Math on MXit: the medium is the message

Abstract

Homework is a necessary evil in the path of learning mathematics at school. Mathematics homework is traditionally seen as difficult and boring. In the case of difficult homework, “math clubs” and “math extra lessons” are often perceived as even more difficult and more boring. This paper describes a project where learners could get help with their mathematics homework using MXit on their cell phones in the afternoons after school. MXit is a popular instant messaging system where text messages are sent immediately between participants' cell phones and is proprietary software of MXit Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd in Stellenbosch. At the time of this writing, there were over 3 million MXit users in South Africa and nearly 45% of them were teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18. In view of the fact that all high school learners now have to take mathematics or mathematical literacy, MXit offers a fun and exciting medium in which to help learners with mathematics homework. Teachers are welcome to refer their learners to this project or, alternatively, teachers could easily follow the steps taken in this project in order to set up similar systems at their own schools