Bangladesh - World Inequality Database (WID - World Inequality Database, 2021)
Bangladesh The source for global inequality data. Open access, high quality wealth and income inequality data developed by an international academic consortium.

Countries by Density - World Population Review (World Population Review, 2021)

Bangladesh Population (2021) - Worldometer (2021)
Population of Bangladesh: current, historical, and projected population, growth rate, immigration, median age, total fertility rate (TFR), population density, urbanization, urban population, country's share of world population, and global rank. Data tables, maps, charts, and live population clock

Population by Country - Worldometer (World Population Review, 2021)
List of countries and dependencies in the world ranked by population, from the most populated. Growth rate, median age, fertility rate, area, density, population density, urbanization, urban population, share of world population.

International Handbook on Education in South East Asia - Ximenes, Pedro Barreto (2021)

International Handbook on Education in South East Asia - Ximenes, Pedro Barreto (2021)

How Much Does Universal Digital Learining Cost? - Yao, Haogen; Brossard, Matt; Mizunoya, Suguru; Nasir, Bassem; Walumgembe, Patrick; Cooper, Rachel; Rafique; Reuge, Nicolas (UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti, 2021)

Examining Pre-Service Teachers’ Views about Online Chemistry Laboratory Learning Experiences Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic - Yeşi̇Loğlu, Sevinç Nihal; Gençer, Sinem; Eki̇Ci̇, Funda; Işik, Burcu (Journal of Turkish Science Education, 2021)
With the continued spread of the COVID-19 crisis, the universities were closed temporarily in Turkey just as in the rest of the world. As a result of this, many educators and students tried to adapt online education quickly. This research study examined 67 pre-service teachers' views on online chemistry laboratory learning experiences amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A data collection tool consisting of seven open-ended questions was used. Data sources included responses given to open-ended questions about the online chemistry laboratory learning experiences, the applications used for the chemistry experiments (e.g., simulations, images, and videos), the methods used for assessing online learning, and the system used for the virtual classroom platform. Content analysis was applied to participants’ responses. Participants’ views about online chemistry laboratories amid the COVID-19 pandemic were gathered in five themes: (i) advantages and disadvantages of online chemistry laboratories, (ii) effects of online chemistry laboratories on learning outcomes, (iii) views on technological applications used in online chemistry laboratories, (iv) views on measurement and assessment methods used in online chemistry laboratories, and (v) views of pre-service teachers on the virtual classroom platform used in online chemistry laboratories. The findings of the study highlighted that online laboratory learning has both advantages and disadvantages. The findings also included the strengths and weaknesses of the system used for the virtual classroom platform. The findings may provide useful information on how to design a positive online laboratory experience such as integrating hands-on activities as a part of the online laboratories to overcome the lack of “learning by doing” and using videos containing more detailed explanations about the experimental setup.
Keywords: ⛔ No DOI found

COVID-19 could reverse two decades of progress: Emerging policy recommendations to support young people in developing countries - Young Lives (Young Lives, 2021)

Blended Learning in Universities in East Africa: Lessons from the PEBL Partnership - Young, John; Nzegwu, Dr Femi; Schaeffler, Dr Veronika; Khandoker, Fiona; Calamassi, Sara; Perris, Dr Kirk; George, Dr; Ikiara, Dr Lucy (2021)
Keywords: ⛔ No DOI found; ⛔ No INSPIRE recid found

Special education teachers’ perceptions toward online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic - Yunita, Vania Martha; Sunardi, Sunardi; Kristiyanto, Agus (JPI (Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia), 2021)
Keywords: ⛔ No DOI found; ⛔ No INSPIRE recid found

After COVID-19, let’s reimagine education in Kenya - Zaman, Maniza (2021)
Digital learning should be part of a basic package of essential services for every child

La educación virtual en tiempos del COVID-19: Una experiencia en la maestría de Educación - Zea, Miriam Patricia Cárdenas; Quimi, Wendy Diana Carranza; Panta, Karina Alexandra Plua; García, Mariana Solís; Torres, Marioxy Morales (Universidad y Sociedad, 2021)
Keywords: ⛔ No DOI found

Teacher Turnover in Rwanda - Zeitlin, Andrew (Journal of African Economies, 2021)

An Exploration of China-Africa Cooperation in Higher Education: Opportunities and Challenges in Open Distance Learning - Zhu, Xia; Chikwa, Gladson (Open Praxis, 2021)
Cognisant of the wide range of cooperation between China and Africa and the existing strong Sino-African relationship, this article explores the international cooperation between Africa and China in the higher education domain, especially in the field of Open Distance Learning (ODL). The study employed data triangulation relying on both secondary and primary sources to address the main research questions. It sheds light on the development of ODL in Chinese Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with a focus on professional development of university teachers. The article argues that ODL is crucial for emerging economies' sustainable development. Key factors such as political, technological and socio-cultural features play a crucial role in the development and effective implementation of ODL. By exploring the potential opportunities and identifying related challenges, this article contributes to an understanding of how mutually beneficial partnerships between African universities and Chinese HEIs can be developed within the wider framework of Sino-African relationship.
Keywords: Distance Education; Educational Development; Educational Technology; Faculty Development; Foreign Countries; Higher Education; International Cooperation; Lifelong Learning; Open Education; Partnerships in Education; Sustainable Development

Country-Level Research Review: EdTech in Pakistan - Zubairi, Asma; Halim, Waqas; Kaye, Tom; Wilson, Sam (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH; dode_eth-src-eth; dode_eth-trf2-dode

Reopening Schools - When and how - Campe (Evernote, 2021)
Timing of the survey - The survey was conducted between 7 to 22 November 2020. Slide 9 - % students who participated in distance learning in the last 2 weeks prior to the survey Primary - 31.4% Second...

A Design Approach to Mathematics Teacher Educator Development in East Africa - Golding, Jennie; Batiibwe, Marjorie Sarah K. (Journal of Research and Advances in Mathematics Education, 2021)
Mathematical functioning in sub-Saharan Africa remains persistently weak in global terms. This limits the flourishing of young people and communities in the region. Moreover, affordable, effective ways to address the issue are not well established. This paper analyses outcomes from a blended learning 'Mathematical Thinking and IT' course, iteratively adapted for East African primary mathematics teacher educators. The course adopted theoretical approaches derived from the mathematics, teacher and technology education literatures. It aimed to address the problem of low mathematical functioning by equipping participants for their own work, and also for supporting local collaborative teacher development workshops. The reported study asked, 'What are the affordances and constraints of the adapted course and the available technology for mathematics teacher educator development in this context?' A variety of qualitative tools were used to track the course's impact on the ten mathematics teacher educator participants over six months, as they attempted to transfer course learning to their home professional context. The analysis adopted an ethnographic lens. Outcomes suggested participants with a broad mathematical and pedagogical capacity for change, including critical levels of reflection, made significant progress in their technological, mathematical and mathematics pedagogical expertise. However, teacher educators without such a threshold capacity appeared not able to re-envision practice. Free subject-specific software was appreciated by all participants, but not yet reliably accessible in these teacher educators' institutional contexts. The reported study evidences the potential for affordable, sustainable, development of many mathematics teacher educators in this context, but further research is needed. Similar courses should take account of local technological and education constraints.
Keywords: Blended Learning; Distance Education; Elementary School Mathematics; Foreign Countries; Mathematics Teachers; Pedagogical Content Knowledge; Professional Development; Program Effectiveness; Teacher Collaboration; Teacher Educators; Technological Literacy; Technology Integration

Academic and social effects of inclusion on students without disabilities: A review of the literature - Kart, Ayse; Kart, Mehmet (Education Sciences, 2021)
In many countries, educational practices are changing to inclusive education. Inclusive education is educating students with disabilities in general education classrooms with their peers without disabilities. If inclusive education is spreading, research needs to investigate the effects of inclusion not only for students with special needs but also for typically developing students. However, there is more research on the outcomes of inclusion for students with disabilities and less for students without disabilities in inclusive settings. Research shows academic and social gains for students with disabilities, but there is less clarity regarding the influence of inclusion on general education students. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize and organize the literature on the academic and social outcomes of inclusion on students without disabilities. Academic effects of inclusion on students without disabilities are mixed, and the levels of schooling may have a differential impact on the achievement of students without disabilities. The literature indicates mostly positive or neutral effects of inclusion on the academic achievement of typically developing students in the lower grades, whereas neutral or negative influence is indicated for later grades. Additionally, students without disabilities have socially benefited from being in inclusive classrooms with students with disabilities. Mainly, the social effects of inclusion are reduction of fear, hostility, prejudice, and discrimination as well as increase of tolerance, acceptance, and understanding.
Keywords: academic achievement; inclusion; social effects; students without disabilities; ⛔ No INSPIRE recid found

Incentives for Mayors to Improve Learning: Evidence from State Reforms in Ceará, Brazil - Lautharte, Ildo; de Oliveira, Victor Hugo; Loureiro, Andre (World Bank, 2021)
Financial incentives for students, teachers, and schools are often used to promote learning. Yet, little is known about whether similar incentives for mayors produce analogous findings. This paper investigates this question by exploring a results-based financing reform in Ceará, Brazil, which redistributes state resources to municipalities based on education performance. Comparing schools on both sides of Ceará's border over key implementation periods, the paper shows that ninth grade students who were exposed to the results-based financing performed 0.15 standard deviation higher on mathematics and language tests. These impacts increase twofold when Ceará offers technical assistance to municipalities (pedagogical and managerial) and become significant for fifth graders. These gains are seen among students in the top performance quantiles, but reformulating the results-based financing rule to penalize municipalities with more low performers significantly reduces learning gaps. The paper discuss several mechanisms: the selection of school principals, teacher training, the provision and quality of textbooks, curriculum coverage, and school homework.
Keywords: Education; Learning Incentives; Municipal Governance; Public Sector Reform; Results-Based Financing; Secondary Education; Student Performance; Teacher Effectiveness; Teacher Training; Technical Assistance

A Roadmap for Measuring Distance Learning - Morris, Emily; Farrell, Anna; Venetis, Emma (USAID, 2021)

A Simulation of COVID-19 School Closure Impact on Student Learning in Bangladesh [Report] - Rahman, Tashmina; Sharma, Uttam (World Bank, 2021)
This Note presents results from a series of simulations that aim to capture the impacts that school closures in Bangladesh might have on the learning levels, enrollment and future earnings of children and students using a methodological tool developed by the Education Global Practice of the World Bank . We find that overall loss in learning for every child enrolled in school even in the most optimistic scenario is expected to be substantial and the economic implications of the learning losses are huge. Available data also indicates that remote learning requires to be made more effective. It is hoped that the insights from this note will be useful for the government, non-government, private sector and civil society engaged in education service delivery as they are attempting to forge effective partnerships during and after the crisis. There is an urgent need to substantially reduce additional dropouts and absenteeism through stipends and safe school opening and communication campaigns.
Keywords: Coronavirus; Covid-19; Distance Learning; Education Quality; Pandemic Impact; Primary Education; School Closure; School Dropout; Secondary Education; Student Learning

A Simulation of COVID-19 School Closure Impact on Student Learning in Bangladesh [Web page] - Rahman, Tashmina; Sharma, Uttam (2021)

A simulation of COVID-19 school closure impact on student learning in Bangladesh - Rahman, Tashmina; Sharma, Uttam; World Bank (World Bank, 2021)
This Note presents results from a series of simulations that aim to capture the impacts that school closures in Bangladesh might have on the learning levels, enrollment and future earnings of children and students using a methodological tool developed by the Education Global Practice of the World Bank. We find that overall loss in learning for every child enrolled in school even in the most optimistic scenario is expected to be substantial and the economic implications of the learning losses are huge. Available data also indicates that remote learning requires to be made more effective. It is hoped that the insights from this note will be useful for the government, non-government, private sector and civil society engaged in education service delivery as they are attempting to forge effective partnerships during and after the crisis. There is an urgent need to substantially reduce additional dropouts and absenteeism through stipends and safe school opening and communication campaigns.
Keywords: Access to Computers; Access to Education; Achievement Gains; Age Differences; At Risk Students; Attendance; Bangladesh; Barriers; COVID-19; Delivery Systems; Disadvantaged Youth; Distance Education; Dropout Prevention; Economic Impact; Elementary Secondary Education; Foreign Countries; Gender Differences; Handheld Devices; Income; Pandemics; Partnerships in Education; Program Effectiveness; Radio; Remedial Instruction; Rural Urban Differences; School Closing; Simulation; Telecommunications; Television

How much can we remedy very low learning levels in rural parts of low-income countries? Impact and generalizability of a multi-pronged para-teacher intervention from a cluster-randomized trial in the Gambia - Eble, Alex; Frost, Chris; Camara, Alpha; Bouy, Baboucarr; Bah, Momodou; Sivaraman, Maitri; Hsieh, Pei-Tseng Jenny; Jayanty, Chitra; Brady, Tony; Gawron, Piotr; Vansteelandt, Stijn; Boone, Peter; et al. (Journal of Development Economics, 2021)
Despite large schooling and learning gains in many developing countries, children in highly deprived areas are often unlikely to achieve even basic literacy and numeracy. We study how much of this problem can be resolved using a multi-pronged intervention combining three interventions known to be separately effective. We conducted a cluster-randomized trial in The Gambia evaluating a literacy and numeracy intervention designed for primary-aged children in remote parts of poor countries. The intervention combines para teachers delivering after-school supplementary classes, scripted lesson plans, and frequent monitoring focusing on improving teacher practice (coaching). A similar intervention previously demonstrated large learning gains in rural India. After three academic years, Gambian children allocated to the intervention scored 46 percentage points (3.2 SD) better on a combined literacy and numeracy test than control children. Our results demonstrate that, in this type of area, aggressive interventions can yield far greater learning gains than previously shown.

