Mobile phone messaging to increase communication and collaboration within the university community

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to share a lecturer’s viewpoint on using mobile phone messaging tools to increase levels of cooperation and collaboration with students and the wider university community. Design/methodology/approach In all, 145 undergraduate students from a Caribbean university were asked how often do they check their mobile phone for text/voice messages per day and when do they turn off their mobile phones. These two questions were asked to understand how engaged students are with their mobile phones. Findings The findings are that students are very engaged with their mobile phones. Students check their mobile phones for text/voice messages multiple times every day. Of the 145 participants in this research, 66.84 % never turned off their mobile phones during the week and carry their phones everywhere, including classrooms. Originality/value This is the first study to examine how often this university’s students’ check their mobile phone for text/voice messages per day and when do they turn off their mobile phones. These findings will help lecturers and university management in understanding students’ engagement with their mobile phone in this university. This study confirms heavy engagement of students with their phones. Lecturers and university administrators can now consider ways in which mobile phone messaging tools can be used to increase levels of communication and collaboration with students and wider university community.