Time magazine recently published an article titled "Texting 1, 2, 3: Schools Test 'Bring Your Own Technology' Programs." Here's an excerpt:
[A] larger national trend in schools known as “Bring Your Own
Technology (BYOT),” in which students are allowed to bring their mobile
devices to class. Advocates argue that if young people are already glued
to them, then teachers and principals should come up with educational
uses for them. And at a time when state budget cuts are increasing––at
least 30 states are providing less funding to schools now than they did
four years ago––it makes sense that educators would experiment with BYOT
as they try to figure out how to do more with less. But some experts
say schools may use BYOT as an excuse to avoid providing essential
services to students.
One thing most kids seem to have are cell phones
with text messaging capabilities. Seventy-seven percent of teenagers
(ages 12-17) have them, and 75 percent of all teens text, according to a
Pew Internet & American Life Project study published in March 2012.
Sixty-three percent say they send text messages every day. And one in
four teens have a smartphone.
“We wanted to make a platform that could be used by all kids, teens,
and college students and that cuts across demographics,” Okamoto says.
“You don’t just have to have iPads or live in a very wealthy school
district.”
Read more: http://techland.time.com/2012/05/02/texting-1-2-3-schools-test-bring-your-own-technology-programs/#disqus_thread#ixzz1uWChTAEM