The Views of University Students About the Achievements and Motivations of the Distance Education Process During the Pandemic Period - Güldal Kan, Şebnem; Çaltıkuşu, Çilem; Şensoy, Şeniz (Propósitos y Representaciones, 2021)
The aim of this study is to examine the views of students about the achievements and motivations of thedistance education processes in universities during the pandemic period. The working group consists of 68 prospective teachers who continue their undergraduate programs in different departments of a private university in Northern Cyprus in the 2019-2020 spring academic year. All these participantsarestudying at thevariousdepartments of theFaculty of Education as 17 are in Pre-school Education, 28 in PrimaryEducationMathematics, 6 in PrimaryEducation, 1 in HistoryTeaching, 12 in Special Needs Education, 4 of them arestudying in Guidance and Psychological Counseling. The study is a qualitative study and the design of the study is determined as a case study. 42 female and 26 male teacher candidates participated in the study group. The majority of the participants are prospective teachers studying in their final year at university. While choosing the participants, easily accessible case sampling from purposeful sampling type was used. A Semi-structured interview form was used as a toolfordata collection. Later, the opinions of the experts were obtained and the interview questions were re-arranged accordingly and applied to the participants. As a result of the research, it was concluded that the psychological trauma experienced by teacher candidates during distance education at thepandemicperiodaffects both the success and motivation of their lessons.

Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic, Scopus, Dimensions, Web of Science, and OpenCitations’ COCI: a multidisciplinary comparison of coverage via citations - Martín-Martín, Alberto; Thelwall, Mike; Orduna-Malea, Enrique; Delgado López-Cózar, Emilio (Scientometrics, 2021)
New sources of citation data have recently become available, such as Microsoft Academic, Dimensions, and the OpenCitations Index of CrossRef open DOI-to-DOI citations (COCI). Although these have been compared to the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS), Scopus, or Google Scholar, there is no systematic evidence of their differences across subject categories. In response, this paper investigates 3,073,351 citations found by these six data sources to 2,515 English-language highly-cited documents published in 2006 from 252 subject categories, expanding and updating the largest previous study. Google Scholar found 88% of all citations, many of which were not found by the other sources, and nearly all citations found by the remaining sources (89–94%). A similar pattern held within most subject categories. Microsoft Academic is the second largest overall (60% of all citations), including 82% of Scopus citations and 86% of WoS citations. In most categories, Microsoft Academic found more citations than Scopus and WoS (182 and 223 subject categories, respectively), but had coverage gaps in some areas, such as Physics and some Humanities categories. After Scopus, Dimensions is fourth largest (54% of all citations), including 84% of Scopus citations and 88% of WoS citations. It found more citations than Scopus in 36 categories, more than WoS in 185, and displays some coverage gaps, especially in the Humanities. Following WoS, COCI is the smallest, with 28% of all citations. Google Scholar is still the most comprehensive source. In many subject categories Microsoft Academic and Dimensions are good alternatives to Scopus and WoS in terms of coverage.
Keywords: Computer Science - Digital Libraries

The last mile in school access: Mapping education deserts in developing countries - Rodriguez-Segura, Daniel; Kim, Brian Heseung (Development Engineering, 2021)
With recent advances in high-resolution satellite imagery and machine vision algorithms, fine-grain geospatial data on population are now widely available: kilometer-by-kilometer, worldwide. In this paper, we showcase how researchers and policymakers in developing countries can leverage these novel data to precisely identify “education deserts” – localized areas where families lack physical access to education – at unprecedented scale, detail, and cost-effectiveness. We demonstrate how these analyses could valuably inform educational access initiatives like school construction and transportation investments, and outline a variety of analytic extensions to gain deeper insight into the state of school access across a given country. We conduct a proof-of-concept analysis in the context of Guatemala, which has historically struggled with educational access, as a demonstration of the utility, viability, and flexibility of our proposed approach. We find that the vast majority of Guatemalan population lives within 3 km of a public primary school, indicating a generally low incidence of distance as a barrier to education in that context. However, we still identify concentrated pockets of population for whom the distance to school remains prohibitive, revealing important geographic variation within the strong country-wide average. Finally, we show how even a small number of optimally-placed schools in these areas, using a simple algorithm we develop, could substantially reduce the incidence of education deserts in this context. We make our entire codebase available to the public – fully free, open-source, heavily documented, and designed for broad use – allowing analysts across contexts to easily replicate our proposed analyses for other countries, educational levels, and public goods more generally.
Keywords: Access to education; Education deserts; Education in developing countries; School placement

SWOT Analysis of the Kenya Education Cloud - Groeneveld, Caspar; Kimenyi, Eric; Kaye, Tom (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; ___working_potential_duplicate; _cover:v3; _zenodoETH; dode_eth-src-eth; dode_eth-trf2-dode

Edtech disruption logic and policy work: the case of an Israeli edtech unit - Ramiel, Hemy (Learning, Media and Technology, 2021)

Assessing cost-effectiveness with equity of a programme targeting marginalised girls in secondary schools in Tanzania - Sabates, Ricardo; Rose, Pauline; Alcott, Benjamin; Delprato, Marcos (Journal of Development Effectiveness, 2021)
Cost-effectiveness studies rarely pay explicit attention to whether resources are used effectively to benefit the most marginalised. By linking a quasi-experimental design with detailed financial information, we analyse the cost-effectiveness of the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED)’s programme in Tanzania. The programme provides targeted, multi-dimensional support to marginalised girls in government secondary schools in deprived rural areas. We find the cost-effectiveness of CAMFED’s programme to be similar to interventions designed for more advantaged populations who are easier (and less costly) to reach. There is further evidence of positive spill-over effects to boys in the schools supported by CAMFED.
Keywords: Cost effectiveness; Girls’ Education; Tanzania; equity

Assessing cost-effectiveness with equity of a programme targeting marginalised girls in secondary schools in Tanzania - Sabates, Ricardo; Rose, Pauline; Alcott, Benjamin; Delprato, Marcos (Journal of Development Effectiveness, 2021)
Cost-effectiveness studies rarely pay explicit attention to whether resources are used effectively to benefit the most marginalised. By linking a quasi-experimental design with detailed financial information, we analyse the cost-effectiveness of the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED)’s programme in Tanzania. The programme provides targeted, multi-dimensional support to marginalised girls in government secondary schools in deprived rural areas. We find the cost-effectiveness of CAMFED’s programme to be similar to interventions designed for more advantaged populations who are easier (and less costly) to reach. There is further evidence of positive spill-over effects to boys in the schools supported by CAMFED.
Keywords: Cost effectiveness; Girls’ Education; Tanzania; equity

An Investigation of pre-service teachers' motives for using Instagram: Pre-service teachers' motives for using Instagram - Ramazanoğlu, Mehmet; Toytok, Esef Hakan (International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 2021)
The aim of the study was to determine the motivations of pre-service teachers to use Instagram program, which is one of the common social media tools, in the context of developments in information and communication technologies in order to achieve sustainable learning and examine them according to various variables. The study was designed via descriptive survey model in the quantitative method. The population of the research consisted of pre-service teachers who pursued their education at the Faculty of Education of Siirt University in the spring term of 2018-2019 academic year. In the study, convenient sampling (easily accessible) and criterion sampling methods were utilized. In this context, 384 of the 495 scales distributed were returned and 56 of them were excluded from the research because they were not properly filled, 163 of them were excluded from the research because they did not meet the criteria; therefore, opinions of 165 pre-service teachers were included in the research and analysed. Personal demographic form and Instagram usage motivation scale were used as data collection tool of the research. The results obtained in the research showed that pre-service teachers use Instagram for social escape / relaxation and personal development / self-expression the most with respect to their motivations to use Instagram while they use it with the purpose of entertainment / habit the least. It was observed that Instagram using motivations of pre-service teachers show significant differences in different factors according to gender, age, department and daily time spent in Instagram variables. In addition, it was found out that pre-service teachers should be able to use the Instagram program, which is one of the world-renowned social networking software, for a sustainable education and training life more dynamically and effectively.
Keywords: ⛔ No DOI found

Education in Africa: What are we learning? - Evans, David K; Acosta, Amina Mendez (Journal of African Economies, 2021)
Abstract Countries across Africa continue to face major challenges in education. In this review, we examine 145 recent empirical studies (from 2014 onward) on how to increase access to and improve the quality of education across the continent, specifically examining how these studies update previous research findings. We find that 64% of the studies evaluate government-implemented programs, 36% include detailed cost analysis and 35% evaluate multiple treatment arms. We identify several areas where new studies provide rigorous evidence on topics that do not figure prominently in earlier evidence syntheses. New evidence shows promising impacts of structured pedagogy interventions (which typically provide a variety of inputs, such as lesson plans and training for teachers together with new materials for students) and of mother tongue instruction interventions, as well as from a range of teacher programs, including both remunerative (pay-for-performance of various designs) and non-remunerative (coaching and certain types of training) programs. School feeding delivers gains in both access and learning. New studies also show long-term positive impacts of eliminating school fees for primary school and positive impacts of eliminating fees in secondary school. Education technology interventions have decidedly mixed impacts, as do school grant programs and programs providing individual learning inputs (e.g., uniforms or textbooks).

List of types of systems theory - Wikipedia (Wikipedia, 2021)
This list of types of systems theory gives an overview of different types of systems theory, which are mentioned in scientific book titles or articles. The following more than 40 types of systems theory are all explicitly named systems theory and represent a unique conceptual framework in a specific field of science. Systems theory has been formalized since the 1950s, and a long set of specialized systems theories and cybernetics exist. In the beginnings, general systems theory was developed by Ludwig von Bertalanffy to overcome the over-specialisation of the modern times and as a worldview using holism. The systems theories nowadays are closer to the traditional specialisation than to holism, by interdependencies and mutual division by mutually-different specialists.

Investigating the Impact on Learning Outcomes Through the Use of EdTech During Covid-19: Evidence from an RCT in the Punjab province of Pakistan - Adil, Fareeha; Nazir, Rabia; Akhtar, Misbah (EdTech Hub, 2021)
The objective of the current study is to test the impact of low-tech solutions on maths, Urdu, and English scores for students in the underdeveloped district of Bahawalnagar, which is situated in the southern part of Punjab in Pakistan. The target population for this study is Grade 8 students attending private schools. We have tested the impact of three interventions, namely: Teaching at the right level (TaRL), Fortnightly assessments (FAS) Digital teacher training sessions (DTS) Our findings show a significant and positive ‘Intention to Treat’ (ITT) impact on Urdu and English scores of the students in the TaRL treatment group. The students increased their English and Urdu scores by 0.56 SD. However, we found no significant impact of the intervention on maths scores in the TaRL treatment group. Fortnightly assessments and digital teacher training sessions were also found to contribute to higher English scores of the students. However, we found no ITT impact on the maths and Urdu scores for these treatment groups. The Local Average Treatment Effect (LATE) analysis revealed positive and significant improvement in Urdu and English scores of the students in the TaRL treatment group. Key stakeholders whom we interviewed suggested that redesigning the curriculum and incorporating TaRL within this approach could facilitate enhancement in learning outcomes in students in deprived areas. Our findings are important to help inform policymakers on the importance of designing and implementing cost-effective, low-tech solutions to help reduce learning gaps. An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _r:AddedByZotZen

Academic Recovery Programmes in the Eastern Caribbean — Literature Review - Haßler, Björn; Adam, Taskeen; Blower, Thomas; Megha-Bongnkar, Ghislaine (Open Development & Education, 2021)
This report was commissioned by the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean states. It reviews the literature on Academic Recovery Programmes with view to applicability in the Eastern Caribbean, and particularly Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Keywords: Author:Haßler; AuthorFirst:Haßler; _C:Dominica DMA; _C:Grenada GRD; _C:Saint Lucia LCA; _C:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines VCT; _yl:b

Using innovative methods to train teachers of blind children: what we learned - Kweyu, Ignatius; Koszorus, Ferenc (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Governments all over the world have closed learning institutions because of the Covid-19 pandemic, including in Kenya. This has exacerbated the global learning crisis and made it more difficult for teachers, parents, and caregivers to include children with disabilities in quality education. To ensure learners with disabilities were not left behind during Covid-19 school closures, eKitabu partnered with EdTech Hub…
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; ___working_potential_duplicate; _zenodoETH

Radio in Education in the Face of COVID-19 - Núñez, Felix (Institute for the Future of Education, 2021)
The pandemic came to reaffirm radio as a flexible, massive, low-cost, and long-range communication medium for education.

Children in the digital environment: Revised typology of risks - OECD (OECD, 2021)
The digital environment has become an integral part of children’s everyday lives and interactions. The benefits can be tremendous, but there also risks. In 2011, the OECD adopted a Typology of Risks in an effort to broadly categorise those risks. Since then the digital environment has changed significantly, as risks have evolved in nature and new ones have emerged. This report informs the OECD’s broader work on children in the digital environment by examining these trends and presenting an updated Typology of Risks. The Typology provides a high-level overview of the risk landscape, and outlines four risk categories and their manifestations. The Typology also identifies and analyses risks that cut across these four risk categories, and that can therefore have wide-ranging effects on children’s lives.

Effects of school closures on secondary school teachers and leaders in Rwanda: results from a phone survey - Laterite; Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre (The Education and Development Forum (UKFIET), 2021)
This blog was written by Laterite and the Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre at the University of Cambridge, who are working together as learning partners on the Mastercard Foundation’s Leaders in Teachers initiative in Rwanda. On 14 March 2020, the Government of Rwanda announced the closure of all schools in the country […]

Mobile Penetration and Growth in Kenya - Kibuacha, Frankline (GeoPoll, 2021)
Kenya is one of the most technology-advanced countries in Africa, which has had many christen it the Silicon Savannah, powered by its mobile penetration.

Coronavirus: Rwanda and Malawi shut schools as cases surge - AfricaNews (Africanews, 2021)
Africa has reported over 3.1 million cases and more than 76,000 deaths since the outbreak started,

World Bank helps Bangladesh provide education and skills training to poor children and youths - ReliefWeb (OCHA, 2021)
English News and Press Release on Bangladesh about Contributions, Education, Epidemic and more; published on 18 Jan 2021 by World Bank

Schools in Ghana reopen as covid-19 cases surge - AfricaNews (Africanews, 2021)
Temperature checks and mandatory wearing of masks as schools in Ghana reopen for the 2020/2021 calendar after ten months of closure. The shutdown of the academic calendar was in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus in March last year.

