Trap of Social Media: Implications on Students' Learning Outcomes in Senior Secondary School Mathematics

Abstract

Evidence abounds that excessive smartphone use is often linked to difficulties in cognitive emotion, regulation, poor cognitive function, addiction to social networking, shyness, poor sleep habits, and low self-esteem. It has also been found that cellphone usage badly affects the mental health of adolescents by making them anxious, depressed, and angry. People also lose concentration while using a cell phone. Mathematics learning requires critical thinking, sustained attention span, and unbroken concentration. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of the non-use of mobile phones by students and their learning outcomes in Mathematics using a pre-test and post-test control group quasi-experimental design. Two research instruments were used to generate data for the study via Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) and Mathematics Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ). Two hypotheses were generated to guide the study. A sample size of 120 students was used for the study. The data collected were analyzed using a mean score, standard deviation, and Pearson correlation. The study's findings showed that loss of concentration and short attention span were common phenomena among students when allowed to use cell phones during school hours, affecting their academic achievement to a greater extent. The study also revealed that smartphone use is susceptible to distraction and inadequate concentration in the classroom. Therefore, it is recommended that the use of cell phones among students in secondary schools should be limited to outside school hours. Mathematics is a thing of the mind. It requires critical thinking, sustained attention plan, and concentration for optimal learning outcomes in the subject.