North Texas School District Allows Students To Use Smart Phones In Class

FRISCO (CBSDFW.COM) --  In the past, eighth grader Marc Auch and other middle and high school students in Frisco public schools had to turn off their cell phones and keep them in their lockers during the school day.

But now, Auch says, school policy is changing with the times.  "It's updating each year. It's getting cooler."

Beginning this semester, students at all middle and high schools in the district are allowed to use their smart phones in class.

Eighth grade language arts teacher Jennifer Devlin acknowledges, "Times have changed."

The program is called BYOD, which is short for "bring your own device."

Whether it's a smart phone, laptop, tablet computer, or other device, Devlin says most students already use the high-tech gadgets at home to conduct research.

And she says most of her students use their smart phones in class.

Xander Stubbs is one of them. He says, "We've done lots of research with them, which I've really appreciated because the computers aren't always available."

School rules say in order to use the devices, every student and teacher must connect to the district's wireless network, which filters out inappropriate websites and social media.

During some classes, the smart phones and other devices aren't allowed at all.

Devlin says if students are searching for an answer, the technology has helped them find one. She says, "That's them being resourceful. That is helping them figure out, 'How am I supposed to solve that, or what's the best way?'"

The technology is optional.

Marc Auch doesn't have a smart phone, but he shares another student's phone when possible.

Most of the time he says he uses a dictionary. "It doesn't hurt me. I just use another resource - it's kind of cool to have a device, but it's still researching."

Now that smart phones are allowed in class, the temptation is still there for those who want to sneak in a text to a friend.

But the only texts allowed are books.

Xander Stubbs says, "Sometimes, you'll see students doing it, but it's really quick, and even though that happens, it's very rare."

His teacher says, "There might be one or two who try to push it. They know if they abuse the privilege, it goes away."

And students say they don't want to be the reason to roll back the clock.