phones will inevitably 

occupy them. In order to ensure the quality of teaching, teachers should reasonably control the use of 

cell phones, and improve the attractiveness of the knowledge taught, stimulate students to learn the 

internal motivation, help students learn better, and realize high-quality teaching.  

 

 



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References 

Kong, C. X. (2012). Comparison and inspiration of large and small classroom teaching in Chinese and 

Canadian universities. Journal of Shanghai Youth Management Cadre College, 2012(1). 

Liu, F. (2014). The Adverse Effects of College Students’ Cell Phone Dependence on Classroom 

Teaching and Response. Heihe Journal, 2014(1), 171-173. 

Sun, S. L. (2014). Can’t control yourself, or can’t control your cell phone? Education and career, 

2014(7). 

Xu, L., Yuan, H. J., & Meng, J. L. (2014). The impact of smartphone popularization on college 

students’ classroom learning. China Adult Education, 2014(14), 61-63. 

 

Note 

Note 1. First in line is Ichisaku, and so on. 

 


