Initial pilot program limited to 30 participants

The Gumley House Convent School, located in West London, has launched a pilot program that provides free iPhones to students, according to the UK site FoneHome. Although the Catholic school for girls currently has approximately 1,100 students, the iPhone trial will be limited to a smaller group of 30 individuals.

While many educational institutions have placed a ban on cellphones and other mobile devices, Gumley House is exploring the idea of using smartphones as a tool that can support learning within schools. Students will be able to use the devices in any way they believe will assist with schooling, while working closely with teachers.

"The increasing availability of ‘apps’ (applications) on these phones means that a wealth of possibilities may be accessed, and the group involved in the study will meet at regular intervals to share ideas on how they are being used as well as look at their regular attainment to see if, in reality, and change in learning can be monitored," the school wrote in a statement.

Similar programs are currently offered through several other schools such as the Abilene Christian University. The Texas-based institution claimed the giveaways serve as more than an incentive to enroll, as students can use an iPhone to navigate the campus, organize class schedules, or take real-time surveys during lectures.

by MacNN Staff