Kenyanteen: October 2008

Feature Stories

The Mobile Phone As An Educational Device
The recent ‘banning’ of the use of mobile phones in high school by the Minister of Education, Sam Ongeri, only sums up the ignorance government bureaucrats sometimes tend to have towards technology. Unfortunately, this type of ignorance usually turns to fear (of the unknown), and it is this fear that eventually resulted in the expulsion of cell phone from high school. If you missed it; the mobile phone was accused of being a major precipitating factor in the high school unrest witnessed this year.

It may be argued that the mobile phone made the school strikes more efficient – but isn’t the purpose of technology about increasing efficiency? I believe the issue here should be how the mobile phone can be used positively. Rather than demonise the gadget, the minister should find a beneficial, educational use for it.

I think that one of the most useful educational tools ever created is the cellular phone, and the world is just beginning to see its use in education. As the capabilities of handsets and wireless networks increase, so will the value of handsets for fostering life-long learning.
Take iPOD and iPHONE for instance; Apple's iTunes offers an iTunes U (university) section that enables universities to post all types of content. Some of the most prestigious institutions in the western world, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) , Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Oxford and Cambridge, offer everything from brief audio interviews to audio and video podcasts of entire courses. iTunes U also offers downloads from high schools, museums, and educational organizations. Instead of ‘banning’ the mobile phone, the Ministry of Education should pressurize the mobile service providers to come up with education-based solutions. I believe this is possible because service providers like Safaricom have successfully launched ‘non-phone call’ based or ‘value add’ products/services like MPESA.

In some parts of the world, teachers can now post course notes, podcasts, and video clips, as well as questions for tests, where the responses change online in real time. One interesting feature: Students can allow teachers access to their online files to write comments about the students' class papers - as they are being written. Students can use their phones for registering for or dropping courses, viewing grades, paying bills, and viewing sports scores. Stanford even offers an iPhone software course and mentors students who develop applications for the school.

Why doesn’t the Ministry of Education challenge the mobile service providers and IT stakeholders to initiate such type of projects for our schools? Recently, KIE (Kenya Institute of Education) revived the broadcasting of educational programmes – imagine if this content could also be delivered via mobile phone! As a third world nation, we are often challenged by poor communications structures. For instance, when students in Budalangi cannot access their schools due to the flooding, the teacher can simply SMS the week’s coursework them. The applications for the mobile phone as an effective educational tool are immense.

Cellular phones are popping up elsewhere in education. In Sydney, a primary school has initiated a pilot program in which students in class may phone people to obtain information for their assignments! This certainly gives new meaning to the term "open book" test.
While we are fighting the advancement of mobile phone technology, some pioneers in education are trying to force schools into the mobile generation. For instance; one educator is offering a class for New York teachers about how to use Google SMS in classrooms. Another teacher has established a Weblog about the proper way of using phones in class.

The mobile phone is a revolutionary educational device with global implications. Unfortunately, we ban cellphone use in classrooms because it's considered a disruption, a way to cheat during exams, or a tool to stir up chaos within our schools. I understand these problems. But the cell phone is far too important to education's future for reactionary bans. Honourable Ongeri, I implore you to experiment with ways in which to integrate cell phones into the curriculum. The future heralds greater collaboration between students and teachers on course content. Think of it this way; mobile phone users will be able to learn throughout their lives.

More About Kenyanteen Trend Report

What It Is
We are driven by the ambition to find out what’s cool, even before it’s cool!
Kenyanteen provides news, commentary and resources about commercial media for the youth, and especially teens, entertainment for teens (movies, video games, television, music, books), technology used by teens (cell phones, SMS, hardware and software), the news media’s desire to attract teens (newspapers, television stations, radio stations), marketing and advertising (targeting the teenmarket) and non-profit youth media (highlighting organizations’ efforts at promoting youthvoices in media and creating media by and for youth).

How It Is Compiled
Currently, KenyanTeen is a trend report that highlights key youth trends and anticipates future youth culture lifestyles and consumption. Our short-term objective though, is to provide a link between marketers and Kenyan teen (and youth) culture to marketers and youth stakeholders across the country.
Our ability to create the Kenyanteen Trend Report is facilitated by a network of 800 teens across the country. These teens regularly supply us with vital information about youth lifestyle. This information is usually compiled through face-to-face sessions and a specialized questionnaire that they fill in on a monthly basis. Our network of teens constantly report back to us on what’s going on in their school, homes and general environment. They give us feedback on how they consume lifestyle products, food & beverages, media and brands in general.

The Science of Identifying Trends
Trend spotting (a.k.a. trend watching) is the science of identifying emerging shifts in social behavior and aspirations. Trends are driven by a range of factors, including pop culture, media, news, innovation, and the arts. Trend spotting is used by industry professionals to develop products, enhance idea generation, and inform marketing, media, design and strategic planning. By developing a systematic approach to trend spotting, individuals and organizations can better develop disruptive products and creations that dance the beat of cool.
The Kenyanteen Trend Report is developed by leading youth research and strategy firm, Youth Dynamix Kenya.

The Importance of Identifying Trends
Breakthrough ideas and strategic advantage hinge on the ability to anticipate trends and identify the next big thing. By tracking the evolution of trends, Kenyanteen generates ideas, stimulates creativity, and ultimately unlocks ‘the next big thing.’ You never know, the next big thing could help increase sales of a product, change perception of a brand, and ultimately increase the bottom line.

Top Trends

Don't be left behind, keep up with the ever-changing Generation Y trends right here>>>

The Latest Music Trends...

1. Chinese Dance: The latest dance style to hit the high school dance scene. Not to be confused with anything from the Far East, the Chinese Dance style is currently the hottest thing on the dance floor
2. Crunk: A southern (American Southern States) style of hip hop music most commonly made by rap artists, a.k.a. the Dirty South. Some crunk artists (or groups) are Lil' Jon, Pitbull, Lil' Scrappy, Trillville, and David Banner. Most recently, Soulja Boy released a song 'Crunk Dat' which became the highest selling ringtone of all time. With 'Crunk Dat' also game a dance style with a similar name that's taking America by storm.

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