Smartphones are being introduced into the classroom to help children learn.
Experts have received council backing to speak to schools in Sussex about how to integrate the hand-held computers into lessons.
They claim it will improve the standard of the country’s workforce, adding the majority of children already use them “under the desk” and it is better to have them on the desks as part of teaching.
Other educationalists and some parents oppose the move arguing it will be disruptive.
Brighton and Hove City Council has backed the plans by Digital Education Brighton.
Mick Landmann, of Digital Education Brighton, said: “Despite the potential for learning, most schools ban smartphones, indeed all mobiles, in the classroom, partially through fear of the disruption of pupils ‘texting’ their friends during lessons.
“But it is a resource that schools in these particularly austere times can use for free without even any associated maintenance or upgrade costs.”
He added: “It’s all about preparing the kids appropriately for the future and producing a better workforce.
“This is particularly key when you have [education secretary] Michael Gove talking about taking learning back to the 18th Century.”
Three schools in Sussex have showed interest in the plans and work is expected to start in the new year.
This includes Blatchington Mill school in Nevill Avenue, Hove, which is to use them as part of community projects to see how QR codes, a bar code which can store data and be read by the hand-held computers, can be used.
Another unnamed school in Hassocks is also interested in using the phones to create an e-portfolio of videos and photos on the devices.
Work is also under way with a young woman who attends the Self Managed Learning Centre at Brighton Youth Centre in Edward Street, Brighton, about improving photography skills.
Mr Landmann said she will benefit from an old smartphone which has been donated at two recycling stations to provide devices to those that cannot afford them.
These are at Wired Sussex headquarters in New England house, New England Street, Brighton, and at The Skiff in Gloucester Street, Brighton.
Brighton and Hove Conservative councillor Andrew Wealls said: “I think recycling smartphones is a good idea.
“I have a big problem with children and young people being allowed.”
A council spokesman said: “We’re very supportive of this scheme, and our advisers are working with Digital Education Brighton on it.
“But it is very early days, and we believe there are a number of issues around e-safety, inclusion and training that would need to be addressed before smartphone technology could become part of mainstream education."
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