There is much debate surrounding cell phone use at school. There are many pros and cons to children using cell phones at school. Peer pressure to have a cell phone, especially for messaging friends, is becoming more prevalent each year. Some children get phones only for emergency situations. Others can access phones with parental controls , smartphone for studying.
It makes sense to highlight the real benefits of a smartphone for children, as so many use it more than just making calls or sending texts. Here are six ways smartphone for studying can help children learn:
- It helps you keep track of your homework. Not many students prefer a paper planner. Smartphone apps can make it much easier to keep track of homework due dates and homework. Just a quick chime and “do homework for me” alert will appear! Students can easily check in on their daily due dates and record them by simply taking along their smartphones everywhere.
- Other reminders can be set. Students can use the reminder/task functions of their smartphone to keep track of ongoing tasks and add to them throughout each day. Children can remind them to attend the before-school club meeting tomorrow, or ask for a recommendation letter from a teacher in advance of the scholarship application deadline.
- Finding facts. Students have endless research options with the Internet. The Internet offers endless research possibilities. Who needs the Encyclopedia Britannica? Students can search for unfamiliar dates or terms without having to leave the classroom, as long as the teacher permits students to supplement lectures with phone questions.
- Photographing, recording audio or video of unclear concepts. High school teachers can be very fast, especially when they are moving quickly. Students can take photographs of the board and/or record audio or video clips of confusing concepts for later reference when they study at home with permission.
- Note taking. Students are more likely to add information to their phones than take handwritten notes. Evernote allows children to record ideas and web URLs in their notes. Students can then organize their notes in the most logical way by using Evernote.
- Access to education apps. There’s a good chance that the teacher already uses at least one or two learning apps, whether it is to remind students about assignments, share documents, and assign information. There are many excellent learning and educational apps that can help students organize their studies and improve their study habits. You can make teachers’ lessons come to life with them! These tools can be accessed easily via smartphones when you’re on the move to grandma or soccer practice.
Smartphones can be distracting, but they can also be used as a learning tool. It is clear that smartphones have many benefits for the education experience.
As with all technology, parents should have a meaningful discussion about how to use the phone in a responsible manner according to school and parent guidelines.
Smartphones are an information gateway and can be used to improve students’ learning as well as their preparation for secondary and higher education.
