South Korean elementary schools will begin using a smartphone app that allows teachers to monitor, shut down or limit the usage of their students’ electronic devices, including phones and tablets.
iSmartKeeper, the app made by South Korea’s Gongju National University and Net Cube Technology, is designed for schoolteachers and parents who wish to control their student or children’s smartphone and tablet usage from their own devices. The app serves as a remote management software on smartphones and tablets and can lock phones down in one of six modes.
[ad#336]
The extent of the lock varies, as parents and teachers can allow only emergency calls, incoming calls or text messages. They can also turn off specific apps on the devices they’re given access to. Elementary schools in South Korea’s Gangwon Province will use the app to prevent students from becoming distracted during class time.
More than 11 elementary schools in South Korea have already used the app on a trial basis, with mixed results. Three schools opted not to continue as it caused even more trouble with students finding workarounds to dodge the restrictions. In one case, a student’s phone was locked down for hours after school due to technical glitches.
Another issue is that the app is only for Android devices, meaning children with iPhones won’t be affected.
[ad#336]
