The contribution presents a study that involved 159 Italian teachers and investigated their perspective on the
use of smartphones in school. The study analyzes, both by age groups and by school level (primary, lower
secondary, upper secondary): for which educational activities teachers use smartphones; how often they
believe teachers should use smartphones during lessons for targeted educational activities; to what extent they
believe teachers should prohibit students from using smartphones during lessons.
Overall, teachers reported using smartphones primarily for online research in class, interactive questions, and
group work in class. Differences were also found depending on the school level. For instance, the educational
activity for which teachers most commonly use smartphones is online research in class for both lower and upper
secondary levels, while it is out-of-class activities in the field concerning primary school. 50% of teachers, both
overall and at each school level, believe that teachers should use smartphones occasionally for targeted
educational activities during lessons, between 35% and 40% never or rarely, and approximately 10% often or
always. Most teachers, both overall and at each school level, believe that smartphone use should always be
prohibited for students during lessons. This statement is shared by 40% of teachers overall, and in particular,
by 57% of primary teachers, 41% of lower secondary teachers, and 36% of upper secondary teachers. The results will be discussed in light of recent research on the educational use of smartphones.
