Use of smartphones by art and design students for accessing library services and learning

Abstract

Purpose-This paper is to explore art and design students' use of smartphones for accessing library services and learning at the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI). Design/methodology/approach-A questionnaire survey involving 51 HKDI students was conducted to examine the students' utilization of apps and the Internet on mobile devices to find information for the purpose of academic learning, social networking, and collaborative learning. Findings-Survey results showed that while the HKDI students were all smartphone owners and active users of such mobile communication devices, only a minority of them "frequently" use these mobile devices for formal learning purposes. They demonstrated a keen preference to use search engines, social communications, and other diverse use of smartphones. Except for research and image/audio-visual needs, the rest of their needs and usage behaviour is similar to mainstream university students. Practical implications-The results suggests opportunities for the libraries to develop services and facilities that could better fulfil students' information needs, and to improve the network coverage outside the library. Originality/value-This is probably the first study of its kind to explore art and design students' use of smartphones for learning needs. In particular, the recent capability of smartphones and mobile Internet speed are comparable with desktops, it is vital to reexamine the much changed environment and user needs.

Factors impacting library-related uses of mobile phones by students in public universities in Malawi

“…Other studies have pointed to technological characteristics associated with mobile phones such as the small screen size, slow internet speed and cost of accessing services as factors militating against access to library services offered through mobile phones (Luo 2014, De Wee 2013. Nevertheless, the small screen size of most mobile phones, slow internet speed and cost, among others, seem not to have affected university students' use of mobile phone for social or communication purposes (Lo et al 2016, Vassilakaki, Moniarou-Papaconstantinou & Garoufallou 2016. Thus, other challenges beyond what is stated in the literature exist that affect usage of mobile phones for accessing library services.…”

“…These findings reflected those obtained in a study by Vassilakaki, Moniarou-Papaconstantinou and Garoufallou (2016) in Greece in that they show that, as much as respondents were prepared to use their smartphones for academic and library-related activities, such usage was much lower when compared to that of other technological devices such as laptops. Respondents in the study by Lo et al (2016) indicated that the difficulty of browsing information on smartphones due to the design of the websites and applications made it problematic for them to utilise their smartphones for this purpose. Therefore, resolving these technological challenges is key in making the mobile phone a leading device for library-related activities.…”

“…A study conducted by Luo (2014) at San Jose State University revealed that some of the respondents to the study did not access the SMS library service because they did not have a texting plan on their mobile phone contracts. Although cost has been identified as a factor in access to library services through mobile phones, trends of mobile phone usage as seen in studies by Lo et al (2016) and Vassilakaki, Moniarou-Papaconstantinou and Garoufallou (2016) show that students still used their mobile phones to access social media and to communicate with their friends and relations using emails, SMS and chats. It is therefore possible that students are prepared to pay for services they value, and access to library services is not one of the services on which students consider it worth spending their financial resources.…”

“…Much as this is the case, usage of the services ranks lower when compared to other services that students access using their mobile phones, including communicating with friends and family through calls, text, SMS, or email; connecting to social media tools such as Facebook; and playing games (Lo et al 2016, Vassilakaki, Moniarou-Papaconstantinou & Garoufallou 2016. Other studies have pointed to technological characteristics associated with mobile phones such as the small screen size, slow internet speed and cost of accessing services as factors militating against access to library services offered through mobile phones (Luo 2014, De Wee 2013.…”

“…On the contrary, only half of the respondents (46%) stated that smartphones were extremely important for academic purposes. Lo et al (2016) conducted a study with the aim to explore art and design students' use of smartphones for accessing library services and learning at the Hong Kong Design Institute. The study, which surveyed fifty-one students, discovered that the majority of the respondents used their smartphones frequently (that is, at least once a week) for accessing reference materials and databases, as well as browsing the website and social networking sites for learning purposes.…”