In an era where technology is reshaping every aspect of our lives, understanding its impact on education—particularly in underrepresented regions—is crucial.
Syed Muhammad Salman Mehdi is undertaking a pioneering PhD project at Deakin University. His research focuses on how secondary school students engage with technology outside of school hours, examining the implications of this engagement on learning, social dynamics, and educational equity.
The research journey
Mehdi’s research centres on 13 and 14 year-olds in Lahore, Pakistan. He is particularly interested in how these students interact with various digital platforms and gadgets in their own time.
“I’m exploring how secondary school students, aged 13 and 14, interact and engage with technology outside of school hours. There is a liberty in usage and they are using it without any kind of assistance, on their own, across different platforms and gadgets.” Mehdi aims to uncover the nature of these engagements and their implications for learning.
As part of his PhD, Mehdi will conduct fieldwork over three months, engaging with students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds across several secondary schools in Lahore. He aims to capture a holistic view by interviewing not just the students but also their parents and teachers, gaining insights into differing perceptions of technology engagement.
As access to technology increasingly becomes a matter of equity, Mehdi will also be examining gender and socioeconomic differences in technology engagement, with implications as to how this may increase or reduce educational equality.
Innovative methodology
One of the standout aspects of Mehdi’s research is his use of a “technology diary,” a tool designed to encourage students to reflect on their daily technology usage. Each day, students will answer simple questions about their interactions with technology, providing valuable data for Mehdi’s exploratory research.
“I believe this diary will act as a stimulus during conversation with students in interviews and will help in generating rich, qualitative data,” Mehdi says. “It allows students to engage with the research process in a meaningful way.”
Background and motivation
Mehdi’s passion for education stems from his extensive experience in the sector. After ten years as a teacher, vice principal, and headmaster, he is well-versed in the challenges and nuances of school leadership. His interest in researching technology in education was fuelled by a noticeable gap in existing literature in Pakistan at secondary school level, where discussions about technology’s role in education are beginning to gain momentum, especially after COVID-19 pandemic
“I want to contribute to this important dialogue,” he says. “There’s a pressing need for research that captures how students are using technology in a rapidly changing world.”
As he delves deeper into his research, Mehdi is conscious of the broader cultural context. “There’s a lot of debate in Pakistan about technology use among youth. Some believe it’s detrimental to moral values, while others think it’s necessary to keep pace with the world.” He recognises that navigating cultural and religious boundaries will be crucial. “It’s not just black and white; there’s a lot of grey area,” he explains.
Supervisory support and academic life
At Deakin, Mehdi benefits from a mentorship-style relationship with his supervisors, Claire and Radhika, who guide him through the nuances of academic research in Australia. “The research culture here is quite different from Pakistan,” he notes. Having supportive mentors has been invaluable in helping him navigate this transition.
Future aspirations
For Mehdi, a PhD in education offers the opportunity to blend academic research and industry-based work in a future career that combines research with practical application—possibly in educational policy or technology integration in schools. “I believe it’s essential to link research with practice,” he states. “Being on the ground and understanding the real challenges while conducting research can create a more impactful contribution.”
Mehdi’s work goes beyond gathering data; focusing on generating insights that can inform educational practices and policies in Pakistan and beyond. With a focus on the socioeconomic and cultural contexts influencing technology use among youth, his research has the potential to inform effective technology integration in education.