Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education

Mobile Communication as a Platform for Learning Science from Peers: Possibilities in Bangladesh

Shamnaz Arifin Mim 1 * ,
Munmun Ahmed Chowdhury 1
1 BRAC University* Corresponding Author
Download PDF
Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Volume 1, Issue 3, September 2018, pp. 267-282
OPEN ACCESS VIEWS: 1043 DOWNLOADS: 394 Publication date: 15 Sep 2018
ABSTRACT
Wireless and mobile technologies have become an inseparable part in our daily life and we are being depended on their related services which have added new dimensions in our way of thinking. Numerous applications for mobile technologies make m-learning flexible and convenience to the learner and now it becomes easy to interact and communicate for the learners. This study offers to analyze the possibilities of creating 9 and 10 graders' learning communities through mobile communication which would also emphasize to promote free tutoring. The concepts of Mobile learning and positive peer influence are the main analytical tools to answer the research questions. This study followed a qualitative approach to emphasize on young students’ voice regarding the effect and possibilities of using mobile in understanding science and anchored within Social constructivism theory. Fifteen students from seven different schools of Dhaka city and parents were selected using convenience sampling technique to conduct interview and focus group discussion respectively. Three educationists from different mobile and software companies were chosen purposively to conduct semi-structured interviews. The study revealed peer support as an important aspect in understanding science contents. The effectiveness of mobile communication among peers in learning science contents has discovered in a way that it not only helps both students and parents in getting more time from daily routine but also bears the potentiality in reducing extra unwanted monthly expenses. The complex relation in terms of Youth-Technology-Culture revealed as an important aspect to be addressed and considered while introducing and implementing the interventions of m-learning for 9 and 10 graders.
KEYWORDS
Mobile communication, M-learning, Science learning, Peer influence, Secondary education
CITATION (APA)
Mim, S. A., & Chowdhury, M. A. (2018). Mobile Communication as a Platform for Learning Science from Peers: Possibilities in Bangladesh. Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 1(3), 267-282. https://doi.org/10.31756/jrsmte.132
REFERENCES
  1. Ahmed, M., Nath, S. R., Hossain, A., Kalam, M. A. (2006). The State of Secondary Education: Progress and Challenges. Education Watch 2005, Bangladesh. Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), Bangladesh. ISBN: 984-32-3209-7.
  2. Ahmed, M., Ahmed, K. S., Khan, N. I., & Ahmed, R. (2007) Access to Education in Bangladesh: Country Analytic Review of Primary and Secondary School. CREATE Country Analytic Review. Brighton and Dhaka: University of Sussex, BRAC University.
  3. Ahmed, M. & Hossain, A. (2010). Consortium for Research on Educational Access, Transitions and Equity. Educational Access in Bangladesh. CREATE Country Research Summary. Accessed on 14 January 2017 from http://www.create-pc.org/pdf_documents/Bangladesh_Country_Research_Summary.pdf
  4. Allen, V. L., & Feldman, R. S. (1974). Learning through tutoring: Low achieving children as tutors. Journal of Experimental Education, 42, 1 – 5.
  5. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission [BTRC], (2017). Accessed on 9 January 2017from http://www.btrc.gov.bd/content/mobile-phone-subscribers-bangladesh-june-2017
  6. Beasley, C. (1997). Students as teachers: The benefits of peer tutoring. In Pospisil, R. and Willcoxson, L. (Eds), Learning Through Teaching, p21-30. Proceedings of the 6th Annual Teaching Learning Forum, Murdoch University. Perth: Murdoch University. http://lsn.curtin.edu.au/tlf/tlf1997/beasley.html
  7. Bruning, Roger H., Schraw, Gregory J., Norby, Monica M., & Ronning, Royce R. (2004), Cognitive Psychology and Instruction (4th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
  8. Cameron, S. (2010). Access to and Exclusion from Primary Education in Slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh. CREATE PATHWAYS TO ACCESS. Research Monograph No. 45. Accessed on 14 January 2017from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED513311.pdf
  9. Cole, M. (1985). The Zone of Proximal Development-Where Culture and Cognition Create Each Other In Culture, Communication and Cognition. In Wertsch J. V.(Ed.).
  10. Creswell, J.W. (2011). Educational Research: planning, conducting, and evaluating Quantitative 58 and Qualitative Research. New Delhi-110001, PHI Learning Private Limited.
  11. Cui, G. & Wang, S. (2008). Adopting Cell Phones in EFL Teaching and Learning. Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange, 1 (1), 68-80.
  12. Dang, H. & Rogers, F. H (2008). The Growing Phenomenon of Private Tutoring: Does It Deepen Human Capital, Widen Inequalities, or Waste Resources? The World Bank Research Observer, 23(2). Accessed on 11 January 2018 from http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/620421468169465126/pdf/767860JRN0WBRO00Box374387B00PUBLIC0.pdf
  13. Davies, S (2004). School Choice by Default? Understanding the Growing Demand for Private Tutoring in Canada. American Journal of Education,110(3), 233-255. Accessed on 11 January 2018 from https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/46514334/School_choice_by_default_Understanding_t20160615-27420-9zcg6x.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1515657661&Signature=AQeBsk6UxMhCU9awj0G4IKnV27c%3D&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DSchool_Choice_by_Default_Understanding_t.pdf
  14. Deepika, K. & Prema, K. (2017). Peer Pressure in Relation to Academic Achievement of Deviant Students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL & SCIENCE EDUCATION 2017,12(8), 1931-1943. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/BUIED/Downloads/IJESE_1952_article_59f85b5e04320.pdf
  15. Future Startup (2017). Mobile Is Eating Bangladesh , A Comprehensive Collection of our Coverage of Mobile and its Impact on Different Industries. Accessed on 15 January 2018 from https://futurestartup.com/2017/04/15/mobile-is-eating-bangladesh/
