Schools Use Pocket Points App To Keep Kids From Checking Phones In Class

Everyone today has a smartphone or tablet and most people pull them out frequently to check messages, texts, social networks, and other media. In some locations, it's not an issue to pull out your phone and check this stuff, but when in class it can be a distraction to other students and the teacher. Getting students to pay attention in class is a challenge for schools and some schools have figured out an interesting way to get students to comply.

These schools use an app that runs on student iOS devices called Pocket Points. Pocket Points turns the act of not checking your smartphone or tablet into a game where you can earn points for leaving your smart device alone.

As those points rack up, you can get free and discounted food. The best way to a broke college student's heart is through free food. The more students in the class that are using the app at the same time, the bigger the points gained and the more free food you get. Each twenty-minute block that phones or tablets go unused, the more points the students gain.

Right now, the app is available for students at California State University, Chico and Penn State. About a thousand students have downloaded the app so far. The developer of Pocket points is a student at Penn State.

SOURCE: Kotaku