1. Examples of Mobile Interventions Applying Evidence to Practice Steve Vosloo m4Ed4Dev Symposium 19 August 2011

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

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. 1:1 person-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) Don’t focus on …

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

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: Maximising the amount of time spent on learning/instruction Solution: Reduce administrative and transport burden on teachers Mobile: ◦ School or Edu Dept broadcasts SMSes(Frontline SMS or RapidSMS) for admin updates, timetable changes, venue changes, etc.Frontline SMSRapidSMS ◦ 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- novelsm4Lit/Yoza Project

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.mobiwww.yoza.mobi / MXit www.yoza.mobi

13. www.yoza.mobi / MXit www.yoza.mobi

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

15. www.yoza.mobiwww.yoza.mobi / MXit www.yoza.mobi

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 englsh gng” Hlengiwe gulube www.yoza.mobiwww.yoza.mobi / MXit www.yoza.mobi 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)Project Zumbido 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 utilise innovative modes of delivery Mobile: ◦ Dr Math on Mxit for live tutoring after hours (IM chat) Dr Math on Mxit ◦ Text to Change HIV knowledge quizzes (SMS) Text to Change Why mobile? Accessible Anywhere, anytime

20. System strengthening Approach: Provide post-primary educational opportunities, including second-chance learning opportunities that utilise innovative 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)Dissections for All Why mobile? Accessible Anywhere, anytime Cool

21. System strengthening Approach: Provide post-primary educational opportunities, including second-chance learning opportunities that utilise innovative modes of delivery Mobile: In community centre play educational videos from phone through Pico projector/TV, e.g. like Text2Teach project in schools in Philippines and Tanzania Text2Teach Why mobile? Good multimedia content Anywhere, anytime

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

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