Using Mobile application to Learn Chinese Classical Poetry: A Multidimensional Cluster Analysis Based on Primary Students’ Perspectives and Usage Experiences

With the maturation of mobile technology, the use of mobile applications to assist language teaching has become increasingly common. It is essential to explore students' perceptions of mobile learning in various contexts and among different types of learners to achieve effective learning outcomes. This study takes an application recently developed by the Education University of Hong Kong, "Fun to Chinese Poetry", as a sample and analyzes questionnaire data from 1,420 primary students in Hong Kong. It investigates students' attitudes and behavioral patterns regarding the use of mobile applications for learning Chinese classical poetry through a multidimensional clustering analysis, identifying several student groups and examining the distribution of these groups across different grades. The findings reveal: (1) three to four distinct groups can be identified based on overall usage, functionality preferences, and personal attitudes; (2) there are differences in how different groups rate the application; and (3) significant differences exist in application usage among students of varying grades. Specifically, higher-grade students tend to use the application less frequently and for shorter durations compared to lower-grade students, but they are more inclined to frequently engage with the gaming features and prefer using the function for interpreting Classical poetry. The results of this study can provide valuable insights for teaching and learning of Chinese classical poetry.

Keywords

clustering analysis, Hong Kong primary students, mobile learning, Chinese classical poetry learning

source

International Journal of Chinese Language Education; Jun 2025; Issue No. 17; p. 245-270

Language

Chinese