Nokia pilots mobile-based education platform in Kenya
Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) is shown how the Nokia Education Delivery (NED) program works by the Nokia head of Ecosystem Developer Experience in East and Southern Africa Agatha Gikunda during its launch at the at the Raila Educational Centre School in Kibera slums on October 30, 2012. SALATON NJAU
What you need to know:
Mobile network Airtel has offered to provide free data bundles for downloading the content.
Safaricom is currently piloting its e-learning management platform Safaricom Blackboard at Starehe Schools.
Samsung is also running a project to connect schools to Solar-powered Internet and provide e-boards for teaching.
Under the Nokia initiative, each installation consists of a Nokia C6 mobile phone preloaded with the Nokia Education Delivery application and a TV for video sharing with groups.
Nokia has begun piloting a mobile based education application in 10 Kenyan schools to aid in the teaching of sciences especially mathematics.
The platform dubbed Nokia Education Delivery carries educational material to mobile phones which can then be connected to a television or projector to teach larger groups of learners.
The six-month trial project was unveiled Tuesday at the Raila Odinga Educational Centre in Kibera and will be used in delivering mathematics content for upper primary pupils in Standard 5 to 8.
"Nokia Education Delivery System is designed for areas where resources are scarce and accessing education materials can be difficult,” says Agatha Gikunda, ecosystem manager of Nokia East Africa.
“Through the power of mobile technology, teachers are able to access high quality educational videos and then share them via a TV screen with their learners. If you consider that many schools across Kenya are over-crowded and have limited access to even basic text books, this type of content is invaluable to the learning process and can be life changing for students,” said Ms Gikunda.
Mobile network Airtel has offered to provide free data bundles for downloading the content.
“This school is envisioned to undertake learning on a RISEM platform, that is Research, Innovation, Science, Engineering and Math, model that allows students a holistic education while emphasizing on technology,” said Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The Ministry of Education has already drafted an ICT policy in a bid to deepen use of technology solutions in teaching and learning, attracting firms such as Samsung and Safaricom to roll out e-education initiatives.
Samsung is also running a project to connect schools to Solar-powered Internet and provide e-boards for teaching.
Under the Nokia initiative, each installation consists of a Nokia C6 mobile phone preloaded with the Nokia Education Delivery application and a TV for video sharing with groups.
The NED application allows Nokia to update the content catalogue centrally, allowing all the schools access to the new content by using the app to browse, download and play videos.
The app also has the ability to track usage of the content which will provide valuable information on which material is most relevant and popular.
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