'Paradox' of Korail slum during COVID-19: ethnography of governance from below - BIGD (2021)
Urban slums are one of the most vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic; overcrowding and resource constraints make physical distancing and self-quarantine nearly impossible, creating a risk of a rapid spread of the infection. The conversations in the media and among other stakeholders were focused on these risk factors as well as the economic distress of the people in slums created by the pandemic. However, these discussions were primarily based on the perspectives of 'outsiders', with limited understanding of what was happening in the slums. With this gap in mind, we conducted an anthropological exploration of Korail, the largest slum in Dhaka city from September to December 2020, to uncover the emic views of slum dwellers' everyday life during the pandemic and understand the outbreak from their perspective. Findings from the study were presented in our webinar "'Paradox' of Korail slum during COVID-19: Ethnography of Governance from Below" on Thursday, 21 January 2021 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm (GMT+6), by Dr Shahaduz Zaman, Reader in Medical Anthropology and Global Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School. This study is a part of the Covid Collective initiative. Supported by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Covid Collective is based at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). The Collective brings together the expertise of, UK and Southern-based research partner organisations and offers a rapid social science research response to inform decision-making on some of the most pressing Covid-19 related development challenges.

DEFI Launch Presentation - DEFI Cambridge (2021)

Intentional and logical survey and audience data collection: KoBo Toolbox - Carver, D (The Content Technologist, 2021)
KoBo Toolbox's robust survey platform is free to use for all as a data collection tool, optimized for many devices and environments.

South Africa: Schools to stay closed amid surge in coronavirus cases - Ongmu, Kalden (WION, 2021)
The reopening of South African schools for the new academic year has been postponed by two weeks in the wake of rising new covid-19 variant cases. “All stakeholders were united in supporting a delay in the opening of schools. Given the pressure experienced by the health system in the past weeks due to covid-19, the council of education, ministers in conjunction with NCCC and cabinet has taken a decision to delay the reopening of both public and private schools by two weeks, Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Reginah Mhaule said.

Summary: Webinar on COVID-19 fallout on poverty and livelihoods in Bangladesh: results from SANEM’s nation-wide survey conducted in Nov-Dec 2020 - SANEM (SANEM, 2021)
The 10th episode of SANEM Shongzog on "COVID-19 Fallout on Poverty and Livelihoods in Bangladesh: Results from SANEM's Nationwide Survey (Nov-Dec 2020)" was held on 23 January 2021.

Jusoor’s WhatsApp-Assisted Learning Programme: Sprint Review 1 - Tutunji, Suha; Boujikian, Michèle; Carter, Alice; Atkinson, Grace (2021)
Keywords: ___working_potential_duplicate

Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group offers evidence-informed guidance to conduct rapid reviews - Garritty, Chantelle; Gartlehner, Gerald; Nussbaumer-Streit, Barbara; King, Valerie J.; Hamel, Candyce; Kamel, Chris; Affengruber, Lisa; Stevens, Adrienne (Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2021)
OBJECTIVES: To develop methods guidance to support the conduct of rapid reviews (RRs) produced within Cochrane and beyond, in response to requests for timely evidence syntheses for decision-making purposes including urgent health issues of high priority. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Interim recommendations were informed by a scoping review of the underlying evidence, primary methods studies conducted, and a survey sent to 119 representatives from 20 Cochrane entities, who were asked to rate and rank RR methods across stages of review conduct. Discussions among those with expertise in RR methods further informed the list of recommendations with accompanying rationales provided. RESULTS: Based on survey results from 63 respondents (53% response rate), 26 RR methods recommendations are presented for which there was a high or moderate level of agreement or scored highest in the absence of such agreement. Where possible, how recommendations align with Cochrane methods guidance for systematic reviews is highlighted. CONCLUSION: The Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group offers new, interim guidance to support the conduct of RRs. Because best practice is limited by the lack of currently available evidence for some RR methods shortcuts taken, this guidance will need to be updated as additional abbreviated methods are evaluated.
Keywords: Decision-making; Evidence synthesis; Rapid review; Systematic review; ⛔ No INSPIRE recid found

Reimagining Girls' Education: Solutions to keep girls learning in emergencies - Guglielmi, Silvia; Jones, Nicola; Nicolai, Susan; Pereznieto, Paola; Plank, Georgia; Vu, Nhung; Sanchez-Tapia, Ingrid; Mackintosh, Alasdair (UNICEF, 2021)
Keywords: Access to Education; Barriers; Context Effect; Cost Effectiveness; Costs; Disadvantaged Youth; Distance Education; Educational Finance; Educational Technology; Emergency Programs; Equal Education; Evidence Based Practice; Females; Foreign Countries; Gender Bias; Inclusion; Intervention; Planning; Sex Fairness; Sex Stereotypes; Teaching Methods; Technology Uses in Education

Arm-wrestling in the classroom: the non-monotonic effects of monitoring teachers - Lichand, Guilherme; Wolf, Sharon (Working Paper Series, 2021)
Teacher absenteeism and shirking are common problems in developing countries. While monitoring teachers should ameliorate those problems, mobilizing parents to do so often leads to small or even negative effects on learning outcomes. This paper provides causal evidence that this might result from non-monotonic effects of monitoring teachers. Cross-randomizing nudges to teachers and parents in Ivory Coast – to motivate and monitor teachers directly, and to mobilize parents –, we find that, in schools where parents are nudged, numeracy and literacy test scores improve by an additional school quarter, and student dropouts decrease by over 50%. In contrast, in schools where both are nudged, there is no effect on either learning outcomes or dropouts – even though the latter also fall by nearly 50% where teachers are nudged alone. In those schools, teachers show up less frequently, allocate less time to career development, and target instruction to top students to a greater extent than in schools where only parents are nudged. Monitoring backfires precisely for teachers who were most motivated at baseline, consistent with monitoring intensity eventually crowding out intrinsic motivation. Our results have implications for the design of accountability programs above and beyond education.

Navigating the ‘Data Revolution’: A Case Study on the One Tablet Per School Programme in Sierra Leone - McBurnie, Chris (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH; dode_eth-src-dode; dode_eth-trf2-dode

Navigating the ‘Data Revolution’: A Case Study on the One Tablet Per School Programme in Sierra Leone - McBurnie, Chris (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH; dode_eth-src-dode; dode_eth-trf2-dode

Transforming Education Service Delivery Through Evidence-Informed Policy and Practice - The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) (The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), 2021)

Digital Literacy in Education Systems across ASEAN - UNICEF EAPRO (UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, 2021)

An open source machine learning framework for efficient and transparent systematic reviews - van de Schoot, Rens; de Bruin, Jonathan; Schram, Raoul; Zahedi, Parisa; de Boer, Jan; Weijdema, Felix; Kramer, Bianca; Huijts, Martijn; Hoogerwerf, Maarten; Ferdinands, Gerbrich; Harkema, Albert; Willemsen, Joukje; et al. (Nature Machine Intelligence, 2021)
To help researchers conduct a systematic review or meta-analysis as efficiently and transparently as possible, we designed a tool to accelerate the step of screening titles and abstracts. For many tasks—including but not limited to systematic reviews and meta-analyses—the scientific literature needs to be checked systematically. Scholars and practitioners currently screen thousands of studies by hand to determine which studies to include in their review or meta-analysis. This is error prone and inefficient because of extremely imbalanced data: only a fraction of the screened studies is relevant. The future of systematic reviewing will be an interaction with machine learning algorithms to deal with the enormous increase of available text. We therefore developed an open source machine learning-aided pipeline applying active learning: ASReview. We demonstrate by means of simulation studies that active learning can yield far more efficient reviewing than manual reviewing while providing high quality. Furthermore, we describe the options of the free and open source research software and present the results from user experience tests. We invite the community to contribute to open source projects such as our own that provide measurable and reproducible improvements over current practice.
Keywords: Computational biology and bioinformatics; Computer science; Medical research; SARS-CoV-2; _Added-ailr-2024

Two-Thirds of Poorer Countries Are Cutting Education Budgets Due to COVID-19 - World Bank (World Bank, 2021)

What do developing country governments learn from aid? Evidence from survey experiments with 900 education policymakers in 36 countries - Crawfurd, Lee; Hares, Susannah; Khan, Ayesha; Minardi, Ana; Sandefur, Justin (2021)

Methodology for literature reviews - Haßler, Björn; Adam, Taskeen; Allier-Gagneur, Zoe; Blower, Thomas; Brugha, Meaghan; Damani, Kalifa; Hennessy, Sara; Martin, Kevin; Megha-Bongnkar, Ghislaine; Murphy, Mary; Walker, Hannah; Walker, Hannah (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTEch Hub
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _yl:k; _zenodoODE; dode_eth-src-eth; dode_eth-trf2-dode

Computer-assisted instruction tools: A model to guide use in low-and middle-income countries - Kaye, Thomas; Ehren, Melanie (International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology, 2021)
Learning outcomes in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) require significant improvement. With traditional reform efforts taking many years to realise results, education practitioners in LMICs are searching for innovative ways to rapidly strengthen learning outcomes. One tool showing promise is computer-assisted instruction (CAI). While a growing number of studies document CAI’s positive impacts on learning outcomes, others have found nil or negative effects. Research has yet to identify why these differences occur, and, most importantly, which factors must be in place to ensure that CAI contributes to improving learning outcomes. The aim of our research was to fill this gap in the research by developing a model highlighting those factors influencing the results of CAI interventions. Adopting a realist-informed methodology, we analysed 21 resources shared by 13 experts from around the world. We used the results of this analysis to develop a model that outlines key trends that facilitate and/or impede the deployment of CAI tools in LMICs. We find that key factors that should be considered when designing CAI interventions include the operating environment; stakeholder engagement; infrastructure; technological trust; CAI tool design; content curation/creation; student engagement; classroom integration; teacher capacity; student capacity; and data collection and use. This model highlights both these individual elements as well as noting how these elements interact. The model provides a foundation that can guide future research in this under-examined area.
Keywords: ⛔ No DOI found

How to Guide: Delivering High-Quality Radio Learning - Rising Academies; EdTech Hub (2021)
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _GS:not_indexed; _MELA_seen; _cover:other:ok; _r:CopiedFromEvLib; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH

Consultants needed for UNESCO ACCRA's review of ICT in Education Policy in Ghana - Tahi (EdTech Hub, 2021)
ICT Transforming Education in Africa: Review of ICT in Education Policy in Ghana  TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS 1. Background/Context  UNESCO Korean Funds-In-Trust ICT Transforming Education in Africa is a project developed under  the UNESCO-Korea Funds-in-Trust framework to support a selected number of Sub-Saharan  African countries to test scalable and effective models of using information and  communication technologies…
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _zenodoETH

Preprinting the COVID-19 pandemic - Fraser, Nicholas; Brierley, Liam; Dey, Gautam; Polka, Jessica K.; Pálfy, Máté; Nanni, Federico; Coates, Jonathon Alexis (bioRxiv, 2021)
The world continues to face a life-threatening viral pandemic. The virus underlying the COVID-19 disease, SARS-CoV-2, has caused over 98 million confirmed cases and 2.2 million deaths since January 2020. Although the most recent respiratory viral pandemic swept the globe only a decade ago, the way science operates and responds to current events has experienced a paradigm shift in the interim. The scientific community has responded rapidly to the COVID-19 pandemic, releasing over 125,000 COVID-19 related scientific articles within 10 months of the first confirmed case, of which more than 30,000 were hosted by preprint servers. We focused our analysis on bioRxiv and medRxiv, two growing preprint servers for biomedical research, investigating the attributes of COVID-19 preprints, their access and usage rates, as well as characteristics of their propagation on online platforms. Our data provides evidence for increased scientific and public engagement with preprints related to COVID-19 (COVID-19 preprints are accessed more, cited more, and shared more on various online platforms than non-COVID-19 preprints), as well as changes in the use of preprints by journalists and policymakers. We also find evidence for changes in preprinting and publishing behaviour: COVID-19 preprints are shorter and reviewed faster. Our results highlight the unprecedented role of preprints and preprint servers in the dissemination of COVID-19 science, and the impact of the pandemic on the scientific communication landscape.

Uganda: Students back to school, university in March - Kyeyune, Hamza (Anadolu Agency, 2021)
Some more school classes to start March 1, universities to reopen in staggered manner, says president - Anadolu Agency

India’s public edtech broadcast system DIKSHA has a private bottleneck - Banerji, Olina (The Ken, 2021)

Improving secondary education in Sierra Leone - De, Sourovi; Durrani, Zara; Khurshid, Ayesha (Oxford Policy Management, 2021)
We are leading the monitoring, evaluation and research delivery of a five year programme to improve secondary education and long term growth in Sierra Leone

Right to read: Joint efforts to provide books to minority-language learners - Thaung, Nyi Nyi; Gracie, Kristen (Education for All blog, 2021)
During this world-upending pandemic, ethnolinguistic minority learners are falling further through the cracks. Even if they have access to the technology necessary for distance learning, they will likely not receive content in their own language. Here is what organizations like UNESCO are doing to make sure minority learners don’t fall further behind.

Characteristics of Effective Technology-Enabled Teacher Learning Circles — Rapid Review of the Literature - Khalayleh, Abdullah; El-Serafy, Yomna; Haßler, Björn (Open Development & Education, 2021)
Keywords: Author:Haßler; _yl:a

Final report - Khalayleh, Abdullah; El-Serafy, Yomna; Haßler, Björn (Open Development & Education, 2021)
Keywords: Author:Haßler; _yl:b

FOUNDATIONS OF CLASSROOM CHANGE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Vol.2: Synthesis - Guthrie, Gerard (2021)

A Political Economy Analysis Framework for EdTech Evidence Uptake - Pellini, Arnaldo; Nicolai, Susan; Magee, Arran; Sharp, Sam; Wilson, Sam (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _GS:indexed; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _r:CopiedFromEvLib; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH

A Political Economy Analysis Framework for EdTech Evidence Uptake - Pellini, Arnaldo; Nicolai, Susan; Magee, Arran; Sharp, Sam; Wilson, Sam (Zenodo, 2021)
[No description available.]

