smart for science

Smartphones have become an indispensable part of students' everyday lives. It is therefore reasonable to integrate existing technical devices more strongly into schools and classes. Researchers assume that this has enormous advantages for school learning, as students can be additionally motivated to participate in class. However, the question of how teachers can integrate smartphones into classes in a meaningful way is still open.

For this reason, researchers at the University of Münster investigate how smartphones can be successfully utilized into schools and classes. As part of the study, the project offers workshops for students at lower secondary level, in which the researchers observe to what extent the use of smartphones influences the motivation, concentration and learning achievement of the adolescents. In addition, the researchers investigate what challenges arise when students use their smartphones in class: for example, distractions by other media content. For the first time, the researchers compare whether the students use their own smartphones differently from school-owned devices. The researchers' goal is to develop new didactic strategies for future usage of smartphones in classes. Their work is oriented on the teaching contents of the subjects mathematics, physics and chemistry.

Based on the findings of the study, the research team is developing a digital learning environment for mathematics and science education as well as further training for teachers and materials for schools.