Based on statistics provided by PEW research, Nielsen, the National School Board Association and others, ASCD’s infographic explores the connections between today’s students, mobile learning and learning methods.

The majority of Western schools attempt to ban the use of mobile devices; whereas a smaller number permit students to carry but not use the items. For many, suppressing such items becomes a losing battle — as students continue to bring them, as well as parents preferring the option of being able to contact their children.

According to the research, 63 percent of students attending schools carry their mobile devices despite the rules. However, considering just how many young people now own cell phones, this percentage may be on the conservative side.

Schools, in general, consider mobile devices a distraction and a way that more children experience bullying. However, students do not want to be able to use such devices only in order to go on Facebook or watch YouTube videos — instead, a third of middle and high school students would prefer that schools provide such tools to electronically communicate with their teachers.

Young people are becoming ‘wired’ and proficient with Internet use at an earlier age. According to this research, children age 2 - 11 make up 9.5 percent of the current online population. When this generation grow up having access to such tools, it is no wonder that they would prefer for this kind of technology to be integrated within learning:

• 63 percent of students want online textbooks with communication facilities;
• 40 percent want online texts with collaboration tools.
• 43 percent stated social media is one of the main ways they communicate with friends online.
• 62 percent  of student use the Internet as a new source; whereas 17 percent use it to gain knowledge concerning topics generally difficult to talk about — such as drug use.

For more information, view the infographic below:

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