A glimpse into the lived experiences and challenges faced of PWD students towards online learning in the Philippines amidst COVID-19 pandemic - Dianito, Ann Jesamine; Espinosa, Jomarie; Duran, Jimboy; Tus, Jhoselle (International Journal Of Advance Research And Innovative Ideas In Education, 2021)
Amidst the global pandemic, everyone is allowed to be vulnerable and heightened by burnout. But the most unheard and most vulnerable voices linger among persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are one of the concerns in society. But, social exclusions and biases put PWDs in a disadvantageous position. There has always been an issue in employment, social roles, and accessibility to education. These issues are eventually turning into self-doubt and feelings of inferiority, which are reasonable evidence suggesting that persons with disabilities received negative attitudes from non-PWD individuals. This study's primary goal is to explore the lived experiences of PWD Students towards online learning during the pandemic, specifically, describe their experiences, challenges faced, and coping mechanisms. Employing the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the findings of the study were: (1) PWD students experienced social exclusions primarily in the rise of online learning during the pandemic. (2) Most of the PWD students were challenged by the limitations of assistive technologies and internet connectivity. (3) PWD students remained resilient because of having a healthy support system behind them.
Keywords: ⛔ No INSPIRE recid found

The changing role of teachers and technologies amidst the COVID 19 pandemic: key findings from a cross-country study - Barron, Maria; Cobo, Cristobal; Munoz-Najar, Alberto; Sanchez Ciarrusta, Inaki (World Bank Blogs - Education for Global Development, 2021)
Despite the overwhelming consequences of the pandemic, this global crisis has also been an extraordinary time for learning.
Keywords: ___working_potential_duplicate

EdTech and Covid-19: lessons from around the world - Pellini, Arnaldo (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Arnaldo Pellini, Susan Nicolai, Moizza Binat Sarwar, Sam Wilson, Akanksha Bapna, Chris McBurnie, Adedoyin Adesina, Oladele Akogun, Ernest Ngabo, Hind Al-Hindawi, Ni Wayan Suriastini, Vollan Ochieng, Moses Ngware, Asma Rabi , Abdul Musawir, Clement Sefa-Nyarko, Edem Agbe , Rabia Tabassum, Amna Zaidi, Jeroen Groenewegen, Harish Doraiswamy, Sudhansu Sharma, Liangdi Xu In this blog we summarise four takeaways from a reflection…
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _zenodoETH

Mother Language Day 2021: Improving data on mother-tongue languages for better learning outcomes - EdTech Hub (2021)
To celebrate International Mother Language Day 2021, EdTech Hub’s Björn Haßler spoke with Alice Castillejo and Mia Marzotto of Translators without Borders. They talked about the importance of mother tongue-based education and the need to support speakers of marginalised languages. This blog post captures their conversation. “How do we know that speakers of marginalised languages are left behind?” Alice: Research…

Mother Language Day 2021: Improving data on mother-tongue languages for better learning outcomes - Haßler, Björn; Castillejo, Alice; Marzotto, Mia; El-Serafy, Yomna; Khalayleh, Abdullah; Koomar, Saalim; Langa, Ancha; Nyilinkindi, Jacques; Saadeddin, Zeina; Tegha, Ghislaine; Villavicencio Peralta, Xuzel Ana (EdTech Hub, 2021)
To celebrate International Mother Language Day 2021, EdTech Hub’s Björn Haßler spoke with Alice Castillejo and Mia Marzotto of Translators without Borders. They talked about the importance of mother tongue-based education and the need to support speakers of marginalised languages. This blog post captures their conversation. “How do we know that speakers of marginalised languages are left behind?” Alice: Research…
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _zenodoETH

Mother Language Day 2021 - Haßler, Björn; Castillejo, Alice; Marzotto, Mia; El-Serafy, Yomna; Khalayleh, Abdullah; Koomar, Saalim; Langa, Ancha; Nyilinkindi, Jacques; Saadeddin, Zeina; Tegha, Ghislaine; Villavicencio Peralta, Xuzel Ana (2021)
To celebrate International Mother Language Day 2021, Björn spoke with Alice Castillejo and Mia Marzotto at Translators without Borders. We talked about the importance of mother tongue-based education and the need to support speakers of marginalised languages. Research around the world shows that educational outcomes are worse for students studying in a second language. The use of an unfamiliar language is linked to high dropout rates and low academic achievement. We also know that 40% of children worldwide are not educated in a language they speak at home. We need to put aside our assumptions about what languages people speak and understand. For example, Portuguese is only one of many languages spoken in Mozambique. To really understand the richness of different languages, we need to collect, share, and visualise the real picture. Having done that, we can then apply this information. Do children who speak a particular language drop out early? We can then develop multilingual educational tools for learners and teachers based on improved data about relevant languages. We can also track educational outcomes by primary language, to ensure no learner is left behind. We can use language data to take action on three levels: children, teachers, and systems. With children, we can identify which language groups didn’t register for school, dropped out early, or consistently underperform. We can then adjust our communication and programming to meet their needs, leaving no one behind. We can also take action to support teachers. With language data, we can also take action on a system level. If over 40% of children are educated in a language they don’t speak at home, we need to know how this affects their education. Much as we did for gender, if we don’t gather the data on inequality, we cannot begin to address it. Collective gathering and sharing of language data can allow us to understand how to increase learning outcomes for speakers of marginalised languages and provide the support they need and deserve.
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _GS:not_indexed; _MELA_seen; _cover:other:ok; _r:AddedByZotZen; _r:CopiedFromEvLib; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoODE; dode_eth-src-dode; dode_eth-trf2-dode

يونسکو: په کوچنيوالي کې په مورنۍ ژبه زده کړې د يادښت بنسټ دی - الله, نشرونکی امین (بااحساسه محصلين, 2021)
محصلين (شنبه، د کب۲, ۱۳۹۹هـ ق)  د ملګرو ملتونو ښوونیز، علمي او کلتوري سازمان يونسکو، د مورنۍ ژبې نړيوالې ورځې ( د فبروري ۲۱) په مناسبت په  خپل پیغام کې ويلي دي چې په مورنۍ ژبه زده کړه بايد  د وړوکتوب

Education Finance Watch 2021 - Al-Samarrai, Samer; Cerdan-Infantes, Pedro; Bigarinova, Aliya; Bodmer, Juanita; Vital, Marianne Joy Anacleto; Antoninis, Manos; Bakarat, Bilal Fouad; Murakami, Yuki (World Bank Group, 2021)
Education Finance Watch 2021 (English)

COVID-19 and the surge of absenteeism in SA schools - ISSAfrica (ISS Africa, 2021)
The impact of higher-than-expected absence rates is significant and will be compounded by a third wave.

Comparative Study of Education Funding in Nigeria - Agbai, Edward; Okafor, Anthony; Egbedoyin, Funminiyi (2021)
This study provides a comparative review of education funding across geopolitical zones in Nigeria and draws a nexus between Nigeria’s budgetary allocation to education and some selected African countries. Education funding in Nigeria has lagged the UNESCO’s advised 15%-20% of the government's annual budget to education in the last three decades. We assess education funding across the six geopolitical zones between 2010 and 2019 using content analysis of the respective states. A review of the WAEC enrollment for states in each zone is performed to compare how education funding impacts WAEC enrollment in Nigeria. The study identifies a link between poverty and income inequality and education funding in Nigeria by leveraging data from the World Bank and Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) from 2001-2019. We identify low funding of education as the primary driver of poverty and inequality in Nigeria. The study recommends a diversified funding mechanism to enhance the sector's funding and improve the quality of education in the country.
Keywords: Education Funding; Nigeria; Poverty and Inequality

Annual Status of Education Report. ASER-Pakistan 2021 - ASER Pakistan (ASER Pakistan Secretariate & Idara-e-Taleem-o-Agahi, 2021)

Will Every Child Be Able to Read by 2030? Defining Learning Poverty and Mapping the Dimensions of the Challenge - Azevedo, João Pedro; Goldemberg, Diana; Montoya, Silvia; Nayar, Reema; Rogers, Halsey; Saavedra, Jaime; Stacy, Brian William (World Bank Group, 2021)

Nudging at Scale: Experimental Evidence from FAFSA Completion Campaigns - Bird, Kelli, A.; Castleman, Benjamin; Denning, Jeffrey; Goodman, Joshua; Lamberton, Cait; Rosinger, Kelly Ochs (Journal of Economic Behaviour & Organization, 2021)
Do nudge interventions that have generated positive impacts at a local level maintain efficacy when scaled state or nationwide? What specific mechanisms explain the positive impacts of promising smaller-scale nudges? We investigate, through two randomized controlled trials, the impact of a national and state-level campaign to encourage students to apply for financial aid for college. The campaigns collectively reached over 800,000 students, with multiple treatment arms to investigate different potential mechanisms. We find no impacts on financial aid receipt or college enrollment overall or for any student subgroups. We find no evidence that different approaches to message framing, delivery, or timing, or access to one-on-one advising affected campaign efficacy. We discuss why nudge strategies that work locally may be hard to scale effectively.

CPD Implementation Roadmap - Cambridge Education (Cambridge Education, 2021)

Sierra Leone teacher & school MIS developments: Sierra Leone Education Attendance Monitoring System (SLEAMS) and Teacher Records Management (TRM) system - Graham, Hannah (2021)

Achieving mobile-enabled digital inclusion in Bangladesh - GSMA (2021)

Value for money and adaptive programming: Approaches, measurement and management - Laws, Ed; Valters, Craig (Overseas Development Institute (ODI), 2021)

Sierra Leone series: Freetown Teachers College and its multimodal approach to teacher professional development - McBurnie, Chris; Moriba, Sambo; Brainard, Prince (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Over the past few months, the EdTech Hub team has analysed and mapped the EdTech research landscape in Sierra Leone. In doing so, we have met a number of individuals and organisations that are exploring if and how technology can support the country’s education sector.  In week two, we connected with Dr Samba Moriba and Prince Brainard from Freetown Teachers…
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodoETH; dode_eth-src-eth

National Policy on Radical Inclusion in Schools - Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (Government of Sierra Leone, 2021)

Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Plan in Education 2021–2025 - Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Royal Government of Cambodia (2021)

Africa: children out of primary school - Statista (2021)
As of 2019, 18.7 percent of children in primary-school-age were not enrolled in primary or secondary education in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Keywords: ⛔ No INSPIRE recid found

Language data for Malawi - Translators Without Borders (Translators without Borders, 2021)
Open-source language data and maps about languages spoken in Malawi can improve how we communicate with communities in crisis.

Country-Level Research Review: EdTech in Ghana - Tsapali, Maria; Major, Louis; Damani, Kalifa; Mitchell, Joel; Taddese, Abeba (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH; ⛔ No DOI found

Language of Instruction Country Profile: Malawi - USAID (United States Agency for International Development, 2021)

Policy Linking for Measuring Global Learning Outcomes | Education Links - USAID (2021)
Check out the policy linking video below , Express Interest in an Upcoming Training , USAID has worked closely with global partners including with the World Bank, UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

Kenya GPE 19 Learning Continuity in Basic Education Project - Implementation Status and Results Report - World Bank (2021)

Mango Tree Literacy Labs’ Radio Programme Sandbox - Esbeck, Craig; Oloa, Charles; Brown, Victoria; Plaut, Daniel; Salami, Taiye (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:analysis:nopdf; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted

Syṡtemic Mixed-Methods Research — a conceptual framework for scalable EdTech research - Haßler, Björn; El-Serafy, Yomna; Khalayleh, Abdullah; McBurnie, Chris (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _yl:n; _zenodoODE; dode_eth-src-eth; dode_eth-trf2-dode

The development and policies of ICT supporting educational technology in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Myanmar - Machmud, Muhammad Takwin; Widiyan, Agung Purwa; Ramadhani, Noer Risky (International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 2021)
This study has an objective to identify the development and policies of educational technology application in ASEAN countries. Through the literature review and analysis, this recent study has compared the issue of educational technology development and policies in ASEAN countries. The reviewing country has been chosen based on the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) index amongst the ASEAN countries, that are Singapore (as the highest rank), Thailand & Indonesia (as the middle rank), and Myanmar (as the lowest rank). The result of the study shows that the majority of the countries focused to improve network capabilities in supporting online learning, and the policies of each country showed a similarity in improving the technology equity for the learner. However, Singapore shows more advance technological implementation such as the application of broader Artificial Intelligence in classroom activity, while the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Thailand and Indonesia still in developing progress. In conclusion, the technology education development in ASEAN countries has moved forward through the past year and the policies of educational technology for each country have been similar in strengthening the ASEAN plan.

Keep Kenya Learning: Helping Caregivers Support Learning at Home Sprint 1 - Mbatha, FaithMbithe; Crook, Rebecca; Plaut, Daniel (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org Our research indicates that guidance and resources are necessary but insufficient in equipping caregivers to support their children’s learning. In Sprint 1, caregiver confidence and community emerged as important enablers of home learning. In our interviews, caregivers communicated how they felt limited by their lack of or outdated education. Global interventions indicate that reinforcing a sense of community for caregivers and enabling them to learn from modelling by trusted messengers are pathways to building greater engagement. Caregivers in both rural and urban communities expressed a willingness to engage with SMS (short message service) and online educational resources. However, it is clear that resource design must be: Accessible and understandable Credible and trusted Relevant and actionable.
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:analysis:nopdf; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted; ⛔ No INSPIRE recid found

Education financing in Nigeria and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic - Okwuosa, Maryjacob; Whisper to Humanity; Halilu, Mukhtar (Global Partnership for Education, 2021)
As the COVID-19 pandemic strains national economies and budgets, the need to protect domestic education budgets and ensure that education remains a priority for national governments has never been more urgent. GPE Youth Leaders from Nigeria raise awareness on the problems the education sector is facing and call on leaders to increase their ambitions for financing education and development.

