Text Messaging Effects to Students

1.) How often do you use your cell phone in a day?
2.) Do you load regularly?
3.) How does texting affect your study habits?
4.) Do you have any business that may caused you use cell phone regularly?
5.) Was there an instance that you had a failing grade because of texting too much?
6.) Are you a text addict? Why or why not?
7.) Are you texting during class hours?
8.) Have you tried cheating using text messages? In what way?
9.) How many text messages can you send in one class hour?
10.) How many messages do you receive and send in a day?

TEXT MESSAGING: ITS EFFECTS TO THE STUDY HABITS AMONG FIRST YEAR AND SECOND YEAR BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION STUDENTS OF CAPITOL UNIVERSITY, SECOND SEMESTER, S.Y. 2012- 2013

Discussion Proper
Text messaging nowadays really matter. Everywhere, you can see people using their cellular phones. Most students have their own cell phones. They are using it for texting, most especially, for calling, and for others just for fun playing with their installed and downloaded applications and games. Texting like in any other form of writing takes time, and on a small keyboard like a cellular device, it can take even longer. Short message service (SMS) is a service available on most digital mobile phones that permits the sending of short messages (also known as text messages, or more colloquially texts or even txts) between mobile phones and other hand-held devices. SMS was originally designed as part of the GSM digital mobile phone standard, but is now available on a wide range of networks, including forthcoming3G networks. SMS is very popular in Europe, Asia and Australia, but is relatively less used in the United States. It is so popular that the term texting (used as a verb) refers to the act of cell phone users sending SMS text messages back and forth. It is particularly popular amongst young urbanites. Text messaging is more popular than voice messaging because it is cheaper than the latter.

Because of the limited message lengths and tiny user interface of mobile phones, SMS users commonly make extensive use of abbreviations, particularly the use of numbers for words, and the omission of vowels, as in the phrase “txt msg”. An increasing trend towards spamming cell phone users through SMS has prompted cellular service carriers to take steps against the practice, before it becomes a widespread problem. No major spamming incidents involving SMS have been reported as of October 2003, but the existence of “cell phone spam” has already been noted by industry watchdog, including Consumer Reports magazine. SMS’s have caused subtle but interesting changes in society since they became popular. Newsworthy events (in chronological order include): * In January 2001, Joseph Estrada was forced to resign from the post of president of the Philippines. The popular campaign against him was widely reported to have been co-ordinated with SMS ‘chain letters’. With the growth of technology, text messaging has placed people, especially students in positive and negative situations. Distractions are mostly caused by using cell phones during class hours. Text messaging had an impact to students academically by creating an easier way to cheat on exams. Some college students caught using text messages as a means of cheating during or on exams. Small phones make it easy to sneak one in during an exam and use it to retrieve answers from either friends or the internet. Despite the school have the rules that prohibit the use of cell phone during class, some students don’t always follow these rules.

Although not deadly, studies show that when students sent and read text messages during their classes, it can have serious consequences on the grades they receive – and even their general ability to learn course material. Student texting during class is far from uncommon: One study shows that about 80 percent of students read or send text messages during their classes. In addition, students admit that they generally send at least eleven (11) text messages during one class period. Studies show that most female students go on texting rather than male students. Female students can send 80 messages in a day while male students can send only 30 messages a day.

Over the years, “texters” have saved time by creating a new form of shorthand often called “chat-speak”. This form of writing uses abbreviations that includes numbers, symbols and, incorrect grammar. One critic says that this type of communication is destroying the way students read, think, and write. Amanda O’connor, another critic, reported that the more students use tools like instant messaging, the less they are able to separate formal and informal English. For example, they abbreviate “y-o-u”, “u”. A problem some teachers are noticing is that students no longer know how to punctuate correctly. Text messages often contain run on sentences and don’t contain any punctuations; students are carrying this poor habit to the classroom. Another concern is the use of lowercase letters. Students aren’t using capital letters where they should. These are only a few of the problems that have arisen due to the overuse of texting.

There are many teachers, business men and women, philosophers, etc. think that instant messaging systems, like text messaging, negatively affect student’s ability to write. It is also important to get the viewpoint of the students so we have conducted an interview to ten (10) first year and (10) second year business administration students of Capitol University, Second Semester, S.Y. 2012-2013 last January 28, 2013. We have asked them several questions regarding the way they use their cellular phones everyday (pls. see attached questionnaire at the back).

Proponents of text messaging say that texting is good for students because it causes them to write more, and students have been writing more than ever before. This is true. However, text messages are often created using a lack of critical analysis. There are character limitations to text messages and students have accustomed their text messaging writing to accompany these limitations. One English teacher put it well when they said a sentence in a text message may only contain five words and “get the job” so students are thinking shortened responses will also “get the job done” in the classroom (“Text Messaging and its Effects on Teens’ Grammar”).

There is no arguing that students now-a-day text more than ever.