<p>"Move over, Angry Birds. Its time to tackle a math problem. A new survey finds that about a third of middle-schoolers now use smart phones or tablets not just for entertainment and communication, but also for homework.</p>
<p>Paired with young peoples interest in science, math, and technology, its another sign of the potential for digital learning that educators are slowly beginning to tap." …</p>
<p>Do you parents see this in your middle-schoolers or is this another of those “if you choose to believe it” surveys?</p>
<p>My middle schooler has borrowed my smart phone to look up a definition for HW or to use the calculator function for something. He’s used the ipad to look for and read articles for science papers. </p>
<p>I would guess that where I live it’s more than 1 in 3.</p>
<p>Our kids use their phones for calculators all the time. Even the “dumbphones” have this option. They obviously can’t do the more complicated problems on their phones though. Last year their calc teacher had a unit on “smartphone computation” where all they used were features on their phones and various apps to do the problems. The kids loved it. A couple kids at our school developed an app for smartphones that replaces a student planner for homework, etc. It’s been a huge hit.</p>
<p>What I don’t understand is why people are so afraid of progress and technology? So what if they look up Dictionary.com vs lugging out a 30 lb book from the library. The answer is the same.</p>
<p>The only issue in my mind is annotating the source of the researched info. Students sometimes don’t consider that and it can be hard to find the site that was used.</p>
<p>My 7th grader is pushing for a smart phone and using this as a reason. Most of his friends DO use it for homework (+ social)</p>
<p>My 12th grader has been using smart phone for homework for several years. It works for him. </p>
<p>He uses an MS Office App for Power points.
He uses it to log into the school homework site.</p>
<p>I think it is a toss up because the smart phone/text/FB app really is distracting. So time saved with the “solid” homework stuff tends to be negated with the distraction in my opinion.</p>
<p>For us, & our phone plan, using the smart phones reduces our need for another family computer. With 3 kids, it is very difficult lately to have enough computer time so all can finish homework.</p>
<p>I guess my family is on the opposite end - I live in a family of luddites. I have a smart phone for work. Noone in my house is remotely interested in getting one (except the 11 year old who does not have a phone at all). DW and 2 DDs have basic folding phones that text. But we have 3 laptops and 2 desktops…</p>