Undergraduate student’s perceptions of tablet computers and its use in their learning at the University of the South Pacific

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Marglet

Mobile device access in higher education has expanded rapidly, with tablet computers now widely available to students. This mixed-method study evaluates tablet usage and perceptions among undergraduate students at the University of the South Pacific using a questionnaire for 352 participants and in-depth interviews with five students. Results show students view tablets positively for engaging with learning, mainly by accessing academic resources and supporting communication and collaboration with lecturers and peers. Technical issues are also reported, requiring university action to improve adoption and implementation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages25

Reading Time1 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Literature

Mobile devices and educational use

Tablet benefits and access equity

Portability and learning activities

What do you do with your tablet computer? Undergraduate student’s perceptions of tablet computers and its use in their learning at the University of the South Pacific Sharishna Narayan, Som Naidu Abstract: Individual access to mobile devices in higher education has increased tremendously in recent years as tablet computers (hereinafter mentioned as tablets) are now widely available giving students greater access to these technologies than ever before. The increasingly widespread diffusion of tablets at The University of the South Pacific (USP) brings to the forefront questions about its usage and perceptions among undergraduate students. Against this backdrop, using a mixed-method approach, this study sought to evaluate the usage of tablets by undergraduate students at the university. Three hundred and fifty-two participants were administered a questionnaire that contained Likert scale items and open-ended questions to elicit information pertaining to their use and perception of tablets, while indepth interviews were conducted with five undergraduate students. The findings of the study indicate that students are favourably disposed towards the use of tablets in their studies as it helps them engage with their learning activities, mainly in accessing academic resources, communication and collaboration with their lecturers and peers. However, several technical issues with the tablets were identified by the students that the university needs to address to improve the adoption, implementation and diffusion of this device in students’ learning. Keywords: Diffusion/rollout of tablets, usability, portability, flexibility, student perceptions, cooperative learning Introduction In 2013, a program called the Tablet Learning Project was rolled out at USP (Tablet Report, 2013) . This project involved the distribution of tablets to all full-time students. It was deemed educationally advantageous for each student to have easy access to their own personal computer and the tablets were chosen as the most portable option. In the first round, 600 students in selected courses offered at Alafua, Emalus, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Lautoka, and Labasa Campuses received a tableteach. In an effort to ensure that the regional students made the most of this technology, the tablets were loaded with course materials and other applications to support their learning. One of the expected outcomes of this initiative was to reduce students’ printing cost of course materials, increase collaboration with peers and instructors, and provide access to lecture notes and learning resources anytime, anywhere. This initiative was also seen as a first significant step toward a paperless higher education environment (Tablet Report, 2013) . After the success of the initial rollout, the University approved the distribution of more tablets to selected students in a number of USP campuses. In this respect, 440 tablets were issued to all undergraduate students in 2017, while 1,409 tablets were given out to first-year degree students in 2018. Since its first rollout in 2003, 2,449 tablets have been given out to the students under this initiative. In spite of the increased investment in the acquisition of tablets, little research has been conducted to see if this initiative has been successful. More specifically, the university needs to know how the students are using this device in relation to their learning and their perceptions about it. This study sought to explore how the students, the main adopters of this technology, used the tablets in their studies. The findings from this study are expected to provide valuable insights into the adoption of this initiative and directions for the future. Literature The 21st century has witnessed a surge in the use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets in all spheres of life resulting in instant access to information from anytime and anywhere. Cell phones, iPads, iPods, laptops and tablets are not

FAQs

What is the main focus of the study?

The study examines how undergraduate students at the University of the South Pacific use tablet computers in their learning and how they perceive the devices.

How was the data collected?

A mixed-method approach was used: 352 participants completed a questionnaire with Likert-scale and open-ended items, and five undergraduates took part in in-depth interviews.

What benefits do students report from using tablets?

Students report favorable attitudes toward tablets because they help them engage with learning, especially for accessing academic resources and enabling communication and collaboration with lecturers and peers.

What challenges need to be addressed?

Students identified several technical issues with the tablets, and the university is expected to address these to improve adoption, implementation, and diffusion for learning.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Marglet