Delivering daily SMS reading lessons to adult caregivers through mobile devices to help develop their child’s literacy
Project Name
MobiLiteracy Uganda: Testing and Proving the Efficacy of SMS with Audio in Developing Literacy-Rich Home Environments in Western Uganda
Location Implemented
Uganda
Technology Used
Communications Technology
Competition Entered
Grant Competition 2011
Reading Skill Targeted
Reading Environment
Status
Winner
Collaborators/Partners
mobile distributor MCOMM
The Challenge
Parents can be instrumental in their children learning to read. In developing countries, where teachers are often over-stretched, active parental input at home is critical.
The Big Idea
91 MobiLiteracy native language audio lessons were recorded and delivered daily to 54 parents via SMS with an attached downloadable file. The lessons provided guidance on teaching literacy to their child. Additionally, 150,000 women were invited to use the program through an interactive voice response (IVR) system.
Results
Urban Planet delivered more than 3,000 lessons over a 3-month period, reaching between 50 - 80 people per day. The lessons were also made available as a daily or weekly lesson at the request of the user. Based on the success of this initiative, MCOMM discussed the potential for the program with the government in Nigeria.
Blogs and Media
Research and Resources
MobiLiteracy: Developing a Literacy Rich Home Environment in Kampala, Uganda Utilizing Mobile
Learn more about Planet Read's MobiLiteracy, a series of reading lessons available on basic phones for parents to use with young children in Uganda.Urban Planet / Catherine Oliver Smith
Urban Planet Media and Entertainment share their ACR GCD-funded innovation to provide daily reading lessons via SMS and audio technology to children in Uganda.USAID the Catalog
USAID spotlights leading science and technology projects for solving global challenges related to education, health, water and others.
