Abstract. This publication presents the results obtained as part of the search (preparatory)

stage of an experiment on the problem of using mobile phones in the educational process. At this stage, the authors summarised the domestic and foreign experience and carried out an individual analysis of their own pedagogical work, including: an interview with the 1st–4th-year university students (“04.03.01 Chemistry” field of study); identification of possible ways for students to use phones for educational purposes; trial inclusion of tasks requiring the use of a smartphone when mastering certain academic disciplines. According to the research, positive and negative aspects of the use of a mobile phone in the educational process were identified, and a number of contradictions related to the ambiguity of understanding the problem under study were revealed.