COVID-19: Global call for tech-focused ideas for managing learning

NEW DELHI: A group of international education technology organisations is seeking ideas to tackle the learning gaps caused by the closure of schools in poor countries.

The EdTech Hub, mEducation Alliance, and Global Innovation Exchange (GIE) jointly said they are launching a “call for tech-focused ideas to respond to the learning emergency caused by COVID-19 school closures in low- and middle-income countries.”

The EdTech Hub is “a consortium of partners aiming to increase the use of evidence to inform decision-making about education technology.”

The Mobiles for Education (mEducation) Alliance is a convening platform for ed-tech leaders seeking to strengthen collaborative efforts while Global Innovation Exchange (GIE) is a data-driven development innovation platform.

The EdTech Hub posted on its website that “successful applicants will be invited to EdTech Pitch Days with a global network of potential funders, support in adapting and scaling in response to COVID-19, and connections for onward collaboration and funding”.

Details on how to apply are available on bit.ly/EdtechCOVIDcall and those who are pitching their ideas can write to COVIDcall@edtechhub.org in case of any query.

Ideas and response

According to EdTech hub, the group is looking for “innovative methods for distance learning and education content for students out-of-school and in non-formal settings, particularly focused on foundation literacy and numeracy”. It is also seeking “support for teachers and school education leaders”.

The ideas must have proof of impact, can be tested and implemented quickly and “incorporate as much as possible the principles of universal design for learning.”

Anyone including start-ups, non-profits, government officials, individual researchers can put forward their ideas on how to respond to current learning deficiencies.

Evaluation of ideas

The tech-focused ideas will be evaluated in three rounds. In the first round successful applicants will be notified by May 1 and their EdTEch Pitch Day is on May 13. The second round of applicants gets notified by May 15. Their pitch day is on May 27. In the last round, applicants get notified by May 29 with pitch day on June 10.

EdTech Hub said on its website that according to UNESCO, over 192 governments have ordered nationwide closure of educational institutions.

Edtech hub posted: “About 1.5 billion learners are not attending the school or university because of the closure. In addition to this, there are 258 million learners who were out of school before COVID-19. These impacts will be felt more in lower-income countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East and may take a longer time to recover.”

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• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: Latest Updates

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