A few years ago, as Blackberries, iPhones, and Androids began to flood the smartphone market, middle and high school teachers tended to discourage their students from using them in class. And for good reason: aside from the annoyance of random ring tones going off during school, a bored teenager could easily tune out a lecture and text a friend; or worse, kids could dial up the internet during exams and, well, cheat.
But today, due in large part to the incredible versatility and internet capabilities of smartphones, educators are beginning to praise their upsides and take steps to minimize their downsides.