Within the JIM-Study in 2016, twelve to 19 year olds in Germany were interviewed about their media-behaviour, with regards to homework, learning and school. It also dealt with regulations regarding mobile phones and WLAN at school. With 94 percent, almost all respondents are allowed to take their mobile phone into school, where the usage is then, however, regulated differently. Two-fifths are allowed to bring their mobile phone to school, but are on principle not allowed to use it. One third of the interviewees are allowed to use the mobile phone in school only during the breaks, and only 22 percent of the students are allowed to use their mobile phone specifically for school lessons. As the pupils get older, they are given more opportunities in this respect: Among the twelve to 13 year olds, only one in ten are allowed to use the mobile phone in the classroom, but that number goes up to 45 percent among adult pupils.

According to the students, WLAN is available at 41 percent of the schools, but is usually not intended to be used by the students. 29 percent are not allowed to use the WLAN at the school in general, while five percent of the students are allowed to use the school WLAN during breaks. Only seven percent are allowed to use the WLAN access in school lessons, for instance for research purposes within the scope of specific tasks.

Overall, school children in Germany from the age of twelve to 19 spend on average 92 minutes per weekday on their homework (with and without PC/Internet). Girls spend on average 106 minutes, clearly more than boys with 78 minutes. For less than half of their learning / homework time each day (43% and 40 minutes respectively), the twelve to 19 year old pupils work at home on the computer or on the internet. The digital homework-time increases, along with the young people’s age, from around 30 minutes among twelve to 13 year olds, to 45 minutes among the adult pupils.

The study is available in German language only.