Presenting a students' tale: The smartphone manifesto. (2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Otrel-Cass, Kathrin
• Is Part Of: International journal of educational research. Volume 114(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022
• Subjects: Smartphones -- Students' voices -- Video diaries -- Youth culture -- Manifesto; Education -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; Curriculum evaluation -- Periodicals; Education -- Periodicals; Program Evaluation -- Periodicals; Éducation -- Évaluation -- Périodiques; Programmes d'études -- Evaluation -- Périodiques; Éducation -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Curriculum evaluation; Education -- Evaluation; Periodicals; 370.72
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijer.2022.101999
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-0355

Abstract

Highlights: An investigation with Danish secondary school students over a three-year period. Data include video recorded stories by the students, as well as student, teacher, researcher dialogue. The researcher, teacher and students prepared a manifesto on the role of smartphone technology in children's lives. Students urge adults to learn and explore smartphone technology together and learn from each other. Understanding the role of technology in young people's everyday life needs to include student voice more prominently. Abstract: Smartphones are part of young people's lives from a relatively young age. However, smartphones are often banned in classrooms and parents, teachers, and school authorities still perceive the benefits of smartphones in schools with skepticism, indicating a distrust in young people and their ability to utilise this technology aptly. This article presents a manifesto on smartphones produced by a Danish primary school class when they were in grade nine (15-16 year-old students) and reports on the process of this preparation using data from a videography in a three-year study. The argument presented here questions research practices and shares a project that tries to give agency to young people through intentionality and purpose. The students' smartphone manifesto details students' views about the possibilities and problems of using smartphones and shares the participatory methodology of the research project.