Mobile learning in

Cambodia

Experimental technology based learning

interventions with

Grit and KAPE

Agenda

1. The case for mobile learning

2. Where we‟re going with (+ edu innovations)

3. The Grit pilot @ PIO

4. Implementation at the demonstration school

5. Q&A and demonstrations (15 min)

Why

mobile?

Isn‟t that kinda gimmicky?

Aren‟t there more basic

needs to worry about?

Mobiles are just distracting

(in the classroom).

That‟s expensive and a

luxury item.

Why

mobile?

It

scales.

xx

The big idea

• The internet, particularly though the mobile phone, is the catalyst for transformational innovation in education.

• We have just begun to explore how the internet might be used to promote learning.

• The mobile phone will redefine education.

• These innovations are more likely to come from the „extremes‟ – people working in difficult conditions with few resources. Places like Cambodia.

Plan on the future

• The growth of mobile in developing countries is

not linear, it‟s closer to being exponential.

• Computers that cost $1000 today will be mobile

devices that cost $10 in 8 years time. (Bill Joy on

Moore's Law).

• There‟s a US$35 “iPad” like tablet in India.

• There are 5.6 billion active mobile subscriptions in

the world.

What are we to do?

• ICT is one of the most

powerful tools for educational

reform across the system.

• ICT has significant potential for

supporting education in remote

and conflict –affected areas.

Our intent

Experiment with new technology-

assisted models to provide under-

served people groups with greater

opportunities to learn.

Grit hypothesis

We can accelerate learning

outcomes if students are able to

access and use mobile tablet devices

containing existing content.

(Improvement will be even higher if we

can use localised content).

Grit overview

• Software solution that runs on mobile tablet devices.

• Aggregates educational content and makes it easy to use for learners in developing countries.

• Re-use rather than re-invent.

• In future, the software will use an adaptive, personalised curriculum to engagelearners to meet them where they are at.

• But for now, it‟s a simple supplementary mechanism for learners.

Grit in practice

• Android tablet (from $100 generic Chinese tablet

to $210 Google Nexus7)

• Locked down so you can‟t “break it”

• Loaded with hand picked content (all free or $2):

• Videos

• Games

• Quizzes

• Tutorials

The PIO trial

• People Improvement Organisation (PIO) runs 3 schools, about 1,000 students on old rubbish dump.

• Grit pilot test started 2nd September 2012.

• Focused just on math and grade 3 (8yr+)

• Picked 1 class. 36 students in the class. 16 were randomly selected to participate. The others were the control group.

• All 36 students given a 21 question standardisedmath test before starting.

What‟s the impact?

52% increase on average on test scores compared with

the control.

(after approximately 20 hours of use)

This means..

48%

52%

62%

19%

14%

29%

Insights

• Feedback is immediate. Reduces time required to

go through the problem solving loop.

• Encourages risk taking. Prevents loss of face.

• Naturally encourages collaboration and

discussion.

• Digital literacy is a by product.

Grows confidence

Challenges

• Cheap devices are… cheap.

• Electricity is a challenge.

• Logistics can be time consuming.

• Keeping devices charged.

• Allocating devices.

• Need to time limit some apps.

• English is a barrier on some of the apps.

Opportunities

• Use in groups of two for peer learning.

• Use videos.

• Use older students as tutors.

• Experiment with using it as part of the classroom.

• Try with high school students (they‟re very

interested).

• Game based programming.

Copy relevant innovations

• Super smart guy, started tutoring his cousin &

family by putting videos on YouTube.

• It went viral and today it has over 3200 videos

from biology, chemistry, physics, finance, history

and humanities.

• Each video is about 10 min long and there are

interactive exercises and individualize statistics.

• Completely free.

Khmer video lectures

Re-use what exists

BSI school

• We are replicating what was done at PIO school

at the demonstration school & improving on it.

• We are extending it to include other subjects and

different learner ages (secondary school).

• We are involving more students.

• We are considering how we can provide teaching

resources to teachers using the tablets.

Where to from here?

• First version of a new prototype.

• Khmer video lectures.

• Increase engagement and personalisation.

• Integrate non-cognitive skills.

• More pilots like with the demonstration school.

• Find suitable funding models

But I being poor, have only

my dreams; I have spread

my dreams under your feet.

Tread softly because you

tread on my dreams.