I confess –  my views differ from some of the strategic Information Technology directions some schools are currently promoting, but in terms of providing valuable education, I really believe we should be embracing smartphones rather than banning them.

That would mean this:

Instead of this:

I am collating data on use and gain, which I hope to have in a state worthy of sharing shortly.  I do not think the future will be easy, whichever way schools proceed but from my perspective, the key points are:

• Ubiquitous tech such as smartphones and watches are part of today’s world.
• No child’s parent has grown up with appropriate use of tech being modelled (first smart type phone 1992 – first iPhone 2007) so who teaches usage, advantages, dangers, and protocols if we don’t?
• We are dealing with rapidly evolving products which we can’t hope to keep up with in terms of banning and have far greater chance of impact if we respond in an educational manner.
• These devices augment computers (and in some ways surpass them) and should be harnessed appropriately for the enabling of learning as appropriate.

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), is home to a passionate community of global educators who believe in the power of technology to transform teaching and learning, accelerate innovation and solve tough problems in education.

ISTE inspires the creation of solutions and connections that improve opportunities for all learners by delivering: practical guidance, evidence-based professional learning, virtual networks, thought-provoking events, and the ISTE Standards.

This is an example of 6 Things that a Mobile Phone Enhances according to a post in the ISTE blog: https://www.iste.org/explore/articleDetail?articleid=528#.XEzQ8azy_1Q.email

The app I would recommend most highly is Office Lens and it is incredibly powerful when paired with OneNote with its amazing “immersive reader”.  It works on laptops, iPads, and phones and is excellent for differentiation and assisted learning.

To my way of thinking the gains to education far outweigh the pain, particularly for older students who will soon be expected to function in the world of work.