The problem is that it depends on the student and who would take advantage of being allowed technology. I listened to music throughout my GCSE Maths and I ended up with the highest mark in my set and was one of the few who didn't end up having to attend extra sessions (and trust me, I'm no mathematician
). That class what ridiculous though. The teacher didn't teach at all, one time he decided to put Borat on, there was constant arguments, fights and a dildo was thrown around the class one time which ended up with one boy having a breakdown that a video of him being slapped by it would go viral. So in that class, thank **** for my ipod.
Otherwise I think generally it gets taken advantage of. Technology IS there to help people but I think most of the time people just don't use it for the right reasons and it tends to be the younger students who will play games on a computer, listen to N-Dubz rather than their Biology teacher and text during class. I have no qualms with students from A level onwards having them, reluctant about GCSE age, but I don't think students younger than that get benefits from bringing their laptops, ipods and phones. It's all about their personal maturity an responsibility, so it entirely depends on the person. I take notes in my lectures on paper while my friend plays football manager the entire time and then doesn't know what they're talking about.
At the end of the day if they're not going to use helpful tools for reasons that actually benefit them, then it's their loss. More mature students shouldn't have to suffer because of immature ones.