Information and Organization

Blogpost written by Daniel Mantey Mensah and Abhushan Maharjan

Remote work has become an essential part of modern life, thanks to advances in technology. It’s great because it gives freedom and saves us from long commutes. However, some people have difficulty turning off from work and enjoying time with their family and friends. This review looks at how remote work affects us, how we feel, think, connect with others, grow in our jobs, and even stay healthy. It shows the good parts and the challenges of this new way of working.

Key Points:

• Remote work is growing rapidly thanks to technology, but its impact on well-being is mixed.
• It offers flexibility and autonomy but can lead to loneliness and blur the boundaries between work and personal life.
• Employers and workers can balance the scale by addressing both the challenges and benefits of working remotely.
• Knowledge workers are people whose jobs involve thinking, learning, and creating. They’re a great fit for remote work because they can use technology to get things done efficiently.

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The Rise of Remote Work

Waking up, getting some coffee and starting your workday without leaving home: This is now a reality for many knowledge workers. Thanks to rapid technological advancements, remote work has become commonplace, transforming how we live and work. Currently, 19.5% of the global workforce works remotely, and by 2025, an estimated 32.6 million Americans—about 22% of the U.S. workforce are expected to do the same. This shift has made working from home more feasible and efficient. But what does this new way of working mean for our well-being?

This was the question explored by researchers Maria Charalampous and her team. To figure it out, they looked at 63 different studies about how working remotely affects people’s well-being. They carefully picked these studies, which included a mix of surveys, interviews, and other research methods. The team focused on five key areas: how remote work affects emotions, thinking, relationships, career growth, and physical health. By pulling together insights from all these studies, they discovered both the upsides and downsides of working from home. Let’s take a closer look at what they found;

The Flexibility Trap: Where Remote Work’s Perks Meet its Pitfalls

Remote work has a lot to offer such as flexible schedules, no long commutes and the freedom to wear casual clothes to formal meetings. Sounds perfect, right? Not quite. While remote work has proved to boost job satisfaction and autonomy, it comes with challenges like loneliness, stress and an “always-on” culture, the research shows.

The breakdown is as follows:

 Our Feeling (Affective Well-Being)

On the other side of the coin, when it comes to feeling better, remote work makes people happier with their jobs—no office drama and more comfort. Technology has made it easier to stay connected, which is a plus. But there’s bad news; many remote workers report feeling isolated and emotionally drained, mostly because they don’t get enough support from colleagues. It’s a mix of feeling good and missing the human connection.

 Our Thinking (Cognitive Well-Being)

Although research on cognitive well-being was limited at the time, it revealed that remote work enables greater focus by eliminating office distractions. This benefits tasks requiring high concentration. However, being constantly connected through work emails and chats can lead to mental fatigue and difficulty “switching off.”

Our Relationships (Social Well-Being)

Work relationships tend to suffer in remote work. The opportunities for informal learning, skill development, information sharing, and mentoring are usually missed in this scenario. The absence of face-to-face interaction makes it difficult to bring about trust and companionship. However, strong organizational support can help remote workers feel less isolated.

Our Career Goals (Professional Well-Being)

The freedom to manage tasks and schedules gives those working remotely a feeling of job satisfaction. But, this autonomy sometimes comes with a price. Many remote workers worry about being “out of sight, out of mind,” fearing they might be overlooked for promotions or critical projects. The lack of visibility in the workplace can create concerns about career growth and advancement.

Our Physical Health (Psychosomatic Well-Being)

Yes! Sitting at home and being indoors all day might save you from the office flu, but it comes with its set of physical challenges. Poorly set up home workspaces may lead to problems such as back pain, neck strain, or headaches. If proper ergonomic furniture is not used, or if movement is not done regularly, these problems can add up over time.

Finding the Balance: Where Freedom Meets Structure in Remote Work

So how do we find a way to make working remotely work for all concerned? It’s all about balance. There are responsibilities on both sides of the employment divide.

For Employers: Build a culture that supports connection, celebrates achievements, and respects work-life boundaries. Small gestures, like acknowledging great work with a quick “well done,” can boost morale and help employees feel valued. Providing tools and resources to maintain team cohesion, like regular check-ins and virtual team-building activities.

For Remote Workers: Take control of your workspace and routine. Set up a comfortable and distraction-free area to work, stick to a schedule, and make time for social interactions. Even a simple virtual coffee chat with a coworker can help you feel more connected. Don’t forget to set boundaries to “log off” and recharge after your workday. 

To Conclude

Remote work is no longer just a trend; it’s shaping the future of how we work and live. While it offers benefits like flexibility and greater autonomy, it also presents challenges such as isolation, difficulty switching off, and concerns about career growth. By addressing these issues through stronger organizational support, better ergonomic setups, and clearer boundaries between work and life, we can harness the potential of remote work to improve well-being and productivity. The key is finding the right balance between freedom and structure to ensure a healthier and happier workforce.

What’s your experience with remote work? Do you think the benefits outweigh the challenges? Let’s discuss this in the comments below!

 

References
Katherine Haan (2023). Remote Work Statistics and Trends in 2025. Forbes Advisor. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/remote-work-statistics

Naveen Kumar (2024). 25+ Remote Work Statistics & Trends (2025). DemandSage. https://www.demandsage.com/remote-work-statistics

 Maria Charalampous, Christine A. Grant, Carlo Tramontano & Evie Michailidis (2019) Systematically reviewing remote e-workers’ well-being at work: a multidimensional approach, European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 28:1, 51-73, https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2018.1541886

Image Reference: Generated By bing.com/images

Blogpost written by Briam Daniel Falcó Martínez and Owen Mabbott

Key Points:

• Digital transformation = good for motivation (usually). It gives us a chance to learn new things and share our ideas, which helps companies innovate and grow.
• But nobody likes feeling spied on. If we feel like we’re constantly being watched, it can make us less likely to learn and share our thoughts.
• It’s all about finding the right balance. Companies need to embrace digital transformation without going overboard on the surveillance. Give employees some breathing room, and they’ll be more likely to contribute to a truly innovative workplace.

