Over 80 per cent of students say that mobile phones are interfering with their learning.

The finding follows a discovery at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that the average university student checks their phones 11 times per lesson.The most common uses were for social media and texting.

LS spoke to students across campus and found that most admitted to being distracted by their phones in lectures. A Second year English student said: “I usually have my phone in my lap to keep an eye out for texts, emails or Facebook updates”.

Dr Jim Brogden, a lecturer in Cinema and Photography spoke to LS about his concerns: “Lectures should provide a welcome break from the addiction of mobile phones, to enable students to really focus on some debate. If they are keen to ask a question, they should go ‘old-school’ and raise their hand.”

A University spokesperson said: “Social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn can be used very ef- fectively to enhance student learning.”

They added: “Clearly however, mobiles have the potential to be a distraction and it would be entirely reasonable for the lecturer to ask [students] to turn off their devices.”

Maddy Keating