Sierra Leone series: the Pikin-to-Pikin Movement and its focus on child protection, education, nutrition and health. - Tahi (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Over the past few months, the EdTech Hub team has analysed and mapped the EdTech research landscape in Sierra Leone. In doing so, we have met a number of individuals and organisations that are exploring if and how technology can support the country’s education sector.   In week one, we connected with Abdulai Swaray and Bai Kamara from the Pikin-to-Pikin Movement.…
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _zenodoETH

Goodhart’s Law and the gaming of UK public spending numbers - Hood, Christopher; Piotrowska, Barbara (Public Performance & Management Review, 2021)
Goodhart’s Law, originally inspired by money-supply indicators, predicts high-consequence administrative numbers tend to be gamed out of meaningfulness. This paper argues that, in addition to the well-documented manipulation of aggregate input numbers at the top-levels of decision making and performance indicators used for output control at the lower level, meso-level gaming happens also on the input side of public expenditure planning and control. A key mechanism through which it operates is creative categorization in the classification of units of spending. Based on a UK study, we explore three questions: can we find evidence for the existence of gaming in public expenditure control, how does the creative categorization work and how material or consequential is it? Using case studies of “protected” spending, public-private partnerships and accounting changes, we show that gaming understood as creative categorization is readily observable in UK public expenditure control and Goodhart’s Law effects can indeed be material or consequential, both in scale and in their implications for government accountability. We conclude that creating new spending categories to control public expenditure and limit gaming is a two-edged sword since it itself creates new opportunities for gaming.
Keywords: Goodhart’s Law; creative categorization; fiscal illusions; gaming; public finance management; public spending; rule bending

Using evidence to strengthen tech-supported teacher professional development in Madagascar - Koomar, Saalim; Moss Coflan, Caitlin; Rasolohéry, Hasiniavo (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; ___working_potential_duplicate; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodoETH

Delivering Quality Education and Health Care to All: Preparing Regions for Demographic Change - OECD (OECD Rural Studies, 2021)

GIS for Education Working Group launches to promote data-driven decision-making - The Education Comission (the Education Commission, 2021)
Around the world, individuals are using maps to power everyday decisions: how do I navigate from my home to the nearest hospital? How many supermarkets are in my community? What public transportation is available for me to take to work?

GIS for Education Working Group launches to promote data-driven decision-making - the Education Commission (the Education Commission, 2021)
Around the world, individuals are using maps to power everyday decisions: how do I navigate from my home to the nearest hospital? How many supermarkets are in my community? What public transportation is available for me to take to work?
Keywords: _yl:b

Introducing: A political economy framework for EdTech evidence uptake - Pellini, Arnaldo; Nicolai, Susan; Kreimeia, Adam; Wilson, Sam (EdTech Hub, 2021)
“Without context, words and actions have no meaning at all”  – Gregory Bateson Evidence only makes a difference if it is used. While the EdTech field suffers from significant gaps in knowledge, more research won’t mean much unless it can be used to inform policy and decision-making. And to do this, an understanding of the context and of how individuals…
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _zenodoETH

What ‘learning loss’ really means - The Washington Post - Strauss, Valerie (the Washington Post, 2021)

Highlights from EdTech and Covid-19: Lessons learned, future plans - Team, EdTech Hub (EdTech Hub, 2021)
On March 2nd EdTech Hub brought together education leaders, including teachers, program managers and policymakers, to reflect on a year of EdTech and Covid-19, discuss the lessons learned so far and consider how we can prepare for the future.  Over 200 people joined from around the world for a lively and thought-provoking discussion. Speakers included:  Helen Grant MP, UK Prime…
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _zenodoETH

A Case for a Systems Approach to EdTech - Bapna, Akanksha; Nicolai, Susan; Myers, Christina; Pellini, Arnaldo; Sharma, Namrata; Wilson, Sam (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:analysis:nopdf; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted

Bibliography on teacher distribution and allocation - Haßler, Björn (2021)
Keywords: _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:analysis:nopdf; dode_eth-src-eth

A Work Plan for Content Creation - Groeneveld, Caspar; Kibga, Elia; Proctor, Jamie; Kaye, Tom (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH

A Country-Level Research Review: EdTech in Tanzania - Jordan, Katy; Proctor, Jamie; Koomar, Saalim; Bapna, Akanksha (Zenodo, 2021)
This document presents a review of the research landscape in Tanzania in relation to EdTech research focused on learners, teachers, or systems at the level of school-based education, excluding higher education (HE). The review draws upon the research literature, policy documents, grey literature, and interviews with key stakeholders in order to present an overview of the research landscape in Tanzania. There is a substantial body of relevant EdTech research which has been undertaken in Tanzania in the past decade. Eighty research articles were identified for inclusion in the review. This document provides an overview of trends in this literature and key actors and projects, and provides a specific focus upon existing research which relates to EdTech Hub’s ‘high-potential evidence gaps’ (HPEG) framework. In combination with political economy analysis, three areas for future research which would be practical and likely to have high impact are identified and described.
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _zenodoETH

EdTech and Covid-19: Insights from our Sandbox Portfolio. In Collaboration with Sandbox Partner Organisations - Rahman, Asad; Plaut, Daniel; Salami, Taiye; Carter, Alice (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted

One year into COVID-19 education disruption: Where do we stand? - UNESCO (2021)

Our Kids Are Not Broken - Berger, Ron (The Atlantic, 2021)
I am concerned about how this growing narrative of loss will affect our students, emotionally and academically.

Needed: An Ecosystem for Meaningful Digital Innovation in Northern Kenya - Aslan Afrika (Aslan Afrika, 2021)
The information and communications technology (ICT) industry thrives in Kenyan cities, but vast rural tracts in Northern Kenya are stranded on the wrong side of the digital divide. One of the weakest links is a lack of infrastructure, both for […]

Lao People’s Democratic Republic – ASEM Education - Asia-Europe Meeting (2021)
Keywords: ⛔ No INSPIRE recid found

"Aprendo en Línea" mantendrá acceso gratuito desde dispositivos móviles - mineduc (Ministerio de educación, 2021)
“Aprendo en Línea” cuenta con más de 80.000 recursos pedagógicos digitales para estudiantes, apoderados, docentes y directivos.

Sierra Leone series: Plan International and the importance of community support for distance teacher professional development programmes - Saidu, Arthur; Casado, Eusebio Rincon; Shergill, Maggie; McBurnie, Chris (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Over the past few months, the EdTech Hub team has analysed and mapped the EdTech research landscape in Sierra Leone. In doing so, we have met a number of individuals and organisations that are exploring if and how technology can support the country’s education sector.  In week four, we met with Arthur Saidu, Eusebio Rincon Casado and Maggie Shergill from…
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; ___working_potential_duplicate; _zenodoETH

The Absent Voices of Development Economics - Subramanian, Arvind; Kapur, Devesh (Project Syndicate, 2021)
Development economics focuses on improving the well-being of billions of people in low-income countries, but the Global South is severely underrepresented in the field. A small number of rich-country institutions dominate, and their growing use of randomized controlled trials in research is entrenching the imbalance.

Academic Recovery Programme: Synthesis of Qualitative Data and High-level Overview - Haßler, Björn; Blower, Thomas; Megha-Bongnkar, Ghislaine; Regis, Callista (Open Development & Education, 2021)
Keywords: Author:Haßler; AuthorFirst:Haßler; _C:Dominica DMA; _C:Grenada GRD; _C:Saint Lucia LCA; _C:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines VCT; _yl:c

A Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Blended Learning: Pakistan Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training - Khalayleh, Abdullah; Baloch, Imdad; Dele-Ajayi, Opeyemi; Kaye, Tom (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _GS:not_indexed; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _r:AddedByZotZen; _r:CopiedFromEvLib; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH; ⛔ No INSPIRE recid found

Software preference for online learning of science and biology teachers under COVID-19 pandemic - Khaleyla, Firas; Wisanti, Wisanti; Ambarwati, Reni; Rahayu, Dwi Anggorowati; Putri, Eva Kristinawati (JPBI (Jurnal Pendidikan Biologi Indonesia), 2021)
As measure against the rapid spreading of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which now has reached global level, Indonesian government established Large-scale Social Distancing (LsSD). As consequence, learning method used in junior and senior high school is substituted from face-to-face learning in class to online distance learning, including for science and biology. This study was conducted to know software preference used by science and biology junior and senior high school teachers for online learning during LsSD measure. A total of 189 science and biology junior and senior high school teachers from various area had given their response via questionnaire. Data was analyzed using quantitative descriptive method. About 57% respondents had never manage online learning before COVID-19 pandemic while the remaining 43% had experience in managing one before, however almost all managed online learning. Non-paid software used the most (81%) among respondents to manage online science/biology learning. Software types used were social networking (64%) especially WhatsApp, learning management system (LMS) (51%) especially Google Classroom, teleconference applications (12%), and assessment software outside of LMSs (15%). Software chosen were mostly non-paid, easily accessed by all people, already familiar among Indonesian, and its interface were easily mastered.

Sierra Leone Series: the Pikin-to-Pikin Movement and its focus on child protection, education, nutrition and health - McBurnie, Chris; Swaray, Abdulai; Kamara, Bai (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Keywords: _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:analysis:nopdf; _r:AddedByZotZen

Understanding the Impact of Covid-19 on Education in Jordan - Galliver, Lizzy; Karlidag, Melike; Van Ommering, Erik (2021)

The Relationship between Teachers' Attitudes to Distance Education and Their Life Satisfaction - Kirkiç, Kamil Arif; Yahsi, Ömer (Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 2021)
Teachers' attitudes toward distance education are important in terms of the effectiveness of the distance education process. They become even more critical during this time of global pandemics when face-to-face education has been compulsorily replaced by distance education. The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has changed the practices of the teaching profession. This period has revealed how teachers' life satisfaction while carrying out their profession can be affected by changes in education delivery. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between teachers' attitudes toward distance education and their life satisfaction during the distance education process. This research used the correlational survey method, a method in quantitative research. The sample group consisted of teachers (1,233 male and 3,671 female educators) working in different branches in Izmir. The "Life Satisfaction Scale" and "Attitude toward Distance Education Scale" were applied. Participants' demographic information was obtained using a "Personal Information Form" designed by the researchers. According to the results of the study, while there is a notable difference in teachers' limitations toward distance education and life satisfaction according to gender, there is no difference in the advantages gained from and attitudes toward distance education.
Keywords: COVID-19; Correlation; Distance Education; Educational Attainment; Elementary School Teachers; Foreign Countries; Gender Differences; Income; Instructional Effectiveness; Knowledge Level; Life Satisfaction; Pandemics; Secondary School Teachers; Teacher Attitudes; Teacher Characteristics; ⛔ No DOI found

Parental Involvement, Learning Participation and Online Learning Commitment of Adolescent Learners during the COVID-19 lockdown - Lawrence, Kehinde Clement; Fakuade, Olubasayo Victor (Research in Learning Technology, 2021)
During the escalating coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, attempting to contain its spread, a large number of educational institutions shut down face-to-face teaching and learning activities globally due to a complete lockdown. This lockdown revealed emerging vulnerabilities of education systems in the lowand middle-income countries of the world, with Nigeria being no exception. Given these concerns, this research study assessed parental involvement, learning participation and the commitment to online learning of adolescent learners during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria. An online survey questionnaire was employed to examine the level of online learning commitment and the contributory roles of each of the factors to online learning commitment of adolescent learners. In total, 1407 adolescents (male = 38.8%; female 61.2%) aged between 12 and 20 years (mean = 15: SD = 4.24) responded to the online survey, which was open for 2 months. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency distribution and inferential statistics of multiple regression. The findings revealed that the commitment level of adolescent learners to online learning was high. The findings further yielded a coefficient of R = 0.439 and R2 = 0.192 variance in the prediction of the outcome measure. Parental involvement contributed 32% (β = 0.322, p < 0.05) and learning participation contributed 23% (β = 0.234, p < 0.05) towards online learning. The study concludes that parental involvement and learning participation played a significant and positive role in the commitment of adolescent learners towards online learning during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria. The authors suggest that parents be encouraged to synergise with the digitalised revolution, while the need for further in-depth research on the subject is emphasised in the suggestions for future research.

Sierra Leone Series: Plan International and the importance of community support for distance teacher professional development programmes - McBurnie, Chris; Saidu, Arthur; Rincon Casado, Eusebio; Shergill, Maggie (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Keywords: _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; ___working_potential_duplicate; _cover:analysis:nopdf; _r:AddedByZotZen

Kenya: How Rogue Officials Inflated Enrolment, Used Ghost Schools to Steal Billions - Muchunguh, David (The Nation in Allafrica.com, 2021)

Using educational transitions to estimate learning loss due to COVID-19 school closures: The case of Complementary Basic Education in Ghana - Sabates, Ricardo; Carter, Emma; Stern, Jonathan M.B. (International Journal of Educational Development, 2021)
• Estimate learning losses during grade transition for disadvantaged and previously out of school students in Ghana. • The estimated average learning loss is around 66 % of previous learning gains in foundational numeracy during this transition period. • Widening gaps in learning loss are found according to availability of home learning support, as well as home learning resources. • Learning at home and in communities has to be reimagined if gains are to be achieved and losses are to be mitigated in the post-COVID 19 era. Learning loss is expected for millions of children who have been out of school as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, it is uncertain how much learning will be lost and how wide the gaps may be for disadvantaged children. This paper uses a unique longitudinal dataset to estimate learning loss during a three-month transition from Complementary Basic Education to government schools in Ghana. Our results show an average learning loss of 66 % of previous learning gains in foundational numeracy during this transition period. More importantly, we estimate widening gaps in learning loss according to lack of home learning support, as well as lack of home learning resources. Our results have implications for the provision of learning activities and support at home, not just during current school closures due to COVID-19, but also during transitions between academic years.
Keywords: BASIC education; CHILDREN with social disabilities; COVID-19 pandemic; COVID-19 school closure; EDUCATIONAL outcomes; Equity; Ghana; Learning; Literacy; Numeracy; SCHOOL closings

UNICEF Global Database on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Skills - UNICEF (2021)

The pathway to progress on SDG 4 requires the global education architecture to focus on foundational learning and to hold ourselves accountable for achieving it - Beeharry, Girindre (International Journal of Educational Development, 2021)
Levels of reading comprehension and ability to do basic mathematics are shockingly low among primary-age children in low-income countries, despite the efforts of global education actors. This essay will argue that to make real progress on improving learning, actors in the sector need to prioritize a few key goals – in particular foundational literacy and numeracy – monitor progress to achieve them, and hold ourselves collectively accountable for improving results. Recent efforts such as the World Bank’s Foundational Learning Compact show promise but will require the support and scrutiny of other actors.
Keywords: Foundational learning; Foundational literacy and numeracy; Global education; Global education architecture

A structured model of the dynamics of student learning in developing countries, with applications to policy - Kaffenberger, Michelle; Pritchett, Lant (International Journal of Educational Development, 2021)
Learning trajectories vary amazingly widely across countries, regions, and individual students in dynamic ways. In this paper we develop a parametrized structural model of the dynamics of the learning process and use the model for suggestive policy applications. We first synthesize the existing empirical literature on learning profiles, which suggest a clear set of parameters that formally characterize the learning process. We then calibrate this model of the learning process to reproduce the distribution of observed learning outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Applying our calibrated model to policy simulations, we find that expanding schooling to universal attainment of basic education without changing the dynamics of the learning process would produce very little additional learning. Adjusting other parameters in the model, however, has large, positive effects. Slowing the pace of curriculum, so that more children can keep up, increases average learning in grade 10 by the learning equivalent of 1.6 years of schooling. Expanding the student skill levels that learn from a given level of instruction to account for within classroom heterogeneity of learning levels increases average grade 10 learning by the equivalent of a full year of schooling. The parameters we use are flexible, to accommodate the learning process in different contexts, and future work could explore additional parameterizations and calibrations for informing plans to improve education systems’ coherence for learning.
Keywords: Dynamics of learning; Education policy; Learning trajectories; Low and middle income countries; Modelling learning

A comprehensive analysis of personalized learning components - Shemshack, Atikah; Kinshuk; Spector, Jonathan (Journal of Computers in Education, 2021)
Personalized learning is a learning approach that aims to personalize the learning experience according to the unique needs, goals, and skills of individuals which can be achieved by using current instructional technology that provides unique learning experiences in different learning environments. Technology is the main component that will enable and enrich personalized learning experience; however, even though technology is available to personalize the learning experience, there is still a lack of unified agreement on what components need to be considered for a dynamic personalized learning approach that is to be able to provide a unique and effective learning experience to each learner. To address this need, this study aims to analyze and synthesize different personalized learning approaches that consider different learning components, so that we have an evolving agreement on personalized learning models and approaches. The findings of this research identified the following main components: learner profiles and attitudes, previous knowledge and beliefs, personalized adaptive learning paths, and flexible self-paced learning environments that are generated by learning analytics. These prominent characteristics imply that a personalized learning environment (PLE) would need to be dynamic to maintain a current record of learner interests and attitudes, past experiences and performance, and activities and interactions likely to match a particular learner and learning goal.