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Digital transformation brings a lot of opportunities for companies, that’s no secret. It has the potential to revolutionise the work environment if done correctly. It offers new ways to obtain data about every process and the employees working on them. In this regard, it makes tracking employees‘ performance more effective, reinforces adherence to rules, and simplifies the process of providing feedback. But nobody wants to feel like they’re living in an Orwellian nightmare at work. Imagine constantly being watched, every keystroke analysed, every bathroom break timed…

This is not far from the reality for warehouses that are reportedly coerced to use wristbands for real-time tracking. Similar monitoring, although less extreme is also happening in more common workplaces, where phone calls are used to monitor performance and personal information is used for e-recruitment and data mining. New, innovative digital tools bring a lot to the table, but given these intrusive practices, those „innovative“ new tools don’t seem so cool anymore, do they?

Let’s talk about the elephant in the (digitally monitored) room: surveillance. This refers to using technology to closely and constantly monitor a wide range of someone’s activities, behaviours, and personal traits. Now, how does surveillance affect digital transformation? This scientific paper provides us with interesting insights: „Big Brother is Watching You: Surveillance via Technology Undermines Employees’ Learning and Voice Behavior During Digital Transformation„. The study, based on a survey of 100 employees across different sectors, takes a deep dive into how surveillance impacts our motivation to learn and share opinions at work. In turn, providing an understanding of the negative implications for digital transformation efforts.

Digital Transformation and Learning Orientation

Digital transformation is a hot topic these days. But beyond the buzzword, it’s really about using new technology and ways of working to bring about change in the workplace. And for employees, this can actually be a chance to learn and grow.

Think of it this way: digital transformation often disrupts our usual routines, prompting us to rethink how we do things and develop new skills. Interestingly, human beings have a natural desire to learn and develop. So, when faced with digital transformation, many of us are motivated to embrace these changes and acquire new skills. This disposition to learn is crucial. If there is no motivation to learn how to get the best of the digital transformation efforts, then the whole process becomes more difficult.

The publishing industry mentioned in the study is a great example. Despite being significantly impacted by digital innovation, employees in this sector have demonstrated a strong motivation to learn and adapt, contributing new ideas and ways of working. The disruption caused by the new digital reality was overpowered by the motivation of the employees to learn.

Surveillance and Voice Behaviour

Picture this: after a long day of learning how to implement the new digital tools, you decide to go for a walk to take some air. During the walk, you come up with a brilliant new suggestion to improve the project. Would you be willing to share it with your boss if he was right next to you, breathing down your neck throughout the walk? Chances are, you wouldn’t even had come up with any idea to begin with. The likelihood is you would be more concerned with your expected behaviour rather than reflecting on what you learned.

When people feel they are being monitored, they are less motivated to speak up. That’s right, just the simple perception of being watched impacts our „Voice Behaviour“. This is a big potential drawback of implementing new digital tools. Many new digital tools gather a significant amount of data, which can lead to concerns about surveillance. For companies and managers, a new paradox arises: digital transformation requires and leads to more data being collected, and more data collection leads to employees feeling watched, which undermines the whole process.

Striking the right balance:

While research on this topic is still growing, we encourage companies to consider the following:

• Communication is key! Create a workplace where people feel comfortable sharing their ideas without being judged. Information coming from open and constant communication is more valuable than information collected through surveillance.
• Be upfront about data. Nobody likes to feel spied on. Be open about how you’re using digital tools and why. Remember, just the perception of being under surveillance impacts digital transformation projects negatively.
• Make learning engaging. As the paper indicates, everybody wants to learn and improve their skills. If certain efforts to implement technologies aren’t working, maybe it has more to do with the way it’s being approached. Make sure that the way training is evaluated doesn’t contribute to a feeling of being surveilled.

This is a great way to make employees feel like their voices matter. When people feel valued and heard, they’re more likely to share ideas that lead to real innovation. It’s a win-win for everyone.

In conclusion:

Digital transformation requires motivated, ready-to-learn employees. They need to feel comfortable enough to identify room for improvement. Paradoxically, this digital transformation process can accidently (or not) introduce elements that can be perceived as surveillance, shattering the motivation to learn and share ideas required to make the process successful. Companies need to be mindful of this and strive for a balance between utilising new tools effectively and respecting employee privacy and autonomy.

 

Further reading: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230127-how-worker-surveillance-is-backfiring-on-employers

References: Kensbock, J. M., & Stöckmann, C. (2020). “Big brother is watching you”: surveillance via technology undermines employees’ learning and voice behavior during digital transformation. Journal of Business Economics, 91(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-020-01012-x

Blogpost written by Chennampalli Bhanu Prakash Reddy and Mohammed Imthiyaz Basha

Key Points

• Human-AI collaboration exceeds in performance either of them individually.
• Humans often lack metaknowledge, which is the ability to assess their own capabilities, in making apt delegation of tasks.
• AI outperforms humans in delegating tasks.

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In many professions, repetitive tasks dominate the workday, leaving little room for more difficult and meaningful tasks that require true expertise. Consider doctors who spend hours looking at medical images, processing lab results, or dealing with routine diagnoses that do not require their full attention. Every day, customer service representatives answer routine inquiries. These tasks, while important, are monotonous and lead to decreased job satisfaction. And that’s where artificial intelligence comes in, providing an alternative by taking on these routine tasks. By automating these tasks, AI allows professionals to focus on what is truly important—whether that is solving complex medical cases or assisting customers in need.

However, as AI is increasingly integrated into our day-to-day work, a very important question arises: how do we balance human expertise with the capabilities of AI? Is it up to the humans to determine which tasks to outsource to AI, or can AI learn when to ask for human intervention? In healthcare, for example, it could be that AI handles the routine cases and flags complicated ones for the doctors. Similarly, in customer support, AI can handle repetitive inquiries while sensitive issues will need to be handled by human agents.

When human intelligence complements the work of AI or vice versa, the outcomes become powerful, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. This balance between technology and human skills needs careful thought to make sure the partnership leads to the best possible results while trust and control are maintained.

