The ETH Zurich promotes the use of mobile computers in order to offer to students an increased value for their studies. But how does notebook use impact students’ worklife? In order to examine notebook use at the ETH a questionnaire study was carried out. Two important results were obtained:

1.     Compared to their peers, notebook users work more frequently in short time periods. It is unclear how fragmented work time affects work and learning processes . 

2.     22.4% of the notebook owners did not use the notebook daily. Apparently the potentials of mobile technologies remain unused to some extent. 

The project will further examine these findings: 

(a) What are the causes for fragmented work time?  Does fragmenting of work time have positive or negative effects on the learning process?

(b) Why do many students who possess a notebook do not use it in their everyday work?  Which preconditions must be met in order to fully take advantage of the mobile devices?

The questions are to be answered as follows:

(a) Collection of detailed behavioral data using logfiles and ‘shutdown-hooks’. Findings will be discussed with participants.

(b) Group discussion with students about what causes them not to use their notebooks, development of best practice scenarios.

The project will inform about critical developments in notebook use. Recommendations for the further promotion of the mobile computer technology at the ETH will be made.

Read more about the initial questionnaire study.