Abstract:
The majority of middle school students have smartphones to search for
information in globalization that we cannot avoid. But the phenomenon shows: (1) they
use smartphones only for social communication, and search for less important
information, (2) the majority of schools forbid students bring smartphones to school. If
this continues, it will hinder the acceleration of students' knowledge development. This
study aims to explore the benefits of smartphones for OSN (National Science Olympiad)
coaching participants who are taught to use smartphones as learning resources. Data
was collected using a questionnaire distributed through WhatsApp. Furthermore, the
data were analyzed descriptively. The results of study found: (a) 70.1% of respondents
in using smartphones to prepare OSN increased in the high category, (b) of the 6
indicators studied all increased in the high category, (c) 5.6% of respondents felt the
benefits were low because they experienced difficulties in individual and group learning
patterns. Furthermore, schools are advised to use smartphones as a learning resource in
schools, but their use is under the control (command and supervision) of teachers
