Illustration: Lu Ting/GT
Recently, some cellphone applications called "magic problem solving tools" have become popular among Shanghai students. When students cannot answer a question, they can snap a picture and upload it within the apps. Within a few minutes, some other people will respond with the answer. The apps covers all subjects from primary school to senior high school.
However, the spread of the apps has caused anxiety among parents, with some telling a Jiefang Daily reporter that they are against the apps as they fear they may weaken the ability of their children to think independently. Some parents questioned the difference between using the apps and just plain-old copying from others.
However, the development of the Internet and technology has changed our lifestyles, and also how we study. In the past, if we were curious about something, we could ask people who we know, or consult books. But now we can search online, use Wikipedia or Baidubaike, and read electronic books. We can even post questions on social media to ask for help, and some stranger may give us the appropriate answers.
I think the apps these students are using are a natural extension of this new way of using technology. When some students meet difficulties, they can ask their classmates and teachers, and they can also ask a wider group of people through such apps. Besides, the apps will also appeal to students who are shy and do not like disturbing their friends.
Asking for help does not mean a student is losing their independence of thought, but rather it shows initiative and a thirst for knowledge, which are traits that are worth encouraging.
Also, people providing answers via the apps also often show how they arrived at the answer, rather than simply providing the answer itself, so students can understand the why and how.
Furthermore, sometimes a problem may have diverse answers and approaches to solve it. There are many people using the apps, who have different approaches and may even give different answers. This gives the student a chance to exercise their own judgment in analyzing the results they are given and choosing the best one.
The best approach that parents can take is to tolerate the apps and see them as a new study resource, and help students use them in an appropriate way. This is better than simply prohibiting the use of the apps.
Additionally, sometimes students find it difficult to solve questions because they ask for answers beyond the remit of the course outline. Some teachers love to deliberately set some questions like this to make students realize the limits of their current knowledge and ability, and make them work harder. The popularity of these apps opens a new window for many students in terms of being able to answer such questions. It should not further trigger teachers' ambitions to set stranger questions for students. The aim of questions is to help students master knowledge and build their thinking ability, not to vex them.