Developing World Libraries/Mobile Devices
It wasn't until I started teaching in China three years ago that I realized what a huge impact mobile devices were having in the classroom - pretty much every single student in our 600-student school had their own mobile phone (some had even more than one for various purposes), and everyone was issued a school laptop as part of their tuition fees. Phones, however, were a huge distraction in class. The administration eventually set up a rule where all cell phones had to be placed in a wall-mounted pocket holder during class time, unless usage was explicitly given by the classroom teacher. Because the students also had laptops, phones were not as essential to their access of learning. With the censorship that happens in China however, I definitely realized the importance of free access to information.
As I explored the topic of developing world libraries this week, I came across several initiatives that are looking to bring Internet access to more and more people around the globe.
Gates Foundation
The Gates Foundation advocates for the "equality of opportunity, to access online information and skills to interpret information, for all individuals, especially those in developing nations or poor communities" (Nielsen, 2017). They mostly provide programs to support individuals and communities in developing countries with access to online information that will help to "promote reading, research and learning" (Nielsen, 2017). While their Global Libraries initiative at this time is coming to an end, they have provided support for libraries in over 50 countries across the globe and strove to provide "equality of opportunity in the digital age" for all individuals (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, n.d.). The following is a video of how the Gates Foundation has transformed libraries in rural parts of the US:
Beyond Access
An initiative put forth by the IREX with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Beyond Access program works to "promote sustainable, inclusive access to information and technology for those who need it most" (Beyond Access, n.d.). In particular, I found their project in Ethiopia to be of particular interest because of their focus on improving early years literacy through the use of technology. They aim to increase the number of educational tools available in the country through the development of appropriate technologies (Beyond Access, 2017). Through their efforts, children have "more than doubled" their time spent reading.
As developing countries get more and more access to the Internet and mobile devices, I wonder if they will encounter the same problem of cell phone overuse that we see in teenagers in developed countries? When I allow my students to use their cell phone in class, or, now that I'm back in Canada teaching at an elementary school, a BYOD day, I find that they are very fixated on their devices for non-academic pursuits and disengage from the lesson. I can imagine that children, without the proper guidance, would misuse and abuse their Internet privileges as they grow more accustomed to having it. Will this have an impact on how literacy and learning will continue to evolve in developing countries?
References:
Beyond Access. (n.d.). About Beyond Access. Beyond Access. Retrieved from https://beyondaccess.net/about/
Beyond Access. (2017, July). Mobilizing communities to promote early grade reading in Ethiopia. Beyond Access. Retrieved from https://beyondaccess.net/projects/mobilizing-communities-to-promote-early-grade-reading-in-ethiopia/
Beyond Access [@Beyond_Access]. (2017, September 13). Beyond Access Ethiopia libraries introduced local books+apps. With fun digital & print materials, kids more than doubled time spent reading. [Twitter Post]. Twitter. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/Beyond_Access/status/907954266387619840
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (n.d.). Global libraries: Strategy overview. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Global-Libraries
Nielsen, J. (2017, October 27). Public libraries and developing countries. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/technology-and-the-new-library/public-libraries-and-developing-countries-cea63153fb4c
It wasn't until I started teaching in China three years ago that I realized what a huge impact mobile devices were having in the classroom - pretty much every single student in our 600-student school had their own mobile phone (some had even more than one for various purposes), and everyone was issued a school laptop as part of their tuition fees. Phones, however, were a huge distraction in class. The administration eventually set up a rule where all cell phones had to be placed in a wall-mounted pocket holder during class time, unless usage was explicitly given by the classroom teacher. Because the students also had laptops, phones were not as essential to their access of learning. With the censorship that happens in China however, I definitely realized the importance of free access to information.
As I explored the topic of developing world libraries this week, I came across several initiatives that are looking to bring Internet access to more and more people around the globe.
Gates Foundation
The Gates Foundation advocates for the "equality of opportunity, to access online information and skills to interpret information, for all individuals, especially those in developing nations or poor communities" (Nielsen, 2017). They mostly provide programs to support individuals and communities in developing countries with access to online information that will help to "promote reading, research and learning" (Nielsen, 2017). While their Global Libraries initiative at this time is coming to an end, they have provided support for libraries in over 50 countries across the globe and strove to provide "equality of opportunity in the digital age" for all individuals (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, n.d.). The following is a video of how the Gates Foundation has transformed libraries in rural parts of the US:
Beyond Access
An initiative put forth by the IREX with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Beyond Access program works to "promote sustainable, inclusive access to information and technology for those who need it most" (Beyond Access, n.d.). In particular, I found their project in Ethiopia to be of particular interest because of their focus on improving early years literacy through the use of technology. They aim to increase the number of educational tools available in the country through the development of appropriate technologies (Beyond Access, 2017). Through their efforts, children have "more than doubled" their time spent reading.
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| Beyond Access (@Beyond_Access), 2017. |
References:
Beyond Access. (n.d.). About Beyond Access. Beyond Access. Retrieved from https://beyondaccess.net/about/
Beyond Access. (2017, July). Mobilizing communities to promote early grade reading in Ethiopia. Beyond Access. Retrieved from https://beyondaccess.net/projects/mobilizing-communities-to-promote-early-grade-reading-in-ethiopia/
Beyond Access [@Beyond_Access]. (2017, September 13). Beyond Access Ethiopia libraries introduced local books+apps. With fun digital & print materials, kids more than doubled time spent reading. [Twitter Post]. Twitter. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/Beyond_Access/status/907954266387619840
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (n.d.). Global libraries: Strategy overview. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Global-Libraries
Nielsen, J. (2017, October 27). Public libraries and developing countries. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/technology-and-the-new-library/public-libraries-and-developing-countries-cea63153fb4c
A good overview of a few examples of groups and organizations working hard to support access to books, information and the web in varied locations with limited access to electricity, internet and local developed resources. Some good questions about focus and distraction, as well as proper teaching and guidance for support. A good bibliography with your resources researched and useful media embedded. Overall, a decent exploration into this topic with some personal context from your own experiences overseas.
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