Improving literacy skills by providing e-readers filled with culture-specific digital books in both the Ghanaian language and English
Project Name
iREAD2
Location Implemented
Ghana
Technology Used
Hardware
Competition Entered
Grant Competition 2011
Reading Skill Targeted
Foundational, Reading
Status
Winner
Collaborators/Partners
Olinga Foundation for Human Development
The Challenge
A 2009 survey by the Ghana Ministry of Education found that 42.4% of Ghanaian Primary 3 students did not meet minimum competency standards in English reading, writing, and listening. Only 20.0% of students achieved proficiency in English, indicating that 4 out of 5 Ghanaian children cannot read and understand simple English texts by Primary 3.
The Big Idea
This project provided convenient, immediate access to 240 digital books in English (written by Ghanaian authors) and Twi content through e-reader technology.
Results
Students more than doubled their reading comprehension scores in both Twi and English. Students read 19 more words per minute (WPM) in Twi and 24 WPM more in English. Significant impact was detected among lower-performing students--students who could not read a single word in Twi decreased from 65.7% to 10.7%. By the end of third grade, 41% of students could read above a minimum proficiency level of 45 WPM in English. Additionally, students receiving digital books reported reading nearly three books a day.
Blogs and Media
Research and Resources
The Tech Awards 2014 laureate: Worldreader
Using e-readers and mobile phones, Worldreader empowers more than 250,000 children and adults around the world with e-books.Worldreader / Zev Lowe
Worldreader shares their ACR GCD-funded innovation to provide access to local language books via e-readers to primary school children in Ghana.iREAD 2 Evaluation
The final evaluation of Worldreader's iREAD 2 Ghana study shows digital reading interventions can lead to the development of positive attitudes and habits in young students of Ghana.