The promise of Human-Al Collaboration

The idea of human and AI collaboration is a simple one: humans possess tactical knowledge due to their experiences and AI processes vast amounts of data and identifies patterns. Human thoughts are the most diverse that are partially visible in their actions. So humans may have knowledge that complements AI algorithms. Collaboration of work between humans and AI can leverage these complementarities and their joint performance may exceed the performance of either of them individually.

In the study by Fügener et al. (2022), human participants performed image classification tasks in collaboration with an AI system. The research was conducted in a controlled experimental setting to analyze decision-making processes in human-AI collaboration. Participants were required to decide when to delegate tasks to the AI and how to integrate its recommendations into their decision-making.

The experiments revealed that task delegation between humans and AI led to improved outcomes. When humans delegate tasks to AI (delegation), results surpass those of humans working alone. Likewise, when AI delegates tasks to humans (inversion), performance exceeds that of AI acting independently.

But here’s the twist from Fügener et al (2022): When humans delegate tasks to AI the performance does not quite improve. However, when AI delegates tasks to humans accuracy has improved significantly in image classification.

The Delegation Dilemma: Why Humans Struggle

Why do you think this disparity is prevalent? The key seems to lie in something known as meta knowledge. Meta knowledge basically is the ability to assess one’s capabilities about knowing what you know and crucially what you don’t know. This ties closely to Polanyi’s Paradox, which says that humans know more than they can explicitly articulate. In other words, we can perform complex tasks intuitively, but we often struggle to explain how we do them. Before humans delegate to AI they need to be able to judge whether they can solve a problem or not.

The research reveals that a significant meta knowledge gap exists, humans are surprisingly bad at assessing their own abilities especially with the difficult tasks. This leads to inappropriate delegations which results in poor performance of Human-AI collaboration in predictions.

The AI Advantage

• Accurate Self assessment: In contrast to humans the AI is pretty good at assessing itself; it knows when it is likely to get an answer wrong and can then delegate to humans to attempt the difficult tasks. For instance, an AI can easily delegate tasks to humans when the prediction confidence falls below a certain threshold; otherwise, it continues handling the predictions independently.
• Consistent Delegation: Sometimes humans fail in delegation of tasks because of their overconfidence, uncertainty and mistrust of AI algorithms. But AI does not suffer from this problem, since AI can accurately assess its own performance, delegation strategies (delegate when the threshold value is not met) and not be hampered by cognitive biases like humans.
• Reliability: AI’s capacity to handle enormous amounts of data with consistency and precision makes it extremely trustworthy. Unlike humans, AI is unaffected by fatigue or emotional influences, resulting in consistent performance over time. Its ability to learn from massive volumes of data also allows it to develop and adapt to new difficulties, assuring long-term performance.

Can delegation strategies reinforce humans in collaboration?

The study by Fügener et al (2022), highlights how AI improves by taking help from humans. When the confidence level of AI falls below a certain threshold, it knows that it requires humans to complete the task. On the other hand, Humans often make poor choices in delegating tasks to AI. They tend to keep challenging tasks with them and assign easier ones to AI. This is not due to mistrust of AI, but because they fail to understand their own abilities of handling different tasks. By figuring out better ways of delegating tasks, humans could work more effectively with AI.

To address this issue, researchers examined two groups of participants. One group was simply explained delegation strategies, while the other was instructed to follow them. Both groups showed some improvements in both accuracy and delegation rates. Accuracy increased slightly, while delegation rates saw a significant rise. Interestingly, the delegation rates in the enforced strategy condition (second group) were similar to those in the explained strategy condition (first group), indicating that participants were effectively following the suggested delegation rules and were not reluctant to use AI in their work areas. This suggests that clear guidance, along with enforced practices, helps humans make better decisions when collaborating with AI.

Creating a Collaborative Future: Humans and AI in Sync

To truly unlock the potential of Human-AI collaboration, we must first address the gap in meta-knowledge. This involves developing AI systems that provide tailored feedback, helping humans better understand their strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, designing systems that enable AI to proactively delegate tasks to humans, based on its assessment of both its own capabilities and the human’s, will improve efficiency and collaboration.

Whether in healthcare, business, or other fields, the question is not whether humans or AI perform better individually, but how they can work together to achieve better results. The key is to strike the right balance, combining AI precision and human intuition to create a partnership that truly outperforms its individual parts.

 

Investigate further

 Andreas Fügener, Jörn Grahl, Alok Gupta, Wolfgang Ketter (2022) Cognitive Challenges in Human–Artificial Intelligence Collaboration: Investigating the Path Toward Productive Delegation. Information Systems Research 33(2):678-696. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2021.1079

Blogpost written by Nguyen Thi Khanh Vy and Thedini Wickramasinghe

Key points:

• Technology and the economy influence how students learn and the job market.
• Flexible learning methods don’t harm student outcomes.
• Strong student-teacher interaction matters most.

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„Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.“ – Nelson Mandela

Is the traditional classroom boring?

We, students, are way too familiar with the classroom because every 5 or 6-year-old kid must go to school. A classroom with one teacher explaining a lesson in 45 to 60 minutes to students is a common method worldwide. Where students sit still, listening, and learning from one-way interaction. And not much discussion, or sharing ideas, thoughts with other mates. Lack of interaction between teachers and students, or students to students has demotivated the learning atmosphere. Who likes to go to class just to sit and listen and obey?

Also, students are expected to absorb knowledge and receive homework from the teachers after class. Then in the next class, they will work on correcting answers for the homework, listen to the new lesson topic, and receive another new homework. The whole process has been going on and on for decades, from elementary to high schools, and universities.

It is not difficult to understand, because how can students learn effectively outside the classroom, such as at home or in a café? There are no blackboards at home, no math teacher, no chemical lab. No tools and instructors to guide them, to help them absorb the knowledge and practice that easily.

Busy adults want to go to school too

Not only young students, professional workers want to upgrade their skills with learning new things too. Moreover, after the pandemic, remote working has become more common, and that has pushed the demand for highly skilled workers who can work effectively and solve problems even in the remote working environment.

