As Homework Demands Increase, More Students Turn To Tech Tools To Ace Assignments

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- While many parents are often concerned about technology interfering with their child's homework, there are some tech tools that could be helpful.

However, as CBS2's Mary Calvi explained, some educators and students warned that their could be potential drawbacks.

When homework time begins for 15-year-old Lauryn Grubbs she doesn't turn to the traditional paper and pen, she turns to websites and apps.

"I rely on them heavily actually because if I need help that's much, that's the go thing I go to," she said.

Grubbs isn't alone. Experts said most students don't go to the library to do hand searches anymore.

"The world's libraries are open to use. The touch of a button can bring us knowledge from anywhere in the world and that's pretty amazing," Dr. Harris Cooper, professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University said.

Among the most popular tech tools for homework help are Grammary, which finds and corrects grammatical mistakes, Easy-Bib which creates bibliographies, and Sparknotes where students find quick study guides for literature.

Experts say tech tools relieve a lot of pressure.

"Homework demands are going way up and so many kids may be feeling stressed by all the homework they have," said Devorah Heitner, founder and CEO of RaisingDigitalNatives.com.

Some sites and apps actually provide complete answers which isn't always good for learning.

"They're depriving themselves of the opportunity for interaction and learning if they use an app to get it right and they never learned what they needed to learn to understand that process," Heitner said.

But there are still ways that parents can help. Experts suggest brushing up on necessary subjects, and asking a teacher to recommend the most appropriate sites.

Grubbs said she's thankful that technology has made homework time manageable.

"We can just go hangout," she said, "Extra stuff like we wouldn't be able to do without it, so just free time and relax."

Since 94 percent of students report using technology to do their homework it's something parents and teachers need to embrace.

Educators said be sure to monitor your child's homework to make sure they're focused and not cheating.