Presented by Steve Vosloo at the m4Ed4Dev Symposium, 19 August 2011, Washington DC

1. How Mobiles Can Support Proven Education Approaches Steve Vosloo m4Ed4Dev Symposium 19 August 2011

2. What is mobile? 2 smartphones SD cards NOT ONLY mobile phones tablet PCs USB sticks personal response systems audio players e.g. iPods e-readers voice recorders portable DVD players camcorders

3. Don’t focus on … Device or learning only “Any educational provision where the sole or dominant technologies are handheld or palmtop devices” Problem: Devices age! m4Ed is not just about learning – it’s about supporting the education ecosystem

4. Don’t focus on … 4 Mobility only Learning that happens anywhere, anytime Problem:Books are the ultimate anywhere, anytime devices

5. Don’t focus on … 1:1person-to-device ratio Latest and greatest (5.4bn subscribers, but most not smart) Lowest common denominator (for many “features phones” provide first and only access to the internet)

6. Dofocus on … Mobile devices that can enhance and extend learning, teaching, assessment and administration Real needs (not just “because we can”) in context Mobile device affordances

7. Affordances that meet needs Interactive (sometimes) Connected (sometimes) Image, audio, video recorders(sometimes) Mass storage (sometimes) GPS, accelerometer (sometimes) Pervasive Cool Intimate and personal

8. How does mobile support proven education approaches?

9. Improving literacy Approach: Maximisingthe amount of time spent on learning/instruction Solution: Reduce administrative and transport burden on teachers Mobile: School or EduDept broadcasts SMSes(Frontline SMS or RapidSMS) for admin updates, timetable changes, venue changes, etc. Simple mobisite with info for teachers Why mobile? Cheap Quick Effective

10. Improving literacy Approach: Provide appropriate level and language reading materials to children and communities Mobile: m4Lit/Yoza Project with m-novels

11. 51% South African households that own no leisure books 7% Public schools in South Africa that have functional libraries of any kind 11

12. www.yoza.mobi / MXit

13. www.yoza.mobi / MXit

14. www.yoza.mobi / MXit 300 000 reads 40 000 comments 69 000 subscribers

15. www.yoza.mobi / MXit

16. “It's great ... for me it really hard to pick up a book to start readin but I don mind readin on my phone” dotty1 “The stories r interesting nd fun 2 read, they kip ma englshgng” Hlengiwegulube www.yoza.mobi / MXit Why mobile? Accessible Cheap Cool Interactive Reading goes social

17. System strengthening Approach: Provide support to parents and caregivers, including information about nutrition and health Mobile: Create support groups between parents and caregivers and also broadcast nutrition/health tips, e.g. SMS-based groups in Project Zumbido (for HIV patients) Why mobile? Quick Effective

18. System strengthening Approach: Ensure that girls and boys start school at the right age by encouraging on-time entry through public policies, campaigns, and tracking Mobile: Register births in the field and follow up on when children should start school Why mobile? Real time Effective reporting

19. System strengthening Approach: Provide post-primary educational opportunities, including second-chance learning opportunities that utiliseinnovative modes of delivery Mobile: DrMath on Mxit for live tutoring after hours (IM chat) Text to Change HIV knowledge quizzes (SMS) Why mobile? Accessible Anywhere, anytime

20. System strengthening Approach: Provide post-primary educational opportunities, including second-chance learning opportunities that utiliseinnovative modes of delivery Mobile: Shareable (via Bluetooth) audio and video lessons, e.g. Dissections for All project in South Africa (mobile phones used by students to create short videos of frog dissections and shared) Why mobile? Accessible Anywhere, anytime Cool

21. System strengthening Approach: Provide post-primary educational opportunities, including second-chance learning opportunities that utiliseinnovative modes of delivery Mobile:In community centre play educational videos from phone through Pico projector/TV, e.g. like Text2Teachproject in schools in Philippines and Tanzania Why mobile? Good multimedia content Anywhere, anytime

22. System strengthening Approach: Provide post-primary educational opportunities, including second-chance learning opportunities that utiliseinnovative modes of delivery Mobile:Talking Bookprovides audio content for people who can’t read and don’t have electricity Why mobile? Durable No electricity Interactive Recordable

23. Thank you www.mlab.co.za steve@mlab.co.za twitter.com/mlabsa 23