«Unfortunately, mobile phones are banned in class»

"We have loads of electronic devices at home: tablets, laptops and smartphones, including the Apple Watch. That's probably because my dad is an IT specialist. I can't even remember when I got my first mobile phone. I taught myself how to use it for the most part, which isn't difficult. If I have any questions, I take them to my father or my older siblings.
In class, we work on the computer once or twice a week, in different subjects as and when it suits us. We can get inspiration for drawing from the internet, for example, and we also often practise maths on the computer. There are lots of number games and good exercises for logical thinking on the website of Lehrmittelverlag Zürich. In lectures, the teachers let us choose whether we want to gather information from books or read up on the internet. I usually do both, but I actually prefer the internet. It's quicker to find information. However, there are so many that it's not easy to keep track of everything.
When I use information from the Internet, I make sure that different websites say more or less the same thing about a topic. Then it will be right. I would be happy if we could not only use laptops, but also tablets or smartphones for work. Unfortunately, mobile phones are banned in class.
But I spend a lot of time on them in my private life. I like to surf YouTube, watch horse films or videos by Dagi Bee, which are all about styling and fashion. I use my laptop or my dad's iPad for gaming. My parents don't tell me what to do. However, when the weather is bad, I'm only allowed to game for half an hour at most because my parents don't want me to sit in front of the screen all day. When the sun is shining, I prefer to go outside."

Read more in our dossier "Digital revolution in the classroom":

• Interview: Philippe Wampfler gilt als Vorreiter und Experte für den Einsatz neuer Medien an Schulen. Herr Wampfler, machen digitale Medien Schule besser?
• Übersicht: Mit der Einführung des Lehrplan 21 in vielen Schweizer Kantonen bekommen  «Medien und Informatik» eine grössere Bedeutung an den Volksschulen. Was steht genau drin und was bedeutet das für welche Altersstufe?
• Porträt: Stefan Bienz findet, dass die Schule das Potenzial digitaler Medien zu wenig ausschöpft. Der Vater zweier Teenager findet: «Die Schule soll besser aufklären»