  16. Gherardi, S. (1995). Gender, Sybmolism and Organizational Cultures. SAGE Publications.
  17. Hill, C. et al. (2010). Why so few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, AAUW, Washington, DC. Accessed on 7 May 2015 from http://www.aauw.org/resource/why-so-few-women-in-science-technologyengineering-mathematics/
  18. Hossain, S. (2008). Rapid Urban Growth and Poverty in Dhaka City. Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology 5(1)
  19. How Positive Peer Pressure Works (2013). Secure teen. Accessed on 8 February 2018 from https://www.secureteen.com/peer-pressure/how-positive-peer-pressure-works/
  20. Karmakar, P. (2013). Low teacher-student contact hours peg progress. Promoting Child Rights. Accessed on 14 January 2017 from http://childrights.thedailystar.net/2013/01/low-teacher-student-contact-hours-peg-progress/
  21. Keegan, D. (2002). The Future of Learning: From eLearning to m-Learning. Inst. for Research into Distance Education. ISSN-1435-9340 PUB DATE 2002-11-00.
  22. Kelly, A. (1985).The Construction of Masculine Science, British Council of Sociology of Education 6(2):133-154. Accessed 25 January 2015 from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1393046?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
  23. Kerwin, M.L.E & Day, J.D. (1985). Peer Influence on Cognitive Development. In J.B.Pryor et al. (eds.), The Development of Social Cognition (pp. 211- 215). NewYork: Springer-Verlag.
  24. Kim, T. (2004). Shadow Education: School Quality and Demand for Private Tutoring in Korea. KDI School of Public Policy and Management, Korea October 26, 2004.Accessed on 11 January 2018 from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.465.7538&rep=rep1&type=pdf
  25. Korir, D. K. & Kipkemboi, F. (2014). The Impact of School Environment and Peer Influences on Students’ Academic Performance in Vihiga County, Kenya. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science ,4(1).
  26. Laws, S. Harper, C. & Marcus, R. (2003). Research for Development: A Practical Guide. London, Sage Publications.
  27. Mertens, D. A. (2010). Research and evaluation in education and psychology (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
  28. Martin, F. Ertzberger, J. (2013). Here and now mobile learning: An experimental study on the use of mobile technology. Computer and education, 68(2013), 76-85.
  29. Mim, S. A. (2016). Nature of Schooling: Construction of Gendered Identities in a Secondary School. Bangladesh Education Journal. 15(1), 29-39. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/xMec8X
  30. Motiwalla, L.F (2007). Mobile learning: A framework and evaluation. Computer & Education 49, 581-596. Retrieved from https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/42749233/mobileLearning.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1516611170&Signature=TakrQcRVnsNxjull6bJyzDYm5W4%3D&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DMobile_learning_A_framework_and_evaluati.pdf
  31. Nath, S. R., Haq, M. N., Begum, U. Ullah, S A. M. M. A., Sattar, M.A., Chowdhury, A. M. R. (2008) The State of Secondary Education Quality and Equity Challenges. Education Watch 2007, Bangladesh, Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE). ISBN: 984-300-002471-0
  32. Raising Children Network (2015). Peer pressure and influence: teenagers. Accessed on 8 February 2018. Retrieved from http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/peer_pressure_teenagers.html
  33. Robson, C. (2002). Real World Research: A Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner Researchers. Oxford: Blackwell
  34. Tapan, M.S.M. (2010). Science Education in Bangladesh, in Y.J.Lee (ed.) Handbook of Research in Science Education Research in Asia, 4, pp.17-35, Sense Publishers.
  35. The Bangladesh Cronicles. (2017). Falling school contact hours take toll on primary education. Accessed on 14 January 2017 from http://bangladeshchronicle.net/2017/07/falling-school-contact-hours-take-toll-on-pry-edn/
  36. Woolfolk, A., Hughes, M., & Walkpur, V. (2008) Ygotsky's Sociocultural Perspective. Phycology in Education (pp.52-64). Essex: Pearson Education Limited.
  37. Wonglorsaichona, B., Wongwanichb, S., & Wiratchai, N (2014). The Influence of Students School Engagement on Learning Achievement: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis.5th World Conference on Educational Sciences - WCES 2013. Social and Behavioral Sciences, 116 (2014), 1748 – 1755. www.sciencedirect.com Accessed on 15 January 2018 from https://ac.els-cdn.com/S1877042811027728/1-s2.0-S1877042811027728-main.pdf?_tid=5266ba72-f9a0-11e7-a681-00000aacb35d&acdnat=1515985443_1c26aede1f7fc507c9e247db62259119
  38. You, S. (2011). Peer influence and adolescents’ school engagement. Paper presented at International Conference on Education and Educational Psychology (ICEEPSY 2011) Social and Behavioral Sciences, 29, 829 – 835.
  39. Zhan, S., Bray, TM., Wang, D., Lykins, CR., & Kwo (2013) The effectiveness of private tutoring: students’ perceptions in comparison with mainstream schooling in Hong Kong. OWY Asia Pacific Education Review, 14 (4), 495-509.
  40. Zimmerman, D. J (2003). PEER EFFECTS IN ACADEMIC OUTCOMES: EVIDENCE FROM A NATURAL EXPERIMENT. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 85(1), 9–23. Retrieved from http://theunbrokenwindow.com/Higher%20Ed/Readings/zimmerman%20peer%20effects.pdf
LICENSE
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.