Furthermore, office workers who are already busy in the daytime with work, also want to pursue classes after work, for higher education, or upskilling. However, traveling from work to school, and catching up with evening classes or early morning classes consumes energy and concentration too. They would wish that classroom time was only for more personal interaction and other pre-reading activities or self-learning could be done at home, at their own pace. So that they can save time and energy.

Should we reduce classroom time?

As we can see, with the two above types of learners, there are demands for a better classroom method. Thanks to the internet, computers, and software; these are mediums to help teachers re-organize classrooms, where students can spend more time on self-learning and are expected to interact more in the class. And teachers can leverage software to distribute content or reading materials online, without having students sitting in the class. Therefore, they can use the classroom spare time to coordinate more discussion among students and teachers.

This new way to organize learning is mentioned in Müller and Mildenberger paper in 2021 under the term ‘blended learning’. However, there is some skepticism about the cost-efficiency and student performance between the traditional classroom and the reduced-time classroom.

Insights from Müller and Mildenberger paper in 2021

For a brief introduction on this paper, Müller and Mildenberger research digs into an important topic in modern education: what happens when we reduce classroom time and shift a part of the learning process to online settings? They have conducted experiments on reducing 30-79% classroom time and measuring the final performance.

As it turns out, it highlights that both traditional and blended learning methods are equally efficient if it is implemented properly. Plus, flexibility is useful for adult learners since it allows them to upskill or reskill with other responsibilities. However, the researchers highlighted that meaningful interactions: both between teachers and students and among peers, are the most important factors in successful learning, regardless of the format or the style of learning.

Challenges in reducing classroom time

Shifting to online learning appears to be a good idea, but there are some concerns. The study revealed a few important challenges:

• Lack of structure for students: Some students fail to maintain discipline and motivation in online learning environments. Without maintaining continuous interaction, some students can easily fall behind or get confused.
• Learning Gaps: Not every area or skills are easily learned online with limited classroom time due to longer hours for equipment setup. For example, doing science experiments, practising singing, sports, etc.
• Technology Barriers: Access to reliable technology and the internet is crucial for online education. Students without these resources may be left behind.
• Teacher readiness: Teachers sometimes face high barriers to learning while developing effective online activities and content. Without enough training and support, online content may fail to attract students or achieve the depth of classroom conversations.

Conclusion

Müller and Mildenberger study reminds us that while online learning offers flexibility and adaptability, it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. Replacing classroom time with online activities does not guarantee better outcomes, so its success solely depends on how it’s implemented.

Universities should focus on maintaining a balance. Online learning can benefit in-person teaching by offering flexibility and new tools for engagement, but it should not replace the invaluable interaction and support students get in physical classrooms.

The future of education depends on finding ways to combine the best of both worlds, keeping students’ needs and challenges in mind. By addressing the limitations highlighted, universities and other educational institutions can build learning environments that are effective, and adaptable for everyone.

 

Müller & Mildenberger (2021): Facilitating flexible learning by replacing classroom time with an online learning environment: A systematic review of blended learning in higher education. doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100394

 

Blogpost written by Elif Nur Öztürk and Mustafa Enes Gedikoğlu

Key Points:

• Taking notes on a laptop might impair your learning, as it often leads to passive transcription rather than active engagement with the material.
• Simply writing down exactly what the lecturer says doesn’t really help you understand the topic better.
• Failing to review your notes can make it challenging to retain and apply the information later.

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Imagine walking into a classroom. How many people are taking notes longhand, and how many are using laptops? In today’s digital age, laptops provide easy access to the vast world of the internet. But does using laptops for note-taking genuinely enhance our learning, or does it hinder the process? With their potential for multitasking, laptops can often become a source of distraction, drawing attention away from the lecture. In this blog post, we will examine the effectiveness of longhand note-taking versus laptops, guided by insights from the study The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking.

Laptops are particularly appealing for note-taking in lectures, as they enable students to take note of content with ease. Mueller and Oppenheimer explored whether laptops or longhand note-taking is more effective for learning.

Their study explored two main ideas about how note-taking helps with learning. One idea is that taking notes helps you process and understand the material better as you write. The other idea is that having notes to review later is useful, even if you didn’t write them yourself. The researchers designed their approach around these ideas, running three different studies to dig deeper into them.

Exploring the Impact of Note-Taking Methods on Learning and Retention

• Laptop vs. Longhand: Which Note-Taking Method Wins?
  Students using laptops for note-taking tended to produce higher word counts, often transcribing lectures verbatim which means laptop users tend to type lectures word-for-word. In contrast, those using longhand notes recorded fewer words but thought more deeply about the material. While both groups performed similarly on factual questions that required basic recall, longhand note-takers significantly outperformed their laptop-using peers on conceptual questions, which demanded a deeper understanding of the material.
• Typing vs. Thinking: Does Transcribing Notes Hurt Your Learning?
  Longhand note-taking, which naturally resulted in fewer words and less verbatim copying, led to better outcomes on tasks which requiring deeper understanding, like analyzing and applying ideas compared to other methods. On the other hand, instructing laptop users to avoid word-for-word transcription had little effect. They still copied notes verbatim, showing no significant performance difference from uninstructed participants, which might be due to the nature of laptop note-taking that encourages fast, word-for-word transcription over thoughtful summarization.
• Does Your Memory Prefer Reviewed Longhand Notes Over Typed Ones?
  When people reviewed their notes before a test, those who wrote by hand were more successful than laptop note-takers. This demonstrates that longhand notes offer greater benefits, making them more effective tools for learning.
• Unreviewed Notes: Do They Actually Help You Learn?
  Interestingly, without studying, no significant differences between laptop and longhand note-taking were observed. This highlights the importance of not only how notes are taken but also how they are made use of.

What’s the Plan: Back to Pen and Paper?