Eight Reasons Why EdTech Doesn’t Scale: How sandboxes are designed to counter the issue - Simpson, Lea; Carter, Alice; Rahman, Asad; Plaut, Daniel (EdTech Hub, 2021)
The EdTech Hub’s sandbox approach offers implementers and decision makers a clear way to implement and scale only the most effective EdTech interventions. In this position paper we share our view on why EdTech isn’t scaling and how we see the sandboxes approach addressing them. Keywords: innovation; implementation; sandboxes; EdTech; scale; experimentation An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _r:AddedByZotZen

Consequences of school closure on access to education: lessons from the 2013–2016 Ebola pandemic - Smith, William C. (International Review of Education, 2021)
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an unprecedented shutdown of society. Among the various safety measures taken, much attention has been given to school closure as a non-pharmaceutical mitigation tool to curb the spread of the disease through ensuring “social” (physical) distancing. Nearly 1.725 billion children in over 95% of countries worldwide have been affected by school closures implemented in April 2020 as the virus continued to spread. In the field of education, policymakers’ attention has been directed at keeping students on board through remote learning and addressing the immediate needs of schools upon reopening. The study presented in this article focuses on who remains absent after schools resume. Using publicly available survey data from the USAID Demographic Health Surveys Program and the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey from before and after the 2013–2016 Ebola pandemic in Guinea and Sierra Leone in West Africa, the author examined changes in school enrolment and dropout patterns, with targeted consideration given to traditionally marginalised groups. At the time, schools closed for between seven to nine months in the two countries; this length and intensity makes this Ebola pandemic the only health crisis in the recent past to come close to the pandemic-related school closures experienced in 2020. The author’s findings suggest that post-Ebola, youth in the poorest households saw the largest increase in school dropout. Exceeding expected pre-Ebola dropout rates, an additional 17,400 of the poorest secondary-age youth were out of school. This evidence is important for minimising the likely post-COVID-19 expansion in inequality. The author’s findings point to the need for sustainable planning that looks beyond the reopening of educational institutions to include comprehensive financial support packages for groups most likely to be affected.

Emanant themes of blended learning in K-12 educational environments: lessons from the Every Student Succeeds Act - Yang, Sohyun; Carter, Jr, Richard; Zhang, Ling; Hunt, Tiffany (Computers & Education, 2021)
Blended learning (BL) is an instructional design structure that facilitates the benefits of technology, paired with face-to-face instruction, to address the variance in student learning. BL has been widely utilized in education with the rapid development of technology. While the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015) of the United States emphasizes supporting states to implement BL by facilitating the use of technology, it is unclear how states intend to operationalize BL in practice based on the federal statute. Therefore, this study investigated how many states referenced BL and how they operationalized BL in state ESSA plans by using thematic analysis. Results suggested a total of 17 states addressed BL in their finalized state ESSA plans. While these states referenced BL in various titles and parts, the researchers identified three major themes that operationalize BL, including (a) BL leveraging technology to support learning, (b) BL in professional development, and (c) BL as an alternative pathway. In the discussion, the researchers noted the ambiguity of the definition of BL among stakeholders (e.g., states) as well as the possibility of the use of BL towards enabling personalized learning in K-12. The researchers also discussed how to empower educators in the context of BL.

Motivating online learning through project-based learning during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic - Hira, Avneet; Anderson, Emma (IAFOR Journal of Education, 2021)
The transition of traditional schooling to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted formal school education. Though at home, teachers and students continued teaching and learning in socially distant ways using online technologies. From various teacher surveys, only about 60% of students in the United States regularly engaged with learning activities. Teachers and parents also expressed a significant need for help to keep students motivated and engaged in learning activities. During the pandemic, online learning left teachers and parents needing support for learning activities that motivate and engage students. Project-based learning is an increasingly popular pedagogical practice centered around students working collaboratively on projects while the teacher facilitates learning activities and progression. Project-based learning embodies several factors considered central to motivation in online learning. In this paper, we inquire how this approach presents itself as a candidate for learning during the pandemic when considering students’ motivation to learn through online learning experiences. We construct a conceptual framework informed by motivational theories that share core tenets with this form of learning and use the framework to analyze interviews of 11 teachers from 4 schools that taught with a project-based learning approach before the pandemic and transitioned to teaching, using it online, in the Spring of 2020. From our analyses of the teachers’ narratives, we discuss teaching aspects of the approach that lend themselves well to online teaching, elements that the teachers believe are missing, and how educators might cater to these missing aspects with a focus on student motivation to learn.

Community Help for Inclusive Learning and Development (CHILD): A Study of How Mobile Phones Were Used to Recruit and Equip Community Volunteers to Support Children’s Learning During Covid-19 School Closures in Zimbabwe - Power, Tom; Buckler, Alison; Ebubedike, Margaret; Tengenesha, Martha; Jama, Mbuso; Ndlovu, America; Mukoyi, Jane; Ndou, Mashudu; Mubaira, Simbarashe (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH

Children’s and adolescents’ digital access in Chile: the role of digital access modalities in digital uses and skills - Cabello, Patricio; Claro, Magdalena; Rojas, Rodrigo; Trucco, Daniela (Journal of Children and Media, 2021)
This article analyses the modes of physical access that facilitate participation in digital opportunities and the development of digital skills in children and adolescents (9 to 17 years old). We analysed the data obtained from the Kids Online survey in Chile. A latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted to identify groups based on access points and devices of use; access modalities were then composed crossing these variables. Four access modalities were found: cellphone-home; cellphone-ubiquitous; multi-device-home; multi-device-ubiquitous. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that ubiquitous modalities (multi-device and cellphone varieties) predicted digital use and skills among young Chileans, while the more static modalities (cellphone and home and multi-device and home) did not. These results are critical to addressing what can be deﬁned as “enabling access” among young Internet users in the context of digital inclusion policies.

The Use of Technology in the CPD Implementation Plan in Tanzania - Adam, Taskeen; El-Sefary, Yomna; Haßler, Björn; Khalayleh, Abdullah; Kremeia, Adam; Proctor, Jamie; Mtebe, Joel (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:analysis:nopdf; _r:AddedByZotZen

Support provided for K-12 teachers teaching remotely with technology during emergencies: A systematic review - Crompton, Helen; Burke, Diane; Jordan, Katy; Wilson, Samuel (Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 2021)
Emergencies can cause disruption to education. This study is unique in providing the first empirical systematic review on teacher support for Emergency Remote Education (ERE) from 2010 to 2020. A total of 57 studies emerged from the PRISMA search. This mixed-method study used deductive and inductive iterative methods to examine the data. The data reveal teacher support strategies from across 50 different high and low-income countries. Few studies focused on a teacher’s subject and the age range taught. In the examination of professional development provided to prepare K-12 teachers to conduct ERE, eight codes emerged from the grounded coding as; 1) prior preparation, 2) understanding ERE, 3) needs analysis, 4) digital pedagogical strategies, 5) technology tools, 6) frameworks, 7) digital equity, and 8) mental wellness.
Keywords: COVID-19; Teacher education; _EdTechHub_Output; _GS:indexed; _MELA_seen; ___working_potential_duplicate; _cover:analysis:nopdf; _r:CopiedFromEvLib; _yl:a; disasters; emergencies; emergency remote education; pandemic; remote education

National Education Infrastructure Management System Report as at 12 April 2021 - Department of Basic Education, Republic of South Africa (Government of the Republic of South Africa, 2021)

Helping improve the Kenya Education Cloud with a SWOT analysis - Groeneveld, Caspar; Kimenyi, Eric; Kaye, Tom (EdTech Hub, 2021)
In early 2021, EdTech Hub partnered with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development to support them to analyse the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the Kenya Education Cloud. This blog highlights what we learnt, and lessons that can inform the development of Virtual Learning Environments around the world.  Governments all over the world responded to Covid-19 school closures by…
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _zenodoETH

Combatting the impact of COVID-19 school closures in Bangladesh - Rahman, Tashmina; Ahmed, Ramim (2021)

How Can EdTech Support Primary School Learners with Disabilities in LMICs? Recommendations for Policy - Lynch, Paul; Singal, Nidhi; Francis, Gill A. (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; ___working_potential_duplicate; _cover:v3; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH

A review of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education from 2010 to 2020 - Zhai, Xuesong; Chu, Xiaoyan; Chai, Ching Sing; Jong, Morris Siu Yung; Istenic, Andreja; Spector, Michael; Liu, Jia-Bao; Yuan, Jing; Li, Yan (Complexity, 2021)
This study provided a content analysis of studies aiming to disclose how artificial intelligence (AI) has been applied to the education sector and explore the potential research trends and challenges of AI in education. A total of 100 papers including 63 empirical papers (74 studies) and 37 analytic papers were selected from the education and educational research category of Social Sciences Citation Index database from 2010 to 2020. The content analysis showed that the research questions could be classified into development layer (classification, matching, recommendation, and deep learning), application layer (feedback, reasoning, and adaptive learning), and integration layer (affection computing, role-playing, immersive learning, and gamification). Moreover, four research trends, including Internet of Things, swarm intelligence, deep learning, and neuroscience, as well as an assessment of AI in education, were suggested for further investigation. However, we also proposed the challenges in education may be caused by AI with regard to inappropriate use of AI techniques, changing roles of teachers and students, as well as social and ethical issues. The results provide insights into an overview of the AI used for education domain, which helps to strengthen the theoretical foundation of AI in education and provides a promising channel for educators and AI engineers to carry out further collaborative research.

Evidence to Strengthen Tech-Supported Teacher Development in Madagascar - Coflan, Caitlin Moss; Koomar, Saalim; Rasolohery, Hasiniavo (EdTech Hub, 2021)
Our latest blog looks at using evidence to strengthen tech-supported teacher professional development in Madagascar. For more details, visit our website.

Covid-19 and EdTech in Africa: A Country-Level Review Based on eLearning Africa Data - Damani, Kalifa (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH

L'utilisation des preuves pour renforcer la formation pédagogique à travers les technologies à Madagascar - Koomar, Saalim; Moss Coflan, Caitlin; Rasolohéry, Hasiniavo (2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; ___working_potential_duplicate; _cover:analysis:nopdf; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodoETH

Let's Read — How Tusome Leveraged EdTech to Improve National Learning Outcomes. Governing Digital Transformation: Improving Outcomes in Education Systems - Myers, Christina; Kaye, Tom; Khalayleh, Abdullah (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH

Let's Read — How Tusome Leveraged EdTech to Improve National Learning Outcomes. Governing Digital Transformation: Improving Outcomes in Education Systems - Myers, Christina; Kaye, Tom; Khalayleh, Abdullah (EdTech Hub, 2021)

EdTech for learners with disabilities: urgent need to focus on access, engagement and learning outcomes - Singal, Nidhi; Lynch, Paul; Kaye, Tom; Francis, Gill (EdTech Hub, 2021)
The current approaches to providing high quality learning experiences to learners with disabilities in low and middle-income (LMICs) countries requires radical rethinking. To date, significant numbers of learners with disabilities are not enjoying the benefits of barrier-free and meaningful engagement with the school curriculum in order to reach their potential. Appropriately matched technology to learner needs – in terms of…
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _zenodoETH

What is Hybrid Learning? How can countries get it right? - Barron, Maria; Cobo, Cristobal; Ciarrusta, Inaki Sanchez; Munoz-Najar, Alberto (Education for Global Development, 2021)
What is Hybrid Learning? How can countries get it right?

