Mobile learning empowering learners

25 November 2010

Nokia and its partners, the SAFIPA, Department of Education, MXit, Cell C, Maskew Miller Longman and MTN today officially announced the results of the Mobile Maths 2010 project in the South African Market.

Riitta Vanska, project manager for the initiative and senior manager  mobile and learning solutions in Sustainability operations at Nokia says, “This initiative gives Grade 10 learners the opportunity to study mathematics anywhere and anytime which in turn gives them the chance to empower themselves.”

In 2009, 260 learners in Gauteng, the North West and the Western Cape provinces, who formed part of a test project, were encouraged to use their own handsets to access the collaborative learning service for mathemathics via Mxit. During 2010, a total of 4000 learners from 30 schools in the three provinces had access to the service to practice mathematics, to test their skills by competing with other learners in mathematics and collaborate in maths related problems with their friends. Since its activation, the Mobile Maths initiative has shown that 82% of the usage happened outside of school hours and in 24 weeks, 62 849 mathematics exercises were attempted by these learners.  The case study sample of 513 learners saw a 14% increase in competency at the end of the test period.

“MXit became involved in this project as every day we reach millions of young people communicating on MXit, and partnering with the MoMaths project affords us the ability to offer access to Math educational tools for all. It made perfect sense for us to offer this service as we believe the youth require all the tools we can give them to ensure a great future for this county - and through our platform learners are able to empower themselves with learning,” says Laura Hallam from MXit. “Going forward MXit will continue to provide the Mobile Maths service in order to give more learners the chance to improve their Math skills.”

Each of the partners involved in the initiative have committed to ensure that this project will continue in South Africa.  Nokia’s role will be to further develop the service, integrate this service into the South African learning environment and guarantee the sustainable implementation model for South Africa.

 “Cell C has always chosen projects that invest in the youth of South Africa. We believe that mobile technology can play a significant role as a tool for teaching and learning, as well as closing the digital divide. The mobile maths learning pilot programme is an innovative solution and Cell C is proud to be part of a project that contributes towards positive change in the country,” said Mercia Maserumule, Corporate Social Investment Manager for Cell C.

• Category: Services
• Tags: maskewmillerlongman, cellc, southafrica, departmentofeducation, e-learning, mobilemaths, mtn, momaths, mxit, nokia, mobilelearning, safipa