uganda m4d conference_nov2010

8/8/2019 Uganda M4d Conference_Nov2010

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Are Mobile Phones Better Learning Tools than Computers?

Peter Kisare OtienoAfrican Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF)

M4D Kampala Uganda 9-10 November 2010


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Global Cellular Subscriptions


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Mobile Overview

5.3 billion mobile subscriptions (November 2010)

Access to mobile networks available to 90% of the world population

73% of total mobile subscriptions are in developing countries

68% penetration rate in developing countries Asia & Pacific region is drivinggrowth

200 000 SMS sent every second!


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Subscriptions by Development


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Training @ AMREF

1950s -1960s

AMREF is

founded core

activities FlyingDoctors

Services

delivering health

care to remote

areas

1960s -1970s

Introduction of

Radio

programmeson National

Radio for

health workers

1980s -1990s

Introduction of

Print-based

distanceeducation

2000 & beyond

Introduction of

technology

supportedlearning including

telemedicine,

eLearning and

mLearning


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mLearning @ AMREF Case Studies

ART KNOWLEDGE HUB

Improving access to information and care of

people on ART therapy by health workers.

Techniques used unlimited internet access to

the ART knowledge hub ePortal service byDistrict HIV&AIDS mentors, SMS and calling

service to Uliza HIV telephone hotline

Learning Outcomes

Increase in knowledge for experts

worldwide consequently delivery of betterhealth care

A reading culture has been adopted by

mentors


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AMREF VIRTUAL SCHOOL

Education and awareness: SMS alerts for school

administration, collating student data on student

numbers from remote areas, telephone tutorials

Capacity building: Sending supplementary

information to nurses

Learning outcomes

Reading culture adopted by tutors

Schools are more willing to send studentdata as the phones have an easy to use

interface

Students are more willing to engage tutors

Students have learnt how to use innovative

ways to access information

mLearning @ AMREF Case Studies


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Remote areas with limited access to health professionals Photos taken

and sent to experts who can guide the health professionals on what to do

Mapping hotspots or areas known to have disease outbreaks of a

particular kind enables deployment of personnel to these areas via

SMS/GPS The use of SMSs as reminders for people involved in behaviour change,

the messages act as reminders, are personal and can be referenced for a

long period of time

Communities of practise forming from interventions, knowledge is shared

and disseminated across various groups Most phones which do not have to be smart phones and are GPRS

enabled can access mLearning materials

Why Mobile Learning Works?


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Interoperability some Apps do not work across platforms

Language barrier

Challenges


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Project Masiluleke (South Africa)

Million messages sent daily throughout South Africa encouraging people to be

tested for HIV via use of an innovative home HIV testing kit, messages written in

local languages

Text 4 Baby Voxiva, CDC, US government, also caters for Spanish speaking target group in

addition to the English speaking group

Text for Change Uganda

HIV/AIDS awareness to 15,000 users in form of a quiz over a 3 month period after

quiz participants received a final SMS encouraging them to take a HIV test. 40%

increase in patients who came for HIV testing 6 week period from 1000 1400

Data Gathering

AMREF Virtual Nursing School, with the use of Frontline SMS AMREF has been able

to get concise numbers regarding nurse numbers for intakes by using mobile

telephony

Impact of mLearning


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You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach

him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continuethe learning process as long as he lives.

Clay P. Bedford

Conclusion


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Thank You!

[email protected]

www.amref.org

@peshpet

uganda m4d conference_nov2010

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