In 1992, the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) designed the first practical smart phone, releasing it to the public just one year later. Its product, called “Simon,” featured a calendar, address book, world clock, calculator, games and a revolutionary touch screen. Today, after years of increasing fame and countless upgrades, smart phones have become hugely popular products, accounting for 25 percent of U.S. mobile phone sales. Smart phones combine the ability to call and text others with features usually limited to computers, such as web browsing abilities and email access. They are a great way to catch up with friends, check the weather and search the latest news. They have also proven their capabilities as a cheating or distraction device in the classroom.

“Teachers are so oblivious to all that goes on,” said an anonymous sophomore. “Students take advantage [by using technology inappropriately]. It’s wrong.”

A Warrior poll of 57 students found that about 65 percent of them texted without the teacher’s permission during class, with 23 percent of students texting more than 20 times each day.

Though teachers may attempt to eliminate phones as a distraction from class, students texting may be difficult to detect or too numerous to apprehend. “Students text during class too frequently,” said math teacher Timothy Altaner. “I don’t know how many times they’re beneath their desks texting somebody.”

The poll also revealed the prevalence of new technologies as a form of academic dishonesty, though this issue appears less extensive than the use of technology as a distraction. While most students maintained they have never used technology as a cheating device, 42 percent admitted to using technology without a teacher’s permission in an attempt to better their grade on an assignment, and nine percent of students confessed to doing this ten or more times. That means almost one in every 10 students has used technology to cheat on at least ten different occasions over their academic careers.

“I think [technology use] is a problem at Sherwood because it makes it easier for students to cheat. People text each other during tests … Personally, I think, with the increase in technology that we have, it encourages students to cheat; it enables students to cheat,” said senior Matt Smith, who has noticed inappropriate technology use occurring in his classes.

Despite the definite presence of technology as a cheating or distraction device, many students use phones throughout the day simply to communicate idly with friends during class free time or to contact family members for important news.

“Phones and other devices do not pose a distraction,” said an anonymous sophomore. “Usually … the students [use technology] after their work is done.”

Senior Lok-Man Yeung sees no possible benefits in using technology to cheat. “If students cheat, they will still fail the midterm because the teachers are stricter then,” he said. “They can cheat, but it’s not going to get them far in life, anyways. So it’s just leading to their own downfall.”

As smart phones continue to become more popular and increasing portable access to internet becomes available, the temptation to text or browse during class is likely to intensify, and only time will tell how students resist or submit to this temptation.