Technology Applications in Teaching at the Right Level Programs

Around the world, inequality in education is creating difficulties for students as they learn how to read and write. Low resource and rural communities in East Africa, and Kenya specifically, are facing issues with students not achieving the national standards for literacy competence by the time they finish primary school, leaving them unequipped to progress in their education. Many groups have been combating this issue, with one particular methodology making a large impact in early childhood literacy and numeracy, known as Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL). By learning in small groups with interactive instruction, students’ weak points are addressed before moving on to more difficult concepts. However, this methodology is traditionally carried out using only paper, increasing the time needed to collect and organize student results and data. To combat the inefficiencies of the traditional method, we have prototyped a digital platform that is able to accurately assess student literacy levels, seamlessly input and organize data as well as provide a library of learning activities to instructors. This platform will introduce students to using technology as an aide in learning as well as increase the efficiency of this learning process, hopefully leading to more students achieving higher learning outcomes.