When students make apps, it empowers them to solve real-world problems through technological intervention. And this was evident in the recently held hackathon festival in Jampeling Central School in Kanglung. The particpants developed an app called ‘Content Repository of Royal Education Council’. The app helps students access textbooks and lessen the burden while carrying school bags.
More than a 100 students participated during a month-long hackathon festival. But a group of day scholar students developed the app that bagged them the first prize. The idea to develop germinated from their own experience. They said having to carry heavy school bags back and forth every day from school is tiring.
“As a result, a few of them even complain of back pain. That’s why this app will come handy as it will guide the students to access textbooks. Although we can directly go to the REC website, the app will make it easier to find textbooks,” said Sonam Lhamo, one of the app developers.
“It’s such a hassle to carry textbooks every day. We get exhausted by the time we reach home. And we end up feeling sleepy and do not get time to study,” said Tashi Tobgay, one of the students of Jampeling CS.
As per international research, carrying heavy school bags will have adverse impacts on students’ health as they enter into adulthood.
Meanwhile, teachers said with the integration of technology in learning, the need for smart phones along with connectivity has become essential for students.
“With rules and regulations in place, I think students should be allowed to learn using gadgets. I have a full support to allow mobile phones in schools as it will benefit them in learning. The world is changing and so it demands us to change and adapt accordingly,” said Rinzin Dorji, the Principal of Jampeling CS.
The participants developed nine more mobile apps related to the pandemic and school admission. The hackathon is the first competition held in the eastern district.
Sonam Darjay, Kanglung
Edited by Sonam Pem