Learning loss due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic - Engzell, Per; Frey, Arun; Verhagen, Mark D. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2021)
Suspension of face-to-face instruction in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to concerns about consequences for students' learning. So far, data to study this question have been limited. Here we evaluate the effect of school closures on primary school performance using exceptionally rich data from The Netherlands (n ≈ 350,000). We use the fact that national examinations took place before and after lockdown and compare progress during this period to the same period in the 3 previous years. The Netherlands underwent only a relatively short lockdown (8 wk) and features an equitable system of school funding and the world's highest rate of broadband access. Still, our results reveal a learning loss of about 3 percentile points or 0.08 standard deviations. The effect is equivalent to one-fifth of a school year, the same period that schools remained closed. Losses are up to 60% larger among students from less-educated homes, confirming worries about the uneven toll of the pandemic on children and families. Investigating mechanisms, we find that most of the effect reflects the cumulative impact of knowledge learned rather than transitory influences on the day of testing. Results remain robust when balancing on the estimated propensity of treatment and using maximum-entropy weights or with fixed-effects specifications that compare students within the same school and family. The findings imply that students made little or no progress while learning from home and suggest losses even larger in countries with weaker infrastructure or longer school closures.
Keywords: COVID-19; Child; Female; Humans; Learning; Male; Netherlands; Pandemics; Quarantine; SARS-CoV-2; Schools; digital divide; learning loss; school closures; social inequality

Learning loss due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic - Engzell, Per; Frey, Arun; Verhagen, Mark D. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2021)
Suspension of face-to-face instruction in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to concerns about consequences for students' learning. So far, data to study this question have been limited. Here we evaluate the effect of school closures on primary school performance using exceptionally rich data from The Netherlands (n ≈ 350,000). We use the fact that national examinations took place before and after lockdown and compare progress during this period to the same period in the 3 previous years. The Netherlands underwent only a relatively short lockdown (8 wk) and features an equitable system of school funding and the world's highest rate of broadband access. Still, our results reveal a learning loss of about 3 percentile points or 0.08 standard deviations. The effect is equivalent to one-fifth of a school year, the same period that schools remained closed. Losses are up to 60% larger among students from less-educated homes, confirming worries about the uneven toll of the pandemic on children and families. Investigating mechanisms, we find that most of the effect reflects the cumulative impact of knowledge learned rather than transitory influences on the day of testing. Results remain robust when balancing on the estimated propensity of treatment and using maximum-entropy weights or with fixed-effects specifications that compare students within the same school and family. The findings imply that students made little or no progress while learning from home and suggest losses even larger in countries with weaker infrastructure or longer school closures.
Keywords: COVID-19; Child; Female; Humans; Learning; Male; Netherlands; Pandemics; Quarantine; SARS-CoV-2; Schools; digital divide; learning loss; school closures; social inequality

A 35-hour a year CPD entitlement could stop 12,000 teachers quitting - Henshaw, Pete (SecEd, 2021)

Challenges and Opportunities as Students Return to School: Evidence from Caregiver and Staff Surveys across Rising Academy Network School - Caballero, Erika Montoya; McManus, Jeff; Njogu-Ndongwe, Frida; Fall, Sokhna Mously (IDinsight, 2021)
This report shares survey findings on the barriers that children face as they transition back to school after prolonged closures with evidence from caregiver and staff surveys across Rising Academy Network Schools.

Children's learning and development in conflict- and crisis-affected countries: Building a science for action - Aber, J. Lawrence; Dolan, Carly Tubbs; Kim, Ha Yeon; Brown, Lindsay (Development and Psychopathology, 2021)
This paper critically reviews the opportunities and challenges in designing and conducting actionable research on the learning and development of children in conflict- and crisis-affected countries. We approached our review through two perspectives championed by Edward Zigler: (a) child development and social policy and (b) developmental psychopathology in context. The aim of the work was to answer the following questions: What works to enhance children's learning and development in such contexts? By what mechanisms? For whom? Under what conditions? How do experiences and conditions of crisis affect the basic processes of children's typical development? The review is based on a research–practice partnership started in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2010 and expanded to research in Niger and Lebanon in 2016. The focus of the research is on the impact of Healing Classrooms (a set of classroom practices) and Healing Classrooms Plus (an additional set of targeted social and emotional learning activities), developed by the International Rescue Committee, on children's academic outcomes and social and emotional learning. We sought to extract lessons from this decade of research for building a global developmental science for action. Special attention is paid to the importance of research–practice partnerships, conceptual frameworks, measurement and methodology. We conclude by highlighting several essential features of a global developmental science for action.
Keywords: global science for action; refugee education; research–practice partnership; social–emotional learning

Are the eﬀects of informational interventions driven by salience? - Bettinger, Eric; Cunha, Nina; Lichand, Guilherme; Madeira, Ricardo (Working Paper Series, 2021)
Informational interventions have been shown to signiﬁcantly change behavior across a variety of settings. Is that because they lead subjects to merely update beliefs in the right direction? Or, alternatively, is it to a large extent because they increase the salience of the decision they target, aﬀecting behavior even in the absence of inputs for belief updating? We study this question in the context of an informational intervention with school parents in Brazil. We randomly assign parents to either an information group, who receives text messages with weekly data on their child’s attendance and school eﬀort, or a salience group, who receives messages that try to redirect their attention without child-speciﬁc information. We ﬁnd that information makes parents more accurate about student attendance, and has large impacts on their test scores and grade promotion relative to the control group. Even though salience messages, in contrast, do not make parents more accurate about attendance levels, learning outcomes in the salience group improve by at least as much. Why? We show that treated parents across both conditions become more accurate about changes in their children’s grades over time, although not about grade levels. Such coarse belief updating is consistent with independent information acquisition in response to salience eﬀects from both interventions. Our results have implications for the design and interpretation of informational interventions across a range of domains.
Keywords: ❓ Multiple DOI

Equitable learning with ICT: study of an intervention at scale for underserved students in India - Chandran, M.G.; Sarangapani, P. (Comparative and International Education Society 65th Annual Meeting, 2021)

Zotero Workbook (v4) - Haßler, Björn; McBurnie, Chris; Murphy, Mary; Nourie, Kristi (2021)

Cambodia Secondary Education Blueprint 2030 - Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Kingdom of Cambodia (2021)

Practical guide to blended/remote learning and children with disabilities - UNICEF (2021)
Keywords: ⛔ No INSPIRE recid found

Lack of Means or Lack of Awareness? Survey findings: barriers to learning with WhatsApp in refugee camps in Lebanon - Boujikian, Michèle; Carter, Alice (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted

Using EdTech to Support Learning Remotely in the Early Years. Rapid Literature Review of Evidence from the Global Response to Covid-19. - Korin, Astrid (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org This topic brief examines the literature on technology-based, remote approaches to supporting learning in the early years for children from birth to age five, identifying promising practices for using EdTech in early childhood education (ECE) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It draws on the nurturing care framework, Principles for Digital Development, and effective pedagogical practices for ECE.
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _cover:v3; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted; _zenodoETH

How can real-time performance data lead to better education outcomes? - Sharma, Aarushi; Gustafsson-Wright, Emily; Osbourne, Sarah (Brookings, 2021)

Influence of COVID-19 on Students’ Sign Language Learning in a Teacher-Preparation Program in Saudi Arabia: Moving to E-Learning - Alawajee, Omar (Contemporary Educational Technology, 2021)

Advancing evidence-based decision making in LMICs: Focus of EdTech Hub’s work - Hennessy, Sara (EdTech Hub, 2021)
This blog sets out the Hub’s aims and approaches to identifying appropriate and effective uses of EdTech that can potentially raise learning outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Research shows that EdTech offers immense potential, but sustainable and positive change at scale has largely proved elusive in practice – particularly for marginalised learners where we focus our work.  To…
Keywords: _EdTechHub_Output

2019 Survey on Socio-Economic Status of 53 Ethnic Minorities - General Statistics Office (Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 2021)

Making the Grade: The Sensitivity of Education Program Effectiveness to Input Choices and Outcome Measures - Kerwin, Jason T.; Thornton, Rebecca L. (The Review of Economics and Statistics, 2021)
This paper demonstrates the acute sensitivity of education program effectiveness to the choices of inputs and outcome measures, using a randomized evaluation of a mother-tongue literacy program. The program raises reading scores by 0.64 SD and writing scores by 0.45 SD. A reduced-cost version instead yields statistically insignificant reading gains and some large negative effects (−0.33 SDs) on advanced writing. We combine a conceptual model of education production with detailed classroom observations to examine the mechanisms driving the results; we show they could be driven by the program initially lowering productivity before raising it, and potentially by missing complementary inputs in the reduced-cost version.

Making the Grade: The Sensitivity of Education Program Effectiveness to Input Choices and Outcome Measures - Kerwin, Jason T.; Thornton, Rebecca L. (The Review of Economics and Statistics, 2021)
This paper demonstrates the acute sensitivity of education program effectiveness to the choices of inputs and outcome measures, using a randomized evaluation of a mother-tongue literacy program. The program raises reading scores by 0.64 SD and writing scores by 0.45 SD. A reduced-cost version instead yields statistically insignificant reading gains and some large negative effects (−0.33 SDs) on advanced writing. We combine a conceptual model of education production with detailed classroom observations to examine the mechanisms driving the results; we show they could be driven by the program initially lowering productivity before raising it, and potentially by missing complementary inputs in the reduced-cost version.

Making the grade: The sensitivity of education program effectiveness to input choices and outcome measures - Kerwin, Jason T.; Thornton, Rebecca L. (The Review of Economics and Statistics, 2021)
This paper demonstrates the acute sensitivity of education program effectiveness to the choices of inputs and outcome measures, using a randomized evaluation of a mother-tongue literacy program. The program raises reading scores by 0.64 SD and writing scores by 0.45 SD. A reduced-cost version instead yields statistically insignificant reading gains and some large negative effects (−0.33 SDs) on advanced writing. We combine a conceptual model of education production with detailed classroom observations to examine the mechanisms driving the results; we show they could be driven by the program initially lowering productivity before raising it, and potentially by missing complementary inputs in the reduced-cost version.

New data on learning loss in Pakistan - Crawfurd, Lee; Hares, Susannah; Minardi, Ana Luiza (Center for Global Development, 2021)
To get a better picture of the effects of the pandemic on education in Pakistan, we carried out another round of our survey of students and parents. We found gender differences in learning loss, little engagement with government teleschool, dropping parental support for further closures, and more.

STEM: breaking gender stereotypes - UNGEI (UNGEI, 2021)
In some Western cultures, pink is for girls, blue is for boys. Why? It just is. You might hear mothers remark with wonder that their little girls just love the pink dress (that was given to them). You may have heard fathers insist that their sons not wear pink clothing. It’s interesting to think that at the end of the nineteenth century in the USA, pink was actually the colour preferred for boys, it being a softer version of military red. Things change. The accepted wisdom that stereotypes originally come from a place of truth is erroneous. No credible research has indicated that girls gravitate to pink things without any cultural prompting. Our gendered behaviour is primarily socially conditioned. Research suggests that the idea of a female brain and a male brain is false [1]. Rather, the plasticity of the brain means that it can be moulded – from birth onwards – through learning, engaging in the world and being socially conditioned. This includes learning and absorbing gender stereotyping. Gendered colours are harmless though, right? No, not really. Any gender stereotype will reinforce a gender bias. In 2019, a Fawcett Society study found that 45 per cent of people said that when they were children, they experienced gender stereotyping as they were expected to behave in a certain way [2]. Seven in 10 younger women (18-34s) affected by stereotypes say their career choices were restricted [3].  Around 70 per cent of individuals in 34 countries associated science with males more than with females [4]. © UNICEF/UN0364176/XimendazCaregivers and teachers often reproduce the stereotype that boys are better in science and mathematics than girls, encouraging girls to aspire to ‘female-oriented’ careers instead of ‘male’ STEM related ones [5,6]. To compound this negative reinforcement, curriculum and learning materials reinforce gender stereotypes and unequal gender norms in STEM. In India, illustrations in math and science textbooks in primary school show 6 per cent girls, but more than 50 per cent boys [7]. The stereotyping sanctioned by parents, teachers and the curriculum itself negatively impacts a girl’s self-belief – and her future aspirations [8]. When three women won the Nobel Prize for science in 2020, it was newsworthy partly because not many women have won the prize over the years. But is it also newsworthy because, even today, many would not expect women to be such high achievers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Engineering is for boys. Mechanical toys are for boys. Science experiments are for boys. These are the stereotypes we learn. Where does this thinking come from? There’s obviously a lot to unpack here: traditional roles in society born out of a female’s capability to bear children, or stronger upper body strength, on average, amongst males, for example. But they don’t speak to our cognitive and intellectual potential. And I’m sure there would be many who would dispute every particular of the above. Questioning norms that are the foundation of our interaction with the world is difficult for all of us to do. © UNICEF/UN0145559/SchermbruckerAcknowledging that stereotypes exist is straightforward. Deciding that they shouldn’t constrain our behaviour and life path is a little harder. But confronting and actively challenging these stereotypes – indeed, breaking them! – is an altogether more difficult process. How do we do it? How do we take organic and grassroots solutions toward a tipping point of change? This International Girls in ICT Day (22nd April), UNGEI hosted an Instagram Live event to explore these important questions. Transform Education members Maryam and Nivaal and NASA engineer Farah Alibay talked about working with NASA on the Mars 2020 mission, how to drive progress for gender equality in STEM and why representation matters.  Shifting power in STEM starts with listening to the experts and girls themselves, such as the inspiring changemakers on UNICEF’s Teen. Girl. Activist site. Debunking stereotypes is in their very capable hands… The first thing we need to do is recognize that there is a societal bias... let’s recognize that we are treating girls differently and that they are not being given the same opportunities. Now that we’ve started to recognize that problem, I think...normalizing STEM for girls, providing resources, and providing a safe space for girls is really important. Farah Alibay, Systems Engineer, NASA (UNGEI International Girls in ICT IG Live Event) Some choose to tackle stereotypes head-on, like the ‘Talent Viewer’ in the Netherlands, to break the stereotype that girls can’t successfully engage in STEM. Girls and boys in primary school (aged 9 to 12) assign talents to each other, discuss them, then investigate what STEM professions used these talents. This looks at certain talents being appropriate for STEM, not gender. A woman working in a STEM field talks to the classes about her job, effectively role modelling for girls. Critically, parents are encouraged to discuss the talents with their child and teachers participate in professional development on gender awareness, STEM education and talent development. The evaluation of the programme has indicated a positive change in attitude in both girls and boys towards girls’ participation in STEM. Around 46,000 children have engaged in this exciting work to date. © UNICEF/UNI363793/AryanAnother approach is simply to place girls in STEM-related industries, to show that it’s a natural place for both men and women, like the ‘Technogirls’ programme. This is a public-private partnership in South Africa that seeks to enhance the career uptake by disadvantaged girls in STEM fields (which is critical to the country’s economic growth). It identifies school-going young women from disadvantaged communities and places them in corporate mentorship and job-shadowing programmes. So far, 11,241 girls have engaged in structured job-shadowing programmes – and 78 per cent of them who have gone on to study in one of three scarce skills STEM fields in the country. These women become role models for the next generation and many of them are now mentors to new intakes of girls. The best investment is...girls' quality STEM education. And if we can give support to girls for quality STEM education, they will pay back successfully in the future to make a better world. Nasrin Siddiqa, Brookings Echidna Global Scholar (UNGEI@20 Forum) Other education systems have worked on how they teach STEM to ensure that girls aren’t overlooked or left behind. UNICEF in Ghana has worked with the Korea International Cooperation Agency and the Ghana Education Service on the ‘Better Life for Girls’ project. Focused on dismantling gender norms, the project included gender-responsive pedagogy (teaching and learning processes that pay attention to the specific learning needs of girls and boys) in mathematics and science, and providing life skills and leadership training for adolescent girls – helping more than 4,000 girls to stay in school and explore their potential. Training teachers on gender-responsive pedagogy helped to change girls’ perceptions of their own abilities – and this has a knock-on effect in the learning they pursue. If girls had believed the stereotype about not being good at mathematics, what other stereotypes can they challenge? And that is surely a question for all of us. During UNGEI’s 20th Anniversary Forum (UNGEI@20), activists, experts and leaders came together to explore what it will take to close the STEM gender gap in education and thus help girls fulfil their leadership potential. The event concluded that we need a gender-transformative approach to education, increasing opportunities for girls to develop digital skills and building their confidence and aspirations to pursue careers as STEM professionals. Technology is such a useful tool because it doesn't just provide mentors. It provides resources. It provides community. When you take away that access to tech, you take away that access to education as well, that basic human right. Audrey Pe, WiTech Founder (UNGEI@20 Forum) In the pursuit of equity in digital literacy and STEM skills, especially as we look toward a world of work where 9 in 10 jobs will require digital skills, UNICEF is proud to mobilize commitments alongside other public and private partners as an Action Coalition for Technology and Innovation as part of the Generation Equality Forum. These commitments include advancing girl-designed solutions to learning fit for a digital world, and advancing an outcome fund for digital literacy equity that brings together the best of public and private human and financial resources. © UNICEF/UNI363793/AryanIn the context of the Covid-19 crisis, which exposed structural inequalities in education and access to technology, these types of interventions are more important than ever. If we are to deliver on our global commitments to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 5, we need to understand just how much harm stereotypes of any kind can be, particularly to young, vulnerable, curious children. If we are serious about helping children to achieve their potential – for their own development and so they can contribute to their communities and the world – then we need to minimize the forces that limit that potential. This includes gender stereotyping. We need to start celebrating children for who they are, not who we think they should be, based on a pointless stereotype. Let’s help them to access their rights to be themselves. Let’s help them to wear whatever colour they like.