Not necessarily. The key takeaway isn’t to stop using laptops for note-taking, but rather to be mindful of potential drawbacks. To improve learning process:

• Avoid Word-for-Word Transcription: When taking notes on a laptop, focus on capturing the main ideas rather than taking word to word notes. This encourages better engagement and understanding.
• Use Generative Note-Taking Methods: Instead of simply writing down what you hear, try to summarize the content in your own words. Techniques like drawing diagrams or visualizing concepts can also enhance learning.
• Be Intentional: Whether using a laptop or pen and paper, being conscious of your note-taking style and its impact on your learning can help you retain and apply information more effectively.
• Study Your Notes: Last but not least, the act of studying your notes is crucial for retention. Notes that aren’t reviewed don’t fully contribute to the learning process.

In today’s world, we often embrace what technology offers without questioning its drawbacks or benefits. But sometimes, traditional methods may be more effective than we realize. This study shows that learning isn’t just about gathering information—it’s about how we engage with it. When using a laptop, approach note-taking with intention and focus on capturing key ideas instead of transcribing everything word by word. And if you’re drawn to modern tools, perhaps a tablet with a pen could offer the best of both worlds: the flexibility of digital notes with the cognitive benefits of hand-written engagement.

What do you think? How do you approach note-taking, and are there ways you could make it work better for you?

References

 Paper notebooks vs. mobile devices for note-taking Mueller, P. A., and Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). The pen is mightier than the keyboard: advantages of longhand over laptop note taking. doi.org/10.1177/0956797614524581

Blogpost written by Shubham Shrestha and Robert Georgies

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Imagine you are sitting in a lecture and it’s the stuff you really need to know for your future career. Your professor is explaining something very important, and then-buzz-a notification goes off on your phone. Suddenly, your mind is anywhere but in that classroom. Sound familiar?

Two researchers, Evren Sumuer and Duygu Nazire Kasıkcı, went deep inside the problem that we face with every single step and speak little about: how smartphones hijack our learning ability. Their research in *Computers & Education* is not an ordinary research paper but a wake-up call for every student who has ever felt his or her attention slip away.

Key points

• Notifications distract 78% of students, harming focus and learning.
• Distractions lower retention which affects the abilities for absorbing information effectively leading to poor academic performance.
• Recommending disabling alerts, creating phone-free zones, and using smartphones in a conscious way can improve students’ academic performance.
• Smartphones are not the problem—smart use is key. Protect your focus!

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What Exactly is Mind-Wandering?

A brief observation to begin with, as regards what this phenomenon is all about: Mind-wandering is a mental drift, the floating away of thoughts from the current task-you can guess what it is-one minute you are listening to a lecture, and the next thing you know, you’re mentally planning your weekend or wondering what your friend just posted on Instagram.

The Study: What Happens Behind the Scenes

The researchers tested 402 university students with an average age of 20.7 years. All these students were smartphone users and brought with them an average of 7.76 years of experience with these digital devices.The study goal was to find out how smartphone addiction affects focus during learning and how smartphones cause mind-wandering. The result showed that about 26% of mind-wandering is connected to smartphone addiction. Additionally, 78% of students get distracted by notifications, 64% of students by social media and 50% by expecting calls. These stats show how much smartphones can disrupt focus and learning.

Why are we tempted to use our phones?

Think about the human brain as a high-performance sports car, with a smartphone as the speed bumps in the road that always disrupt a smooth ride. The scientists isolated something they call „Control Failure x Concern Theory“ Evren Sumuer and Duygu Nazire Kasıkcı describe Control Failure x Concern Theory as how failing to control a behavior and worrying about that failure work together to shape a person’s stress and actions.that describes why: Immediate wanting from an alert. This curiosity defeats the concentration power of an individual. Essentially, it is like being cognitively hijacked with all the possible things that could be in that notification.

Literally, your brain is battling between two impulses:

1. Keep the spotlight on learning
2. Responsiveness to digital stimulation

And most of the time? The notification wins.

Effects of Distractions and Remedies to Improve Concentration

Distractions during studying and attending lectures have real-life consequences. The very moment attention is being given to other things-for instance, a smartphone-it becomes even harder to retain and recall information. When one loses focus, lessons are not easily comprehended, and over time, such effects will yield poor academic performances.

 Some scholars have come up with practical solutions for the digital era, such as switching off notifications while studying to reduce diverting one’s concentration toward less useful activities. One other good approach could be the establishment of phone-free zones, for example, classrooms and libraries, where using smartphones shall not be allowed. Smartphones could be put to more thoughtful use as a means of education in the accessing of apps and resources which enhance learning rather than those which actually take away from it. This also helps fight distraction; it involves one’s complete awareness of the present moment and the realization of the beginning of wandering of one’s mind. By gaining such awareness, the students are then able to deliberately set their focus back onto the work.

Another recommended strategy is using smartphones in a conscious way: ask yourself if its use is supportive in learning or results from mere habit. This helps improve the ability to focus, refreshes the mind, and makes one less prone to distractions while studying. These overall solutions greatly improve retention, understanding, and performance and will keep students on task in an ever-digital world.

A Personal Challenge
Try this next time during studying or even in class: Switch your phone on „Do Not Disturb“ and log the change in your focus. You might be quite surprised by just how much it increases and how big a chunk of mental bandwidth you really get. It is not technology that shall interrupt learning; technology will enhance it. Thus, when we understand how our brains interact with smartphones, we can find better ways of focusing and participating. Keep in mind that your attention is a rare resource. Protect it,

Want to learn more? Check out “The role of smartphones in college students’ mind-wandering during learning” by Evren Sumuer and Duygu Nazire Kasıkcı (2022). doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104616

 

Blogpost written by Hümeyra Kisa and Hilal Yesilirmak                                                    

Key Points:

• TikTok transforms online learning by boosting participation with entertaining features and personalized recommendations.
• Virtual rewards in Tiktok-based learning supercharge student engagement but also spark anxiety if challenges become overwhelming.
• Interactive tools like bullet-screen not only ease that anxiety, they actively pull students into active learning.

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In this digital age, many videos are shared on social media platforms. But as you might think, there are not only dance trends on Tiktok, educational videos are also taking over the application! The educational videos are usually short, emphasizing important points, interactive and very easy to understand. Are these educational videos really useful for learning? The recent study by Wang and colleagues (2023) says „yes“! It shows how Tiktok’s features, such as intelligent recommendations, playfulness and virtual rewards, can change students‘ learning experiences. Could short videos be the next big step in education? Let’s take a look at the findings.

