Improving Education through ICT

Africa is Pioneering the EdTech Revolution

Nivi Mukherjee

Kenya: 9th April 2013

Can we leapfrog the developed?

Education Technology
Training
Teachers, Maintenance, Support

Content
Localized, Contextualized, Rich

Infrastructure
Electricity/Solar, Internet connectivity, Security

Hardware
PCs, Laptops, Tablets, Mobile Phones, Projectors, Cables

Think Global, Act Local

OLPC World Reader Intel Skoool Khan Academy: Algebra to Hedge Funds Moodle MOOCs: Coursera to Harvard

Think Global, Act Local

Align program with local vision Support, encourage and fund local entrepreneurs Design & develop locally: build skills & professionalism Base content on local culture beyond literacy/numeracy/science (STEM) Content should be localized & contextualized: culturally relevant

From Traditional Training Materials...

Games Assessment Animations

Music Songs

Videos

Every learner has a unique username & password

6 Kenyan Curriculum Subjects + Extra features

All content is localized for the Kenyan learner: Examples of mandazis and Shillings, not donuts and dollars.

Simple navigation within Subjects: Chapters, Topics & Pages

Format of navigation similar to textbooks

Videos & Animations to help grasp concepts

Unlike a teacher, a video can: pause, rewind, increase volume, adjust brightness!

Quizzes to track progress and identify knowledge gaps

Data analysed by teachers, parents and our own curriculum developers so we can push new, better informed content every 2 weeks

Adaptive Learning
Bringing slow students up to speed and keeping fast students engaged - must identify them rst

Extended Learning focussed on Responsible Citizenship

Environmental conservation, justice, anti-corruption, human rights, personal nancial literacy, nutrition, health, sanitation, etc.

Literacy & Numeracy

Can Technology Replace Teachers?

The Fl pped Classroom

Learn lessons at home: videos, instructional materials Do homework at school: spend valuable classroom time doing assignments with help from peers and instructor

EdTech is a Big Playing Field

Trying to keep up with all the new buzzwords in EdTech can leave you feeling like a kindergartener in a calculus class. Here are some simple ways to understand and remember what is happening on the ground.

EdTech Buzzwords

EdTech Buzzwords

EdTech Buzzwords

EdTech Buzzwords

EdTech Buzzwords

EdTech Buzzwords

Why EdTech?
Equity and standardization Flexible (content / learner) and fast Cost effective Encourages inclusion & collabotaion M&E is built in

True Learning
Remember Understand Apply

Analyse

Evaluate

Create

Learning Outcomes in Schools

Improved test scores - phenomenal pilot results!
average marks in science went from 58% to 73% in a single term... -The Economist, Print edition: Dec 8th, 2012

Critical, analytic & creative thinking Increased social & environmental consciousness IT literacy

Learning Outcomes in Public Service

Awareness: laws, rights, rules, job expectations Good governance Flexibility Retention Seamless orientation Customer satisfaction IT literacy

Pilot Before You Leap Consider...

Environment Instructor

Learner

Pilot Before You Leap Remember...

Training Content Infrastructure Hardware

Pilot Before You Leap Implementation...

Device Ratio Schools, classrooms, libraries, labs, homes Technology: hardware, OS, platform, content Remember: Homogenous solution not necessary

Pilot Before You Leap Research...

Sample size: the bigger the better, test as many scenarios. What is best and is it worth it? Duration of pilot Location: national coverage, harsh environments Methodologies: RCTs Cost of research

Take the Leap!

Nivi Mukherjee nivi@e-Limu.org www.e-Limu.org Twitter/Facebook: eLimuKenya