School Hits the Airwaves: Sierra Leone Turns to Education Radio as a Response to COVID-19 - World Bank (World Bank, 2021)
Sierra Leone's experience with education radio during the 2014 Ebola outbreak has helped strengthen its radio programming during school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

School Hits the Airwaves: Sierra Leone Turns to Education Radio as a Response to COVID-19 - World Bank (The World Bank, 2021)
Sierra Leone's experience with education radio during the 2014 Ebola outbreak has helped strengthen its radio programming during school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Locked out of school: Pakistan’s digital divide has students struggling - Irfan, Anmol (The Guardian, 2021)
Online lessons can’t reach children in many areas of Covid-hit country even though their parents still have to pay fees

What Did Children Do During School Closures? Insights from a Parent Survey in Tanzania - Oza, Shardul; Cilliers, Jacobus (Research on Improving Systems of Education (RISE), 2021)
In this Insight Note, we report results of a phone survey that the RISE Tanzania Research team conducted with 2,240 parents (or alternate primary care-givers) of primary school children following the school closures in Tanzania. After the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Tanzania on 16 March 2020, the government ordered all primary schools closed the following day. Schools remained closed until 29 June 2020. Policymakers and other education stakeholders were concerned that the closures would lead to significant learning loss if children did not receive educational support or engagement at home. To help stem learning loss, the government promoted radio, TV, and internet-based learning content to parents of school-age children. The primary aims of the survey were to understand how children and families responded to the school closures, the education related activities they engaged in, and their strategies to send children back to school. The survey also measures households’ engagement with remote learning content over the period of school closures. We supplement the findings of the parent survey with insights from interviews with Ward Education Officers about their activities during the school closures. The survey sample is comprised of primary care-givers (in most cases, parents) of students enrolled in Grades 3 and 4 during the 2020 school year. The survey builds on an existing panel of students assessed in 2019 and 2020 in a nationally representative sample of schools.4 The parent surveys were conducted using Computer Assisted Telephonic Interviewing (CATI) over a two-week period in early September 2020, roughly two months after the re-opening of primary schools. We report the following key findings from this survey: *Almost all (more than 99 percent) of children in our sample were back in school two months after schools re-opened. The vast majority of parents believed it was either safe or extremely safe for their children to return to school. *Only 6 percent of households reported that their children listened to radio lessons during the school closures; and a similar fraction (5.5 percent) tuned into TV lessons over the same period. Less than 1 percent of those surveyed accessed educational programmes on the internet. Households with access to radio or TV reported higher usage. *Approximately 1 in 3 (36 percent) children worked on the family farm during the closures, with most children working either 2 or 3 days a week. Male children were 6.2 percentage points likelier to work on the family farm than female children. *Households have limited access to education materials for their child. While more than 9 out of 10 households have an exercise book, far fewer had access to textbooks (35 percent) or own reading books (31 percent). *One in four parents (24 percent) read a book to their child in the last week.

WhatsApp-Assisted Learning for Refugees. End of Sandbox Sprint 3 - Boujikian, Michèle; Carter, Alice; Khalayleh, Abdullah (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted

Determining the suitability of Whatsapp for Jusoor Azima Project - Khalayleh, Abdullah (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _DOILIVE; _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _r:AddedByZotZen; _zenodo:submitted

Analysis of Rural-Based Pre-Service Teachers Spatial-Visualisation Skills in Problem Solving in Vector Calculus Using MATLAB - Amevor, Godfred; Bayaga, Anass; Bosse, Michael (International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 2021)
In science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for instance, interdisciplinary studies have noted positive correlation between spatial-visualization (SV skills) and mathematical problem solving. The majority of these studies sharing a link between SV skills and problem solving were contextualized in urban settings and only a few in rural settings. This investigation analyses how rural-based pre-service teachers apply their SV skills in problem-solving in a South African university, in the context of vector calculus. One hundred rural-based pre-service teachers in a second year vector calculus class at University of Zululand (UNIZULU) were randomly selected into control and experimental groups. MATLAB was used as a dynamic visual tool to analyse how research participants applied their SV skills. A mixed method approach was employed in data collection (quantitative and qualitative). Our findings revealed that the rural-based pre-service teachers’ SV skills correlate with their problem-solving skills in vector calculus.

Shupavu291 Helping Candidates Fulfill Academic Ambitions - Baraka, Peter (Eneza Education, 2021)

Re-imagining the future education management information systems, beyond head counts: leveraging data systems to support inclusive and effective learning for all - UNESCO (2021)

Implementing Parental Empowerment and Engagement Strategies in Times of Crisis: Experiences from Regional Educational Learning Initiative members in Kenya - Angoye, James (Regional Education Learning Initiative Africa, 2021)

Emergency remote education experiences of teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a phenomenological research - Eroglu, Mehmet; Senol, Cem (Shanlax International Journal of Education, 2021)
The purpose of the study is to examine teachers' experiences of Emergency Remote Education (ERE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was designed in the qualitative approach and as the research method, "phenomenology" was used. The sample of the study consists of 12 teachers selected by the criterion sampling method. The interview technique was used to collect data. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis. The study results showed that the ERE activity that teachers experienced the most was the online lessons. Teachers have done the ERE activities through various applications such as EIN (Education Information Network), Zoom, WhatsApp, YouTube. Teachers emphasized that ERE was ineffective due to low student participation, insufficient infrastructure, lack of responsibility and motivation for learning, low ICT competency of students and teachers, low socioeconomic status, and inappropriateness of planning and curriculums. In addition, teachers stated that education in the COVID-19 pandemic process should be done in diluted classrooms, hybrid or face to face. It is concluded that the lack of infrastructure, lack of responsibility and motivation for learning created inequality of opportunity for participation in ERE. The lack of infrastructure was mostly due to students being in the low socioeconomic group. In addition, students' learning responsibility and motivation are very important in the effectiveness of ERE.
Keywords: Barriers; COVID-19; Distance Education; Electronic Learning; Elementary Secondary Education; Emergency Programs; Foreign Countries; Instructional Effectiveness; Integrated Learning Systems; Internet; Learning Motivation; Pandemics; Phenomenology; Socioeconomic Status; Student Participation; Student Responsibility; Teacher Attitudes; Turkey

Emergency remote teaching and students’ academic performance in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study - Iglesias-Pradas, Santiago; Hernández-García, Ángel; Chaparro-Peláez, Julián; Prieto, José Luis (Computers in Human Behavior, 2021)
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a massive disruption in the way traditional higher education institutions deliver their courses. Unlike transitions from face-to-face teaching to blended, online or flipped classroom in the past, changes in emergency remote teaching –a temporary shift of instructional delivery to an alternate remote delivery mode due to crisis circumstances– happen suddenly and in an unplanned way. This study analyzes the move to emergency remote teaching at the School of Telecommunication Engineering (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid), and the impact of organizational aspects related to unplanned change, instruction-related variables –class size, synchronous/asynchronous delivery– and use of digital supporting technologies, on students' academic performance. Using quantitative data of academic records across all (N = 43) courses of a bachelor's degree programme in Telecommunication Engineering and qualitative data from a questionnaire delivered to all (N = 43) course coordinators, the research also compares the academic results of students during the COVID-19 pandemic with those of previous years. The results of this case study show an increase in students' academic performance in emergency remote teaching, and support the idea that organizational factors may contribute to successful implementation of emergency remote teaching; the analysis does not find differences across courses with different class sizes or delivery modes. The study further explores possible explanations for the results of the analysis, considering organizational, individual and instruction-related aspects.

Exploring the fundamental factors of digital inequality in Bangladesh - Islam, Muhammad Nazrul; Inan, Toki Tahmid (SAGE Open, 2021)

« TICE en Guinée : usages pour de meilleures pratiques en enseignement-apprentissage et en formation » - Le Centre International de Recherche et de Documentation (CIRD); L’Institut Supérieur de Formation à Distance (ISFAD) (2021)

An Investigation into Pre-Service Teachers' Self-Regulated Online Learning Perceptions - Özdemir, Atilla; Önal, Ahmet (International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 2021)
The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 pandemics has accelerated the process of technological transformation experienced by educational institutions. Traditional face-to-face education has been replaced by distance education as a precaution to minimize physical contact among the teachers and the students. As a result, self-regulatory skills have become a more significant factor for academic success in distance education. In line with this, the main aim of the study is to identify the level of self-regulated online learning perceptions of pre-service teachers in Turkish higher education context. Furthermore, the study also aims to reveal whether the pre-service teachers' self-regulated online learning perceptions differ according to several variables such as their gender, department, class, level of digital literacy and the time they daily spend online. A total of 353 pre-service teachers from various departments have participated in the study. The findings of the study indicate that pre-service teachers' perceptions of self-regulated online learning are at moderate level; thus, it can be argued that the level of their perceptions is far from satisfactory. Additionally, it has been observed that the pre-service teachers' self-regulated online learning perceptions differ according to their gender, level of digital literacy and time daily spent online. To be more precise, it has been noted that self-regulated online learning perceptions of female pre-service teachers are higher than those of male pre-service teachers. In a similar vein, it has been observed that the higher the level of digital literacy and the more time spent online, the higher the self-regulated online learning perceptions of pre-service teachers. The overall results of the study suggest that self-regulation skills of the pre-service teachers need to be emphasized and improved with the aim of contributing to the efficient implementation of distance education.
Keywords: COVID-19; Correlation; Distance Education; Electronic Learning; Foreign Countries; Gender Differences; Pandemics; Preservice Teachers; Self Management; Student Attitudes; Technological Literacy; Time Management; Undergraduate Students; ⛔ No DOI found

Distance learning: Reach & Effectiveness in South Asia - Panth, Brajesh; van Cappelle, Frank; Li, Zhigang; van Kalmthout, Ellen; Gochyyev, Perman; Hayashi, Ryotaro (2021)

Sierra Leone Public Expenditure Review 2021: Fiscal Policy for a Sustainable Recovery - World Bank (World Bank, 2021)
This Fiscal and Debt Sustainability Note, the first module of a programmatic multisectoral Public Expenditure Review (PER), reviews the recent macro-fiscal challenges, analyzes their causes and consequences and provide policy options for enhancing the conduct of fiscal and PFM policies in the country. The first part of this module draws on the Boost database to provide a comprehensive overview of the budget covering both revenues and expenditures. It analyzes the composition of the budget (based on economic and functional classifications) and discusses the most critical PFM issues the country faces. It also assesses budget execution and the efficiency of public expenditure. The second part of the module focuses on fiscal risks and their implications for medium-term fiscal and debt sustainability. It examines the recent evolution of public debt, its main drivers and relationship to economic growth. It describes recent reforms to address fiscal and debt vulnerabilities and how these reforms have been affected by the global pandemic. It also analyzes the main fiscal risks with a focus on those stemming from State-Own Enterprises (SOEs), local councils, litigations, natural disasters, and health crises. This part uses simulations to analyze the most likely evolution of the public debt path over the next 20 years under alternative risk scenarios. Finally, the module proposes practical and actionable policy options to help improve the macro-fiscal environment over the short term and preserve debt sustainability over the medium term.
Keywords: Debt Sustainability; Fiscal Policy; Fiscal Sustainability; Public Debt; Public Expenditure; Public Financial Management; Public Investment Management; State-Owned Enterprises

What we learnt in the Sandbox between onebillion, VSO Malawi and EdTech Hub (Sprint Review Draft) - Dinham, Nat; Plaut, Daniel; Rahman, Asad; Schmit, Laurel (EdTech Hub, 2021)
An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org
Keywords: _EdTechHub_Output; _MELA_seen; _comingsoon; _r:AddedByZotZen