 How Does TikTok Support Learning?

TikTok is a platform with a strong user base that provides interaction in all areas and contains entertaining content. This feature is also very prominent in the field of education. In the study by Wang and colleagues (2023) surveyed 502 undergraduate students in China about their experiences with features like intelligent recommendations, playfulness and virtual rewards in TikTok videos and investigated the impact of TikTok on students‘ learning engagement. According to the research with intelligent recommendation systems, interactive features and short, creative content, TikTok attracts the attention of students and thus increases their participation. Here are some tools on how TikTok supports in education:

• Intelligent Recommendations: As is widely recognized, social media platforms operate using algorithms that prioritize content similar to what users engage with most frequently. This principle applies to TikTok as well. TikTok offers personalized lessons and content to users. Thus, students‘ interest is attracted more and the time spent on the platform increases in this context.
• Short and Fun Contents: Today’s students now prefer short educational videos instead of watching lecture videos, such as reading dozens of pages of books or watching lessons for hours. Who wouldn’t prefer to watch a 60-second lesson video with fun content!
• Virtual Rewards: TikTok offers students reward opportunities such as badges, points, digital tokens, as long as they are successful! For example, when you watch and complete a lesson video, you can earn badges or points. These rewards make students put more effort into the learning process and they approach it with positive emotions. In addition, the recognition of achievements through rewards and the feeling of achievement helps them to put in more effort.
• Interactive Tools (Bullet-Screen): For students, social interaction is a method of reducing anxiety. For this purpose, instructors can plan live lessons on a topic that students are interested in, and use bullet-screened films to improve communication.

Do These Tools Have a Negative Impact?

Attention! While tik tok improves learning with these tools, it can also cause negative effects. For example, Wang et al. (2023) found that virtual rewards have a negative moderator effect on the relationship between interaction and anxiety. This means that if a task that achieves a reward is too difficult and exceeds the student’s skills, this situation will not provide motivation to the student, it will only cause stress and anxiety. As the student thinks that he does not deserve this award. And, accordingly, increased anxiety can reduce the students‘ desire to interact.

What Can Be Done?

To make TikTok-based learning more effective, the following can be done:

• Increase motivation and sweet ambition by offering rewards in accordance with the students‘ knowledge levels, not stress.
• Observe students‘ stress levels and avoid challenging tasks.
• Prepare short and entertaining content that students can easily focus on.
• Ensure student participation with tools such as bullet-screen and increase social interaction.

Big Picture

Now over to you: Based on the results of this research, would you incorporate TikTok into your own learning or teaching?

TikTok’s short video format makes learning accessible and engaging by using creative and interactive features. These tools enhance communication between students and teachers, creating a fun and personalized learning environment with great potential to boost student engagement. However, if not managed properly, they can increase anxiety, so careful planning is essential to balance technology use and minimize stress. With the right strategies, TikTok can foster a creative and interactive educational experience.

Do you think TikTok and similar platforms will improve education or create more risks?

 

References:
Wang, C., Liu, Y., Zhou, X., & Zhang, Q. (2023). Exploring effects of intelligent recommendation, interactivity, and playfulness on learning engagement: An application of TikTok considering the mediation of anxiety and moderation of virtual reward. Computers in Human Behavior, 145, 107951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107951

 

Blogpost written by Furkan Uruk & Daniil Naidenov

Nowadays, social media has changed how we communicate, bringing us closer together than ever. But there is also a darker side to always being connected – cyberbullying. This form of online harassment is a growing concern, affecting people of all ages and leaving a lasting impact on the mental health of those affected. In this post, we’ll break down what cyberbullying is, why it happens, how it affects us, and what we can do to prevent it.

Key Points

• Cyberbullying is a Growing Concern: Social media platforms have become the main stage for online harassment, affecting people of all ages.
• Risk Factors: Oversharing, excessive screen time, and certain personality traits can increase vulnerability to cyberbullying.
• Serious Mental Health Impact: Victims often experience anxiety, depression, social isolation, and, in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.
• Adults Are Not Immune to It: Cyberbullying not only affects children online, but it also affects grown-ups, which can lead to workplace stress, reduced job satisfaction, and damaged relationships.
• It Is Possible to Prevent It: AI tools, education, and community efforts are key to combating cyberbullying.
• The Road Ahead: Ongoing research is needed to improve prevention strategies and address cyberbullying on emerging platforms.

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The Monster Under Our Digital Beds

There were times when bullies were just those mean kids in school. But now, in our hyper-connected world, there is a new type of bully, the virtual bully, who doesn’t need physical proximity any more to be able to hurt people – he lurks in our phones, tablets and laptops, ready to attack at any given moment.

Cyberbullying happens when someone uses the internet, especially social media, to repeatedly hurt, embarrass, or threaten another person. This could be through nasty messages, spreading lies, or sharing private photos without consent.

Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying doesn’t end when you walk away. There’s no safe haven, you cannot take refuge at home. It’s like having someone who wants to harass you steal a spare key to every room in your life. A person can spread vicious rumours, share embarrassing photos or outright reveal your personal information without you even knowing who it is. A threatening message can even pop up as you’re having dinner. Cyberbullying follows victims wherever they go, making it even more damaging.

Why Good People Turn Into Digital Devils

Let’s be honest – the internet can turn people who appear to be normal in their real life into monsters online. But why? The research by Giumetti & Kowalski suggests that it’s not just about bad people doing bad things. The digital world provides a fertile ground for the worst human traits to come out because of anonymity, distance and instant gratification. When you cannot see the person on the other end of the screen, it becomes frighteningly easy to forget that they, too, are human, and really exist out there somewhere.

The Silent Scream: Mental Health in the Digital Age

The damage being done isn’t just virtual – it’s physical. Imaging having a troubling weight pull you down with every step that gets ever heavier with every notification, every ping, every refresh. That is what cyberbullying victims experience. The research shows that this isn’t just about feeling angry or sad; we’re talking about deep and lasting psychological wounds. Depression doesn’t just visit; it moves in, permanently. Anxiety becomes a lifelong companion of those affected. And for some, especially for the younger people online, the weight becomes unbearable as cyberbullying continues, which leads to darker thoughts than any parent wants to imagine.

