An infographic developed by StudyBlue, a mobile and online study service for students, demonstrates several benefits for students who power-up their smartphones for study sessions.
Cheating has become easier and more widely tolerated, and both schools and parents have failed to give students strong, repetitive messages about what is allowed and what is prohibited.
The literature shows that more recent, sophisticated applications of the technology produce greater positive gains than older applications, he said.
"Where technology does have a positive impact is when it actively engages students, when it's used as a communication tool, when it's used for things like simulations or games that enable students to actively manipulate the environment."
""Technology has changed what it means to be a parent raising children today--these children are growing up in an environment that would be unrecognizable to their parents," Smith said. "As our research shows, parents need to start educating kids about navigating the online world safely at an earlier age than they might otherwise have thought.""