Articles

A 13-Year-Old Boy has Designed an App to Replace Textbooks

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Oct 23, 2017

A teenager has deve­loped an application for digital textbooks with the aim of reducing dependency on physical books.

Ahmad Zulfadzli Khamidi, 13, developed the app in just two weeks with training and guidance from the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creative Centre (MaGIC) at Borneo744 in Bintawa, Kuching.

He said the idea for the app came from his own experience of getting bored and sleepy quickly when studying textbooks.

“However, I faced some constraints in realising my dream. I had an idea but did not have the know-how in designing and writing the software codes for the app,” the second of four siblings told Berna­ma.

He said with this app, teachers no longer need to mark every exercise and exam paper, students do not have to bring books to schools and there would be no question of missing textbooks or insufficient stationery. What makes this app so conveniently helpful is how it can also be accessed online or offline.

“The Digital Textbook is easy and suitable for students of all ages, whether in the primary, secondary or university level. For a start, it has English, Bahasa Melayu, Mathematics and Science subjects, but more can be added on later,” he said.

Ahmad Zulfadzli’s creation saw him winning the junior category of Hack Weekend KCH, a hacktahon held in conjunction with Tegas Youth Forum 2017 at the Borneo Convention Centre on Oct 14.

He said he was now in the process of completing his second app for small entrepreneurs in Sarawak to market their products.

The Digital Textbook can be downloaded through Apple App Store or Google Play Store.