Fighting Back: More Than Just Hitting ‚Block‘

But there are good news, too: we’re not powerless in a fight against cyberbullying. The digital world can still at times feel like the Wild West, but we’re getting better at taming it. AI spots and stops harmful content from spending before it can do any damage. But trusting technology alone isn’t the answer, we need human solutions to this very human problem. Schools need to become battlegrounds – but not for bullying, for education about the life online. Parents need to learn how to become digital guides to their children and not just guardians.

Forward The Revolution

Social media is not going anywhere anytime soon, but neither is our humanity. The research discovered an urgent need for action, but not just from tech companies or school. We need a cultural revolution. Every time that we choose kindness over cruelty online, we are fighting back. And every time we call out digital harassment instead of scrolling past it, we are making a difference.

Conclusion

The current prevalence of cyberbullying online is a wake-up call. The research makes it clear: we are facing a crisis that outpaces our solutions.

Social media is a double-edged sword. While it connects us and opens up opportunities, it also creates spaces for harmful behaviour like cyberbullying. The effects are real and often devastating, impacting mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.

The good news is that we can fight back. By using technology wisely, educating ourselves and others, and fostering supportive communities, we can create a safer online environment. It’s up to all of us—parents, educators, policymakers, and everyday users—to take action and make social media a place that uplifts rather than harms. Every one of us who’s ever posted, shared, or commented online is either part of the problem or the solution. Which will you be?

Together, we can ensure that social media remains a tool for connection, not division. The future of our digital world isn’t written in code – it’s written in our choices. Let’s make them count.

 

References: Social media and cyberbullying
Giumetti & Kowalski (2022): Cyberbullying via social media and well-being. doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101314

Image link: https://www.bitdefender.com/en-gb/blog/hotforsecurity/fur-ein-besseres-und-sichereres-miteinander-im-internet-aktionstag-gegen-cybermobbing

Why It Happens and Why It Hurts

Blogpost written by Alex Essel and Andrej Ditler

Highlights:

• Anonymity on mobile dating apps has turned ghosting into a familiar phenomenon, making it effortless for people to disappear without explanation.
• Even though ghosting is common, ghostees often experience significant emotional pain which can sometimes even have long term effects.
• More frequent mobile dating app users surprisingly tend to ghost less often, showing that experience encourages empathy.

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Some of you might have experienced it, the burning sensation in your chest. Simultaneously, question after question streams through your head: “Why? Did I do something wrong? Did I write something inappropriate? Maybe s/he is just having a long day and will text back tomorrow?”.

Slowly but surely, the denial of what has happened phases out, and the realization sets in: It seems like you have been ghosted. But why, though? Everything seemed fine–right?

You saw that one person on Tinder, beautiful, the pictures exude charisma, and s/he is a dog person just like you! Everything seems to be spot on; you swipe right. You get a match. Both of you exchange some text messages for the next few days and you get to know each other a bit. Every time you text the person, you have a smile on your face. And then it happens; the person is not replying anymore…

This or similar experiences are not a rare occurrence. Since the dawn of mobile dating apps, it seems that ghosting has become an integral part of it. But how is it that behavior, which would be considered highly inappropriate in a face-to-face setting, has become a normal thing to do on mobile dating apps?

This leaves us with a big question: How do we even begin to understand something as personal and painful as ghosting? That’s exactly what a group of researchers set out to uncover, diving deep into the world of mobile dating to figure out what drives people to ghost and what happens to those left behind.

How do you study ghosting? Here’s what the researchers did!

You might wonder: how can something as emotional and personal as ghosting be studied scientifically? It’s not like people leave behind a trail of evidence when they ghost someone. So, how did the researchers decode this mystery?

They started by reaching out to 328 active dating app users, all of whom had firsthand experience with ghosting—either as ghosters or ghostees. Through a mix of questions, from simple multiple-choice to open-ended “spill your heart out” types, the researchers collected real stories about ghosting—why people do it, how it feels to be ghosted, and how they cope.

The researchers didn’t just collect data—they uncovered emotions, motivations, and coping strategies. Some participants talked about why they ghosted, others about how it felt to be ghosted, and many shared the ripple effects it had on their confidence and mental health.

But it didn’t stop there. The real value behind these stories lies in the patterns researchers can detect and turn into insights. This mix of personal stories and hard data gave them a clear picture of why ghosting happens, how it affects people, and what we can learn from it.

In short, they didn’t just study ghosting—they really decoded it. Now, let’s look into their findings!

Why do people even ghost in the first place?

There are multiple reasons why people resort to ghosting on mobile dating apps.

From the perspective of the ghosters (the ones who ghosted), it might have been that your personality wasn’t up to snuff, you came off as weird while texting, or perhaps you were just plain obnoxious. Maybe your physical appearance played a role—those filtered selfies on your profile could have set expectations you didn’t quite meet. Or perhaps the date itself was lukewarm at best. We also shouldn’t forget the possibility that your end goals didn’t align: maybe you were looking for a serious relationship while they just wanted something casual.

But don’t take it all personally—some ghosters actually blamed themselves. A portion confessed to feeling emotionally unprepared or afraid of not meeting your expectations. Others might have found a new flame and simply forgotten about you. Then there are those who ghosted to preserve a sense of control, feeling they didn’t owe you an explanation.

Ironically, a small number of ghosters said they ghosted to avoid the discomfort of verbally rejecting you, believing this would spare your feelings. I’m sure you can appreciate the effort.

Now, let’s turn the tables. Let’s look at you for a moment—or, more precisely, at people like you: the ghostees. What did ghostees believe was the reason for you being ghosted? According to your fellow ghostees, it’s not your fault. They believed the ghoster’s own issues—like disinterest, a fear of commitment, or even already dating someone else—might have led to the sudden disappearance. But even among ghostees, some pointed the finger inward, saying they felt they just weren’t good enough.

