Teachers and Millennial technologically students must evaluate the responses of positive and negative effects of media multitasking in a college classroom environment.

The newly emerging generation is equipped with increasing technological skills and accessibility within the digital universe.  Millennial students are the first generation to own multiple devices to connect with the outside world, whether through texting, emailing, or searching through other social networks. With this technologically savvy generation, a few new obstacles arise, which everyone in academia must overcome to succeed. Now, teachers and students must evaluate the responses of positive and negative effects of media multitasking in a college classroom environment.

Multitasking is displayed in our everyday lives; for which, there are multiple, different levels and cases to demonstrate and execute multitasking. One of which would be to walk, talk, listen to music, and look down at your phone all in one instance. However, there is a line distinguishing between the subconscious and cognitive multitask. The cognitive multitask requires more concentration and attention compared to the subconscious level. With their digital devices, college students are able to emulate this cognitive multitasking process within the everyday classroom.

It is suggested by researchers that depending on the class structure and the learning type, multitasking can be very beneficial for the student, overall. For example, digital devices such as smart phones, laptops, and iPads can be viewed in a positive manner for most of the college population. "Researches have concluded that the majority of college students claim that technology improves their lives and the learning process either through online lecture notes or the ability to search on the web for resources". While typing on a laptop, students focus better because they are not tempted to erase, doodle, or end up having illegible handwriting. Splitting your attention to preform multiple tasks is ideal for immediate, unforeseen questions, definitions for unknown words, and connecting with other students that may be struggling with the same problem, while simultaneously being able to take notes during the class lecture. However, many studies have concluded that multitasking causes distraction, stress, and a harmful academic performance for college students.

Studies have shown that millennial students are great at multitasking, yet there is a concern that the constant switch in attention hinders the learning process of students. Multitasking begins when a college student loses his cognitive control because of a repetitive or predictable environment. For instance, the tap of an icon can transport students to the digital world of media such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Additionally, Pam A. Mueller and Daniel M. Oppenheimer argue that the use of laptops in a classroom is just an invitation formultitasking, which distracts the student from what is important in the class. Also, researchers suggest that the main activity that influences most students to multitask is the desire to maintain and partake in social networks. This causes the mind to go into overload, which causes stress on the body and mind.

In response to the adverse effects of multitasking, researchers have developed theories and recommendations for professors to minimize the constant multitasking from students. These researchers have recommended tactics for professors to use in order to control and minimize college students from multitasking like urging professors to emphasize on verbal and/or nonverbal cues that would activate an orienting response from the students. These verbal cues could be calling students by their first name, change in pitch, engaging with students before and after class, and having group discussions. Moreover, examples of nonverbal cues could be the professor moving around the classroom, making eye contact, and having a constant change in the presentation.

Multitasking is ubiquitously occurring whether that is on the subconscious or cognitive level. Multitasking in a college environment is seen as beneficial to some extent. Multitasking can be seen as a benefactor for college students to answer immediate unforeseen questions, definitions for unknown words, and connecting with other students that may be struggling with the same problem.  However, multitasking can become distracting, stressful, and unhealthy for college students. As if college classes weren’t stressful enough, scientists have proven that juggling multiple activities during a single moment in time causes discomfort on the mind. In response for the increasing multitasking from students researchers have suggested for professors to express verbal and/or nonverbal cues that would activate an orienting response from the students.