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>> Reporter: This sign on the wall, "No cell phones during class time," well, it's practically a

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fossil at Skyview High School now.

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The bring your own device program, or BYOD, 
encourages students to use their cell phones

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and other electronic devices in class.

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>> Teacher: Are you guys able to get in? Okay, got it? Okay.

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>> Here's something you don't see everyday: a teacher checking to make sure his students are

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on the Internet. This--

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>> You had no problem on the iPad, right?

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>> -- is how Eric Silvie's teaching world history.

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>> I had a chalkboard 24 years ago. Now I have a whiteboard that we don't use.

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>> Instead, students bring their own smartphone, iPad, or laptop for online research.

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If they don't have one, they share with another student.

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Silvie says everything they need to know about the five religions of the world is at the touch or

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swipe of their fingertips.

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>> They're able to access more updated pictures, graphs, videos by using their device.

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We're at week three now and I haven't cracked a textbook yet.

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>> Silvie and fellow teacher John Selby tried BYOD as a pilot program last year. Now, any

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high school teacher in the district who wants to try it it out can.

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Check out this group in the class next door. Phones, laptops, and iPads. No books, no

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handouts.

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Senior Sterling Fletcher likes being able to use his own computer.

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>> Student: It's going to be faster than the school computer. School computers take five to

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ten minutes to start up anyway.

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>> Reporter: He knows there some trust involved. Students can't go on Facebook or take

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calls or texts.

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>> Reporter: You think you're able to not be distracted think you're able to not be distracted

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when you're using your computer?

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>> Student: Usually.

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>> Reporter: His teachers say it's worth the risk because Sterling and his classmates will use

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these kinds of devices the rest of their lives.

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>> Teacher: As they transition through high school and into college, it's gonna be the

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standard.

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>> Reporter: Valerie Hurst, KATU News.