This document summarizes a project introducing mobile learning apps in kindergartens in Senegal. It describes how a series of apps were developed and piloted in 3 schools, observing that students were able to use the apps independently and were motivated by mobile phones. Teachers found it helped fight digital divide and saved time for assessment. The plan is to work with more schools, sell the apps with online/SMS extensions, and establish phone borrowing with support from manufacturers and operators to scale the project.
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Introducing Mobile Learning in Kindergartens in Senegal
1. Introducing Mobile Learning in
Kindergartens in Senegal:
Early Results and Large Scale
Development Plan
Chun Hei Cheung, Project Manager
@senmobile
http://senmobile.com
2.
Established in Senegal
Technology startup specializes in mobile solutions targeting the
general population
Apps (health, sport, education, business)
SMS services (health, sport, education)
Developers based in Senegal (Coded in Country)
3. Problem
Addressing mobile learning for children in
kindergarten
Pupils
Exposure to technology
Access to computers
Different ways of learning
Teachers
Large class size
Difficulty to provide each child with individual attention
Hard to track student progress
Resources for technology
4. Solution
Series of mobile apps for kindergarten children
Model to integrate them in a classroom setting
Apps The apps
Easy to use Formes123
Sound Lettres123
Icons / Images / Colors Chiffres123
(Touch) Civicedu123
Avoid text SuiteABC
Instant feedback and Suite123
assessment Colors123
User experience
Makes learning fun
Local content (culture,
language, curriculum)
6. Pilot
Piloted in 3 schools, called cases des tout-petits (hut
of toddlers), in 3 different cities in underprivileged
neighborhoods
St. Louis
Louga
Thiès
More than 90 pupils
7. Educational model
Draw me a mobile phone!
What do you know about mobile phones?
8. Educational model
Using oversized printouts of the phones, teach
students each part of the device: icons, keyboard,
buttons, trackball
9. Educational model
Manipulation of the mobile phones: icons, keyboard,
buttons, trackball
11. Interviews with
Early observations teachers
Record pupils
Students using apps
In 2 sessions pupils are able to use the apps independently
Pupils motivated by mobile phones
Pupils help each other and worked collaboratively
Proud of achieving success screens for answering questions correctly
They want more apps!
Teachers
Liked active learning
Fights against the digital divide
Verbalizes what children have learned
Saves time
Easier to assess pupil's knowledge
Encourages teamwork
New ways of learning
12. Business plan
Work with the cases des tout-petits and private schools
Sell the apps (with online and SMS extensions)
Setup and training for teachers
Follow-up and assessment of the project
Summer and after-school programs
Establish a phone borrowing service with phones
acquired through phone manufacturers and operators
We have an inventory of 50 Blackberry phones
For scalability and sustainability:
Partnership with phone manufacturers and operators
Seeking funding
Establish a partnership with the Senegalese education ministry