DOHA: Reach Out To Asia (ROTA), in collaboration with Commonwealth of Learning (COL), is supporting students and teachers in the remote Swat region of Pakistan through a mobile learning services project.
Providing access to e-learning materials, the Aptus system designed by COL consists of a server that enables students and teachers to access educational resources on chargeable tablet devices, which can be used on a local server without having to connect to the Internet.
Since the start of the project, the education initiative has been implemented in grades 8, 9, and 10 in the Swat region, providing students with a flexible learning system that includes drills and practice exercises, tutorials, projects and problem-solving based learning opportunities.
Dr Mohamed Ally, Senior Researcher, Athabasca University in Canada, and local researcher Raffat Khaqan conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of the mobile learning intervention and obtain feedback from students and teachers.
Results showed a marked improvement in academic performance. There has also been substantial improvement in teaching methodology, with local teachers delivering classroom lessons in a more engaging and innovative way.
Essa Al Mannai, Executive Director, ROTA, said: “It is remarkable to see the educational transformation of students and teachers who now have access to mobile learning aids. The Aptus system offers students the opportunity to learn in an innovative way and improve their technology literacy by using digital learning platforms.”
Professor Asha Kanwar, President and CEO, COL, said, “The Aptus system is a wonderful example of how innovative ICT combined with strong educational materials can increase more equitable access to learning.”
The Peninsula
