The lived experience of undergraduate students using tablet devices

Abstract

With the ever-increasing influence of technology on everyday life, the perceived need to integrate technology into education has never been greater. Contemporary research into education technology is predominantly teacher- or institute-driven, with equivocal evidence as to the efficacy of such technology. With the proliferation of personal devices, such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, an increasing number of studies focus on such devices in an effort to measure the impact on education. However, what appears to be missing from the literature is the impact of using tablet devices, framed within the concept of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). In this context, learners are facilitated in utilising their personal devices through wireless connectivity, but such devices are not a requirement for the programme of study, nor are they supported in any way either from a pedagogical or technical perspective. This study aims to investigate the lived experience of students in higher education who utilise tablet devices of their own volition, both on- and off-campus, during their learning journey.