© GSM Association 2011
mEducation has the power to transform lives
Aruna Srinivasan, Director of mEducation, GSMA
© GSM Association 2011
Setting the scene
What do we mean by mEducation and where does it take place?
What is the transformational power of mEducation?
Some examples of mEducation innovations are already happening
What challenges exist in expanding mEducation so more people
can benefit?
© GSM Association 2011
mLearning and mEducation
Learners
Portable devices
Learning materials, information, systems
mLearning
mEducation
Enhance teaching
Assessment
Administration
Portfolios and records
Planning and management
Collaboration and socialisation
© GSM Association 2011
Where does mEducation happen?
Formal
Preschool
K-12
Further Education
Higher Education
Work place on-the-job
training
Professional qualifications
Vocational certification
Lifelong learning
Self directed revision for
key assessments
Edutainment
Informal
© GSM Association 2011
The transformational power of mobile
Sources: ITU, On Device Research
Mobile Subscribers
Mobile Web Users
5.9 Billion 87% world
population 17% have landline telephones
9% have fixed broadband
1.2 Billion Many of these only access the Web through
a mobile device
E.g. 70% in Egypt, 59% in India
Mobile broadband subscribers outnumber
fixed broadband 2:1
© GSM Association 2011
The transformational power of mEducation
mEducation can overcome constraints that currently limit access and quality of
education.
Access
Content
Personalisation
Collaboration
Geographic reach of mobile networks
Anytime, anywhere
Latest up-to-date content
Range from basic to the
latest apps
Time and place
View of learners’ progress
Peer to peer Teacher networks
Family and society
Re-access / replay Disabilities
Learner created
Tailor learning
Discreet
© GSM Association 2011
Project K-Nect
High-school students in North
Carolina learning algebra
Smartphones with digital content
and lesson plans
Collaboration tools
Phase 1 saw increased proficiency
rates of 30% on the State of North
Carolina’s End of Course exam
85% of students feel more
successful in math and more than
50% now thinking of a career in
the math field
Project K-Nect has expanded to
Virginia and Ohio with
approximately 4,500 students
United States
© GSM Association 2011
Learning with Vodafone
Math, Science and English content
State School Syllabus
Delivered via a WebBox/Tablet
For use in Classroom
SMS interactivity with students
Content aligned with official curriculum
Enables teachers /students to access
related text, images & video from the
Internet
Facilitates teacher student parent
school interactions
Now rolling out to 1000 schools with
500,000 underprivileged children
India
© GSM Association 2011
University of Botswana School of
Medicine
Specialist physician trainees work
on-site at hospitals and clinics, in
cities and remote areas
Internet unreliable and limited
computer resources
Residents in Medicine and
Paediatrics training provided with
Android smartphones with medical
information apps and built-in
camera
Point of care applications
Email, web-access and
telemedicine app allowing for
submission of cases to mentors
Botswana
© GSM Association 2011
Essa Academy, Bolton
90% of students come from most
deprived areas
Each student given an iPod
Touch or iPad
Pedagogy strategy shifted, more
facilitation
Failing school to 100% of
students reached the benchmark
of 5 x A* to C passes at GCSE
– From 26% in 2006
Cost savings have paid for
investment in technology
United Kingdom
© GSM Association 2011
Project Yoza
Pilot phase in 2009 involved publishing
episodic stories on social network Mxit in
English and Xhosa
Interactivity – discussion of plot, vote in
polls, leave comments, competition for
sequel ideas
In seven months the first two stories
were read over 34,000 times
Over 4,000 entries in writing
competitions and over 4,000 comments
Yoza launched in 2010 and a year later
has 28 novels, 5 Shakespeare plays and
11 poems
In first year, complete reads of stories
and poems reached 300,000
South Africa
© GSM Association 2011
What challenges still exist?
Pockets of
innovation
Working
independently
Grants and pilots
Scale
Partnerships and
collaboration
Commercial
sustainability
© GSM Association 2011
Thank you!
The GSMA represents over 800 mobile
operators and 200 associate members globally.
Our mEducation initiative seeks to reduce the
barriers and accelerate the adoption of
mEducation around the world.
Aruna Srinivasan
Director of mEducation
www.gsma.com/meducation
© GSM Association 2011
Key GSMA Publications
Mobile Proposition for Education
– Highlights key scenarios where mEducation can have significant benefits
– Illustrated with real examples of mEducation in practise
– http://www.gsma.com/connectedliving/gsma-mobile-proposition-for-
education-report/
Further reports and case studies can be found at: www.gsma.com/meducation
Market Sizing Report: Transforming learning through mEducation (joint
paper with McKinsey & Co)
– mEducation will be a USD $70 Billion opportunity by 2020
– Looks at regional and product /service opportunities
– http://www.gsma.com/connectedliving/gsma-and-mckinsey-transforming-
learning-through-meducation/
Security, Privacy & Safeguarding Report
– Discusses areas of concern, gives recommendations and directs readers to
further information
– http://www.gsma.com/connectedliving/gsma-safeguarding-security-and-
privacy-in-mobile-education-whitepaper-2/
mLearning: A Platform for Educational Opportunities at the Base of the
Pyramid
– Discusses areas of opportunity and several case studies focused on the base
of the pyramid
– http://www.gsma.com/developmentfund/mlearning-a-platform-for-educational-
opportunities-at-the-base-of-the-pyramid/