To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

CHARLOTTE -- These days you can spot most kids carrying some sort of smart phone, iPad or tablet. While these forms of technology are often associated with games and entertainment, they can also be used for education.

Veronica Catete decided she wanted to make educational electronic games and apps when many of her friends didn't enjoy school.

"Well I'm going to make learning fun for you,” said Catete. “And so video games and stuff is a good way to have people think it's fun."

Now a grad student making a computer science game at UNC Charlotte, she says it's a great way to subliminally teach kids and teens.

"The option to do things that are more interactive and fun than just a worksheet or homework questions out of a book. That's a better way to engage the students," said Catete.

It's something educators are recognizing as well.

"The flash card of old sits on the iPad or the iPod or the tablet computer today, definitely, the same applications. But the nice thing about technology is that you can take them a step further," said Dr. Scott Muri, the chief information officer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Muri says Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, as well as many other systems nationwide, have failed to embrace the tools of technology.

"We see them as these 'special' things or these additions to the classroom, but to kids, they're just a part of life,” said Muri. “So we have a lot of work to do to help the adults in our industry to realize that these tools are just a part of life, and embrace them as such."

While much of technology is associated with video games or entertainment, those in the field say educators and parents need to see the value of these tools in the educational form.

"The use of these technologies now, if a parent thinks carefully about them, what do I want my child to learn, and then place the games themselves, then you can actually figure out if it helps your kids or not,” said Tiffany Barnes, the associate professor of computer science at UNC Charlotte.

Educators say it'll help them connect with these students.

"If they already have the devices in their pocket and they're already playing with them during class, if you have them use them in class, then maybe they're paying more attention, right" said Barnes.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System only has two classroom sets of iPads right now, but they say they'll be getting more this fall.