Using mobile technology to help teachers in Mali view, learn and apply new teaching techniques using the balanced literacy approach.
Project Name
Our Children Learn to Read
Location Implemented
Mali
Technology Used
Hardware, Software/Apps
Competition Entered
Grant Competition 2014
Reading Skill Targeted
Foundational, Pre-Reading
Status
Winner
Collaborators/Partners
Education Development Center (EDC) and Malian Ministry of National Education (MEN)
The Challenge
Despite the government’s commitment to improve education outcomes, students struggle to achieve basic competencies in reading. To address this, the government adopted the “balanced literacy” approach into its bilingual education which includes training teachers in improved methodologies, the production and distribution of supplemental instructional and reading materials, and reading assessments. Providing support to teachers striving to do this in low resource, rural environments, remains a challenge.
The Big Idea
Teachers and school directors were trained in seven strategies of the balanced literacy approach and received instructional materials in Bamanankan. Teachers also received tablets loaded with video clips, viewable through the Stepping Stone application, of teachers in typical Malian classrooms successfully using the seven strategies. Additional support was offered through refresher trainings.
Results
625 students, 50 teachers and 25 principals in 25 school.
