The debate on how smartphones should be used in schools is intensifying. Yesterday, for example, the Bavarian cabinet decided to extend the ban on private smartphone use to include grades five to seven, with the aim of strengthening students' concentration, social interaction and mental health. However, it is also becoming clear that alongside such measures, there is a need for effective strategies that facilitate the meaningful and educational use of digital devices.
This is where the Erasmus+ project “FOCUS – FOstering Competence for Use of Smartphones” comes in. The University of Bayreuth is also involved in this international education project, which aims to promote responsible smartphone use, strengthen students’ self‑regulation and encourage the development of healthy digital habits. FOCUS combines a smartphone-free approach in primary schools with pedagogically structured use in secondary schools, developing practical materials, tools and training formats in the process. The project is being carried out by partners from Germany, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia and Turkey.
The sketchometry research group is an experienced partner in digital mathematics education that is also part of the project. sketchometry is an innovative web app for dynamic mathematics that is specifically designed for mobile devices and enables geometric constructions through finger gestures. It is developed at the University of Bayreuth, specifically at the Chair of Mathematics and Didactics and the Center for Mobile Learning with Digital Technology (CMLDT). It is based on the open-source software library JSXGraph, which was also developed in Bayreuth.
The Bayreuth team has extensive expertise in developing dynamic mathematics software (DMS), as well as solid experience in inquiry-based learning. Against the backdrop of current debates on smartphone bans, sketchometry exemplifies how smartphones can be meaningfully used as learning tools, for instance to actively explore mathematical concepts and foster independent thinking.
A key project meeting will take place at the University of Bayreuth in early May, where international partners will come together to discuss progress, further develop materials and plan strategies for the project's long-term success.
FOCUS is funded by the Erasmus+ programme and makes an important contribution to the current educational policy debate by moving away from a purely restrictive perspective and encouraging the reflective, competent and health-oriented use of smartphones in education.
