Vision: Anyone
can read and write when turning ten
Situation
According Wikipedia, some 775
million adults lack minimum literacy skills. 60.7 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out. Illiteracy is acknowledged as one of the root causes for many other problems and disadvantages today. Literacy on the other hand contributes to more equality.
It should be possible that kids teach other kids reading and writing, ideally in a playful manner. It should also be possible that kids teach other kids the basics of reading and writing without the use of human-made material or school infrastructure.
Analysis
There are a few observations which I would like to share with you and which are the foundation for this illiteracy challenge:
The first observation is about the teachers. The best teachers for kids are kids. Kids, in the eye of kids, have high credibility, especially if they are good at something. Why not consider kids as teachers to teach them how to read and write? Actually, kids hang around with other kids. Why don't we use this circumstance as a lever to teach reading and writing?
The second observation is about the learning environment. For many of us, teaching and school are two concepts which cannot be separated. Well, we know that we learn many things in school, but also outside school. In regions with very limited resources of all kinds, schools are a bottleneck. Considering schools as the only way to fight illiteracy does not scale.
The third observation is about books. There is no question that books are essential in improving reading and writing skills. The ability to encipher written content and turn it into something useful for people's life is the ultimate vision of literacy (I guess). However, people don't need books to start learning how to read and write. The text can written for the purpose of learning how to read and write.
The three observations are the driver for this illiteracy challenge.
ChallengeThe first observation is about the teachers. The best teachers for kids are kids. Kids, in the eye of kids, have high credibility, especially if they are good at something. Why not consider kids as teachers to teach them how to read and write? Actually, kids hang around with other kids. Why don't we use this circumstance as a lever to teach reading and writing?
The second observation is about the learning environment. For many of us, teaching and school are two concepts which cannot be separated. Well, we know that we learn many things in school, but also outside school. In regions with very limited resources of all kinds, schools are a bottleneck. Considering schools as the only way to fight illiteracy does not scale.
The third observation is about books. There is no question that books are essential in improving reading and writing skills. The ability to encipher written content and turn it into something useful for people's life is the ultimate vision of literacy (I guess). However, people don't need books to start learning how to read and write. The text can written for the purpose of learning how to read and write.
The three observations are the driver for this illiteracy challenge.
It should be possible that kids teach other kids reading and writing, ideally in a playful manner. It should also be possible that kids teach other kids the basics of reading and writing without the use of human-made material or school infrastructure.
Task
Develop a teaching method to learn how to read and write with the following requirements:
- No human-made tools used
- Kids are the teachers
- Taught kids can teach others kids (both boys and girls)
- It’s fun
Proof
Send in a proof study
which demonstrates that three generations of teaching has worked successfully.
Example: Kid “A” taught kid “B” how to read and write. Kid “B” taught kid “C” how to read and write.
Example: Kid “A” taught kid “B” how to read and write. Kid “B” taught kid “C” how to read and write.
Your Win
The biggest win is that you'll truly make the world a better place. If we find a sponsor, there might be a material incentive.
Due Date
Whenever the method and the proof study is available.You got a method?
Please send it to me, and I'll share it here.
Become a sponsor?
Great, please contact me.
Any questions?
Just add comments to the blog or contact me.
Note
This blog reflects my personal opinion only. The opinion is expressed based on the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. The blog and its content does not express the opinion of my employer or other organizations or associations I am associated with.
