Safe Schools Program (Philippines)

• In Event: UDL to improve literacy in school and community settings: lessons learned from leveraging EdTech in Africa and Asia

Proposal

This presentation showcases the effectiveness of the digital education component in the Safe Schools Program, a KOICA-funded initiative implemented by World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. in Samar province, Philippines from March 2021 to December 2023. The program aimed to improve access to quality education during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It fostered a safe and inclusive learning environment through various components, including the Enuma School digital learning platform. The Enuma School program is based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This program enables students to actively engage with diverse forms of content and helps them study with content tailored to their individual needs. The research assessed the program's impact on students' literacy and numeracy skills, as well as their satisfaction with the digital learning experience.
Methodology
A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, including surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and document reviews. The program was implemented as an after-class digital learning intervention for kindergarten to Grade 4 students in three partner schools: Magsaysay Elementary School, Old Manunca Elementary School, and Tominamos Integrated School. 100 Android tablets were shared among 514 enrolled students, with each student allocated two hours of weekly access to the Enuma School platform. Students with low basic literacy and numeracy skills were selected to study with tablets and they studied with tablets at home and in schools depending on the COVID-19 situation.
Findings - What worked?
The findings demonstrate a positive impact of the Enuma School program on literacy and numeracy skills across all grade levels. Students showed an average increase of 50% in their total literacy mean score, with reading skills especially in reading simple words and sentences improving by 224% and phonics skills by 141%. Numeracy skills also improved, with the percentage of highly numerate students increasing from 0.7% to 31.7% post-intervention. Additionally, students' engagement with the digital learning platform reported 97.2% satisfaction with their Enuma School experience. Interactive content, such as e-books, lessons, and games, was particularly popular, highlighting the importance of engaging and multimedia-rich content in digital learning.
Findings - What did not work?
However, the study also identified several challenges and areas for improvement, including grade-level differences in effectiveness, the need for ongoing teacher professional development, and the importance of a well-designed blended learning approach. Additionally, issues related to technology access and infrastructure, such as the shared use of tablets, raised questions about the optimal ratio of devices to students and their impact on learning outcomes.
Lessons learned
Key lessons from the study include the importance of personalization, engaging content, continuous assessment, and strong teacher support in digital learning environments. The study also emphasizes the need for age-appropriate content and interface design and the careful integration of digital tools with traditional classroom instruction. The successful implementation of shared device programs in resource-constrained settings demonstrates the potential for maximizing the impact of limited technological resources.

Author

• Haein Park, World Vision Korea