Still, let’s not kid ourselves—these apps make it incredibly easy to leave someone on “read.” Both ghosters and ghostees seem to agree on that.

What are the consequences of ghosting, and how do ghostees cope?

As anyone who has experienced ghosting can attest, the consequences often included sadness, anger, disillusionment, or shame. Interestingly, some participants reported feeling relieved, realizing that the other person was not a suitable match. Unfortunately, others suffered long-term effects on their mental health, such as lowered self-esteem or even depression.

To cope with being ghosted, some participants deleted the mobile dating app or sought comfort by talking to their friends. A few attempted to get in touch with the ghoster through social media in their pursuit of closure. However, many tried to rationalize it–trying to make sense of what had happened.

Does frequent use of mobile dating apps increase the likelihood of ghosting others?

No. The analysis actually showed the opposite: the higher the usage of mobile dating apps, the lower the odds of ghosting others. At first, the myriad of dating opportunities on these apps can feel overwhelming. One exciting person after another appears, while countless others who don’t spark your interest bombard you with “Hi” or “Wassup.” Let’s be honest—most of us would struggle with that and might ghost one, two, or maybe even ten people in the process. But over time, users tend to become more selective with their choices, leading to fewer instances of ghosting.

What can we learn from this study?

After diving into the fascinating results of the study, one big question remains: What can you, as a possible dating app user, take away from all this?

Ghosting happens because it’s easy. Dating apps make it simple to disappear, and ghosters often avoid confrontation or think it’s kinder to vanish than to reject someone outright. But for ghostees, the impact is real—especially when the ghosting is unexpected or after a meaningful connection. Sadness, anger, and self-doubt are common reactions.

People cope differently. Some rationalize it as part of dating, while others seek closure or even delete their dating apps altogether. Surprisingly, frequent app users are less likely to ghost, suggesting experience leads to more considerate behavior.

The takeaway? Ghosting may seem convenient, but it leaves emotional scars. A little honesty and empathy could make online dating a kinder place.

 

References:
Timmermans, E., Hermans, A., & Opree, S. J. (2020). Gone with the wind: Exploring mobile daters’ ghosting experiences. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(2), 783–801. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407520970287

Blogpost written by Reyhan Göç and Baraa Othman

Key Points

• Emojis influence the perceived emotion of the message and enhance communication in digital interaction.
• If emojis match the content of the message, they improve clarity, if don’t, they cause confusion and slow understanding.
• Positive emojis support warmth and connection.

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Have you ever thought about the effects of emojis, which have become an essential part of our messages in daily life? Do emojis negatively affect our language or communication? Emojis play an important role in the emotional tone of our messages. For example, a simple text like “Good job” might seem neutral, but adding an emoji like a thumbs up 👍 or clapping hands👏, strengthens the enthusiasm and makes the message feel more personal and engaging. A recent study highlights the fundamental impact of emojis on our emotions, perceptions and understanding of digital messages.

How Emojis Enhance Emotional Communication

Emojis, these small digital icons, have become a vital part of modern communication. They’re everywhere, adding color and emotion to the way we connect with others. While facial expressions help us understand people’s emotional states in face-to-face interactions, emojis play a similar role in digital messages. A single ‘I’m sorry’ text may not show how deeply we are sorry, so we can solve this by adding a crying emoji: ‘I’m sorry😭’.

The study found that emojis are like mood boosters for messages. Negative emojis can totally change the vibe, making a message feel negative, even if the message is positive or neutral. On the other hand, positive emojis can make a message feel positive, but they don’t have the magical power to erase the bad mood in the negative messages. Neutral emojis tend to be seen as slightly negative, probably because the one used in this study (😐) is a bit more on the “meh” side than completely neutral.

How Emojis Help You Seem Warmer and More Approachable

Emojis also influence how people think about the sender socially. People who use positive emojis are perceived as warm, friendly and reliable while those who use negative emoji make a more unpleasant impression.

Let’s not forget that this study focused on daily messaging, and the use of emoji in professional context such as e-mails, is not very preferred. In fact, a separate study shows that smiling expressions in professional settings don’t make people seem warmer but can make them seem less competent.

Processing Made Easy: Emojis as Cognitive Boosters

Besides making communication easier to read and understand, emojis can be used to convey emotions. The study shows that using emojis that match the tone of a message, like a happy emoji with a positive sentence, makes the message easier to understand and less mentally taxing.

People can understand messages faster and more easily when the emoji matches the tone of the text. But if the emoji doesn’t fit, like a sad face with a happy message, it can be confusing and harder to read.

For example, sending „Congratulations! 😭“ might confuse the reader because the sad emoji doesn’t match the positive tone of the text, making the message unclear.

What This Means for You

Emojis fill the void left by the lack of gestures and facial expressions in digital communication, making them indispensable tools. Boutet et al. (2021) say that emojis copy facial expressions, making it easier to share emotions, connect with others, and understand messages by matching visuals to the message’s tone.

When used thoughtfully, emojis make digital interactions more engaging, relatable, and effective.

Here are some tips to maximize their impact:

Match Emoji Tone with Text: Make sure the emoji matches the tone in your text message because it improves clarity. Otherwise, it might be taken in a different direction altogether!

Leverage Positive Emojis: To increase your warmth and likeability, use positive emoticons like 😊 or ❤️. This will make the sender appear more approachable and kinder.

Be Cautious in Professional Settings: Although emojis can bring individuality, excessive use or poorly chosen emojis may detract from views of expertise. no more than minimal and neutral emojis, like 👍 or 😊, if necessary.

Conclusion

Emojis, however, are more than just adorable icons; they are potent representations of who we are online. By carefully choosing your emojis,

Boutet et al. (2021) suggest that thoughtfully using emojis can make communication clearer, help build meaningful relationships, and support users in adapting to the ever-changing digital landscape.

References

• Boutet, I., LeBlanc, M., Chamberland, J. A., & Collin, C. A. (2021). Emojis influence emotional communication, social attributions, and information processing. Computers in Human Behavior, 119, 106722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106722