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Cell Phones in the Classroom Increase Test Scores

Under30Careers | October 16, 2012 | 0 Comments

Cellphones are banned from many schools — at least from the classroom — because students play games, text friends and do other activities that distract them from learning. But mobile technology for students in a classroom setting isn’t always a hindrance to good grades and learning.

Qualcomm’s Wireless Reach Initiative aims to conquer the digital divide between those who can and can’t afford wireless Internet access. After smartphones were distributed to low income students, standardized test performance drastically increased because students could more easily communicate with their peers and access information throughout the day (and night).

One of the programs to come out of the Wireless Initiative helped students at several North Carolina schools achieve higher test scores. The schools’ math scores were below national standards, possibly because many of the students lacked Internet access at home. With grant funding from Qualcomm, “Project K-Nect” provided ninth grade students with smartphones, which they could use to access additional instructions and collaborate with their peers, at any hour of the day. After one year, the students who had the phones saw a 30% increase on their test scores.

“Essentially the walls of the classroom came down and they were able to share ideas throughout the day,” Johnson said.