While online learning has resulted in positive changes such as more convenient schedules and on the go learning for busy individuals having an increased reliance on gadgets can also lead to a decrease in sleep quality and quantity
In this article we explore the pros and cons of mobile technology in the field of education and provide useful tips to help students manage their sleep schedules
Virtual Learning
Virtual learning platforms have been relatively successful in terms of academic progressa systematic review published by the International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning analyzed 21 mobile learning research studies and found that some benefits include an increase in achievement productivity engagement and motivation Because of this many schools now offer apps and learning platforms to help students pursue their education even outside of the classroom
Maryville University an Apple Distinguished School for 2018 2021 introduced a Cyber Fusion Center to help enhance their students learning experience allowing for greater flexibility Similarly Southampton University hired a development firm to create a mobile app that existing students could use to access information regarding campus events and classes
Unfortunately these innovations often encourage students to stay constantly connected to the web possibly jeopardizing their ability to sleep
Mobile Device Learning
A study published by Learning House and Aslanian Market Research has found that nearly 67 of students now rely on their mobile devices to complete their coursework making it even more difficult to disconnect from their mobile phones Moreover several studies have found a correlation between mobile phone usage at night and poor sleep quality
Recent research featured in The Journal of Neurobehavioral Sciences found that sleep quality of the adolescent students decreased as the duration of mobile phone usage increased and more worryingly 795 percent of the students with poor sleep quality delayed their bedtime in favor of continued usage of their phone This trend continues with college students with a study published by the Centre for Promoting Ideas linking nighttime use of mobile phones with the lack of quality sleep
Students seem to have adopted a hyper vigilant attitude towards their mobile phones Just as a mother develops an ear for her baby perhaps college students have developed an ear for their cell phone However this constant stimulation interrupts regular sleep patterns Because of this its no wonder that many college students report feeling groggy and exhausted in the morning
Given the busy lifestyle that college entails we need to place an emphasis on the Importance of Sleep for College Students including going to bed as soon as possible and limiting naptime Here are some added tips for helping students get some quality sleep despite the distractions of mobile technology
1 Switch off your gadgets before bedtime
In Dorm Sleeping Advice for the College Student we suggest switching off all your gadgets including cellphones laptops tablets e readers and gaming devices at least 30 minutes prior to bedtime The blue light emitted by these electronics makes it harder for you to doze off so we suggest spending this time to unwind with a light read or some breathing exercises
2 Invest in an alarm clock
Do you set five alarms on your phone to get yourself out of bed Or do you incessantly check the time on your phone when you cant sleep to see how many hours youve got left until morning Ending up mindlessly scrolling through your social media feed is probably a side effect of this To prevent this from happening we suggest buying an alarm clock so that you can finally put your phone away and avoid clock watching
3 Wake up early to complete your homework
Are you a night owl A study published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says that many students are more productive during the daytime Its definitely a challenge but gradually changing your sleep schedule so that you sleep earlier and wake up earlier means that you can get a lot more work done during the
day This leaves your nights open for some well earned rest and relaxation4 Have a separate area for studying
It may be less comfortable but Everyday Health recommends that you shouldnt study on your bed Youre more likely to be less productive surrounded by comfy pillows and chances are you might end up napping This throws off your circadian rhythm and makes it more difficult to get some sleep when you really need it Your brain will also find it harder to relax in bed because youre stuck in study mode
5 Create a sleep inducing environment
According to the National Sleep Foundation a sleep friendly environment is dark cool quiet comfortable and interruption free Turn off all your notifications at night to avoid pesky interruptions and late night texts You should also avoid sleeping beside your phone so youre not tempted to keep checking it
Studies show remittance of the blue light prevents our brains from releasing melatonin a hormone that tells our bodies its nighttime Giving up the phone for an hour before bedtime will help distract your brain from the light
According to the American Optometric Association AOA extended use of a smartphone can cause eye discomfort such as blurred vision headaches eyestrain dry eyes and neck and shoulder pain These symptoms are often classified as digital eye strain And most of the digital eye strain occurs in bed
Unplugging includes charging I am not suggesting you keep your phone at 5 percent life but dont charge the phone next to your bed otherwise you will be tempted to get on your phone in bed In fact 71 percent of people sleep either holding their smartphone having it in bed with them or having it on their nightstand
With some simple adjustments your teen or you can sleep peacefully without the embarrassment of waking up with no recollection of the conversation Alaska Sleep Clinic is ready to help get the sleep you need to be happy and healthy Contact the Alaska Sleep Clinic today
