Effective, low-cost edtech solutions for improving reading scores of children in developing countries
Awarded
$2.7 million
April 10, 2014
Effective, low-cost edtech solutions for improving reading scores of children in developing countries
The Grand Challenge
Students are unable to read with sufficient comprehension.
More than 387 million primary school-aged children are not expected to read or do basic maths by the end of primary school. Children who do not develop reading skills during early primary education are on a lifetime trajectory of limited educational progress, thereby limiting their economic opportunities.
The Big Idea
Testing the impact of edtech on early grade reading outcomes in low-resource contexts.
All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development’s 2014 Grant Competition sought several edtech solutions for improving the reading scores of early grade students. Winning innovations promoted the creation and delivery of instruction and reading materials in languages children use and understand; provided technologies, approaches and content to engage families and communities; and/or enhanced reading outcomes for learners with disabilities.
Prize Partners
The ACR GCD Founding Partners thank the following organizations for their collaboration on this competition.
Prize Teams
The Asia Foundation
A mobile application, in Dari and Pashto that is student-focused, fun, interactive and usable as both a teacher’s aide and for self-study.Competition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Agora Center, the University of Jyväskylä
Using mobile reading game, GraphoGame™, to assist struggling students and certify Zambian teachers in local language literacy instructionCompetition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Benetech
Adding Marathi human-narrated audio capabilities to create accessible, grade-level storybooks that can be listened to on low cost audio devices by children who are blind/low visionCompetition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Catholic Relief Services
Using innovative technologies for teachers to create and translate print/braille learning materials and for children who are blind/low vision to learn braille.Competition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Creative Associates International
Mobilizing community members to submit favorite local stories and folktales and distributing the stories, along with comprehension questions, to early grade students and their families via SMS.Competition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Institute for Disabilities Research and Training
Assistive technology that enables educators to easily create and publish Moroccan Sign Language (MSL) supported educational materials for students who are deaf/hard of hearing.Competition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Kampuchean Action for Primary Education
Transforming readers into basal electronic formats with interactive features, including multi-modal presentations that build on children’s oral Khmer language skillsCompetition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Little Thinking Minds
Building an online levelled and differentiated early grade Arabic literacy learning platform supported by after school literacy clubs for students.Competition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Oeuvre Malienne d’aide à l’Enfance du Sahel
Providing families in Mali with immediate access to community developed print and digital reading resources through mobile technology and local librariesCompetition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Qué Funciona para el Desarrollo A.C.
Fostering parental engagement through use of “Mundo de Libros,” a technology-based tool that matches students with grade level-appropriate Spanish reading materials that align with their abilitiesCompetition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Réseau d’Acteurs pour le Renouveau de l’Education
Using mobile technology to help teachers in Mali view, learn and apply new teaching techniques using the balanced literacy approach.Competition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Resources for the Blind, Inc.
Providing training and technology to create and upload accessible supplementary reading materials for students who are blind/low vision.Competition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Sesame Workshop India Trust
Providing families with a smartphone based mobile app, based on the Marathi dubbed version of Sesame Street, (Galli Galli Sim Sim), to promote mother-tongue literacy skillsCompetition
Grant Competition 2014
Winner Status
Winner
Grant Competition (2014)
Latest Research & Resources
ACR GCD Alumni, Little Thinking Minds, featured in USAID Meta Evaluation of Grand Challenges Case Study
Play.Connect.Learn
Grant Competition (2014)
Latest Updates
ACR GCD featured in Global Book Alliance’s Partner Spotlight Series
Six innovators discuss challenges and insights around implementing EdTech solutions to increase reading outcomes for hard-to-reach learners
Shifting perspectives on using communication devices as learning tools can increase access to education and support learning in low resource contexts
