Empowering Teachers Through Mobile Technology

2. Empowering Teachers Through Mobile Technology • Case Study: BridgeIT India • Jenny Raymond, Pearson Foundation • Matt Wennersten, BridgeIT India • September 5, 2012

3. The Need • Lack of physical learning materials in many countries and regions • Lack of adequate teacher training and support • Unused / underused technology in schools

4. The BridgeIT Model • Mobile phones used to deliver: • Learning materials • Professional development • Teachers are provided: • Mobile phones to access library of digital content • Training in technology and pedagogy • Ongoing support • Strategic partnerships that work with local organizations and companies

5. Technology • Mobile devices provide two functions: • Deliver educational materials directly to teachers’ hands • Allow teachers to connect to support system • Uses the Nokia Education Delivery system (NED) • Teachers are provided mobile phones with NED already installed

6. Content • Short educational videos and other digital media files are stored in a catalogue on the server • Teachers create lesson plans that incorporate the content • Teachers request and download selected content through NED • Teachers share content with class as they go through the lesson

7. Teacher Training • Blended model that uses in-person training and ongoing virtual support through the phone • Teachers trained on two aspects: • How to use the mobile device • How to engage students with material and technology • Teachers are key: • Map digital content against local curriculum standards • Work together to create lesson plans for digital content • Deliver lessons to students

8. Teacher Training • Videos covering pedagogy and good teaching practice also available through NED • Teachers can use the phone to document teaching practice and student work, and share with other teachers

9. Partnerships • Context and local expertise is important • Focus on local organizations and teams to implement • Partners: • Pearson Foundation • Nokia • Local project implementation team • Local mobile network operator • Local stakeholders: national and regional governments, school officials

10. BridgeIT Implementation Map India

11. BridgeIT India • Launched: May 2011 • Subjects: English and science • Grades: 5th and 6th • Project scope: • 2011-12: 2 states, 34 schools, 53 teachers, 1,700 students • 2012-13: 3 states, 100 schools, 169 teachers, 5,000 students

12. BridgeIT India: Partners • Pearson Foundation • Nokia • EZ Vidya • Chennai Corporation Schools • Tamil Nadu and the Andhra Pradesh Residential Educational Institutions Society (APREIS) • Central Board of Second Education (CBSE)

13. Program Activity • Content • 231 videos available for download • 8,360 videos played • Average of 158 media played per teacher * • Training & Support • 16 training sessions • 224 site visits (average 6.4 per school) • Research & Evaluation • 172 classroom observations • 2,832 academic tests

14. BridgeIT India: Assessment

15. BridgeIT India: Assessment • Student engagement in detail: • 98% of teacher feedback positive on student engagement • Students observed as 15%+ more participative NED vs. pre-NED • Strong positive attendance effects, especially among migrant worker children

16. BridgeIT India: Assessment • Teachers showed a change in teaching • Less direct instruction: classrooms more active and “student centered” • Increased use of technology • Used innovative teaching methodologies

17. BridgeIT India: Lessons Learned • Technology • Teachers like using NED-enabled phones • Usage is up; cost is down compared to PCs • Teachers more likely to use attractive gadgets • 1:1 phone to teacher model works best • Training • Face-to-face meeting is essential • Meet early then can sustain remotely

18. BridgeIT India: Lessons Learned • Scaling • Emphasize lower profile schools • Work across common textbooks • Work across subjects with greater commonality • Monitoring & Evaluation • Use stronger evaluation protocol • Involve government partners in program monitoring • Ask teachers to log video usage

19. “NOKIA project has changed the way I teach.” – “AP25”,2011-12 Participating English Teacher

21. “Nokia has done a great job by introducing the new concept in the teaching and learning arena. The students…are more interested, motivated and enthusiastic and so are we.”

23. BridgeIt India 2011-12 “ The small phone with NED has changed my view about using ICT in classroom.” “ I feel empowered by using NED and using AGs.”

24. “Surya, a student in our class never answers any questions. But after using this in our class, he actively participates in the classroom activities.” –tn21

25. BridgeIt India 2011-12 “Through this simple mobile technology me and my students are enjoying both teaching and learning. More important, I can easily manage without others help”

26. BridgeIt India 2011-12 “I attended so many computer programs, but the phone is a simple thing to use in classroom. We have Internet connections and other things [on PC] but it is hard to use. Phone it is easy.”

27. Thank you!