HENDERSON CO., KY (WFIE) -
Technology once forbidden in the classroom is now being embraced in Henderson County.
On Monday night, the school board cleared the first hurdle to allow smartphones in the classroom.
It used to be cell phones would never be allowed in the classroom. Now the thought is, smart phones could actually help make you smart.
Students Tyler Banken and Skyler Wilson know you can do just about anything these days with your smartphone except use it in class.
"We were not allowed to have them out in class. If we did, we'd get wrote up or sent down to the office and taken away," Banken said.
Their phones had to stay in their lockers. A great resource, they say, locked away.
"Phones nowadays have the technology to be equivalent to a laptop. I mean, I know laptops in high school would be something that would help a lot, so why not a phone?" Wilson asked.
Now, Henderson County schools are seeing eye-to-iPhone with their students and looking to embrace the technology.
"We need to teach them to use their devices in an academic fashion for productivity rather than just for entertainment," said Linda Payne with the Henderson County School System.
The school system is starting a trial program, where students who obtain what's called a digital drivers licence could use their digital device in classes. For example, instead of buying an expensive calculator for math class, now there's an app for that.
"There are several sites that have really good scientific calculator, graphing calculators," Payne said.
Only the students with a digital license could use their smartphone, iPads, or laptops in class, and only when it's approved by their teacher.
And yes, what they do on these devices will be monitored.
"Assigns a number to their device on our network and we can track that device where it is in our district," Payne said.
That pilot program is set to place at South Middle School in the fall. If all goes well and the program is approved, it will then expand to other schools.
We'll keep you updated.
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