Bryan Tang has just completed his IGCSE examination at an international school. Since joining the secondary section, he has changed his smartphone five times. Starting with the iPhone 3, he went on to the iPhone 4, then the Xperia Play and the Galaxy Note. Bryan now uses the Galaxy S3.
Research by Chai Lee Goi of Curtin University in Australia reveals that communication, emergency assistance and entertainment are the most important issues for student consumers.
An informal survey of my Form Five students revealed that while other students only changed their phones twice or thrice in the same duration, they used their phones for the same purposes as Bryan: that is, for communicating with WhatsApp Messenger, which allows an exchange of messages without having to pay for SMS; and Line, a new communication app which allows them to make free voice calls and send free messages.
Bryan also uses his phone to access Facebook and YouTube, play games and take photographs. He likes Instagram, which allows users to take a picture, apply a digital filter to it and then share it on its social network.
As an educator, I often catch students messaging during lessons. But the emotional value students place on their mobile phones can be used to encourage them to use phone apps as educational resources.
A successful student needs to be organised, have access to various resources, and have the self-discipline to get himself or herself to do what needs to be done.