MIT’s Curious Learning takes literacy learning global
30 January 2017: Global literacy project Curious Learning is on a mission to bring 100 million children to fluent literacy by 2025 by utilising mobile technology for learning.
Created by leading researchers from MIT Media Lab (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Tufts University and Georgia State University, Curious Learning is transforming mobile devices into a literacy solution, so every child can learn to read – with or without a teacher.
Through the distribution of tablet computers loaded with a software package of literacy apps, Curious Learning is reaching economically disadvantaged communities around the world to improve the early reading skills of young children.
Curious Learning tablets contain a collection of literacy, writing and language apps and are currently being used by over 4,000 children in eight countries including Ethiopia, America, and South Africa. To date, the results of children using the tablets have proven to accelerate reading acquisition by up to two years.
One of the UK-based partner apps, Froggy Match-it, is an educational phonics game that ensures improvement in reading and spelling for children aged 4-6. Former schoolteachers Lynn and Graham Lettice created Froggy Match-it after noticing the advantages of kinaesthetic learning on mobile devices, and were thrilled to have their app chosen by Curious Learning to feature on the tablets.
Lynn Lettice of Froggy Match-it said, “We recognise how the interactive nature of tablets and phones is ideal for learning regardless of the social, economical and geographical challenges many children face. Our mission is to get more children reading and our partnership with Curious Learning is enabling Froggy Match-it to do so on an international scale.”
Stephanie Gottwald, PhD, Co-Founder and Director of Content at Curious Learning said, “Curious Learning is changing the lives of children in Ethiopia, India and South Africa, as they learn fundamental early literacy skills and are on their way to becoming readers. Apps like Froggy Match-it are an indispensable part of this effort. Engaging game play around letters and sounds keep kids learning and reinforce the fundamental skills that are their first steps on the path to reading.”
Using research capabilities from MIT and other leading universities, the effectiveness of the learning apps is measured to ensure the continuous improvement of every child’s learning and to reach their aim of spreading literacy on a global scale.
For more information on Curious Learning, please visit http://www.curiouslearning.org/
Froggy Match-it is available to download on the App Store and Android. For more information visit http://www.froggy-match-it.co.uk/
