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Phase: Ideas Opportunity Areas: Accessible Social Services

Using mobile technology to identify mild to moderate learning disabilities in children

Applying data analytics via a fun, interactive study app to help identify children with mild to moderate learning disabilities in Kenya

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Young boy using tablet to study. Image used under license from Shutterstock.com. Young boy using tablet to study. Image used under license from Shutterstock.com.
Young girl using tablet to study. Image used under license from Shutterstock.com. Young girl using tablet to study. Image used under license from Shutterstock.com.
Revision844 is an interactive web and mobile app which enables children aged 9-14 to revise and study for the Kenyan 8-4-4 curriculum. Revision844 is an interactive web and mobile app which enables children aged 9-14 to revise and study for the Kenyan 8-4-4 curriculum.
Local primary school students testing Revision844 and giving their feedback. Local primary school students testing Revision844 and giving their feedback.
Using mobile technology, educational content and data analytics to detect learning disabilities in children. Using mobile technology, educational content and data analytics to detect learning disabilities in children.
Getting feedback and explaining to a parent how to install and use Revision844 at a local schools and education fair. Getting feedback and explaining to a parent how to install and use Revision844 at a local schools and education fair.
A Revision844 banner at a local schools and education fair. A Revision844 banner at a local schools and education fair.
Diagram showing key features and functionality of the mobile app: Relevant, curriculum-based study material; Data analytics; Security and data encryption; Parental access and controls. Diagram showing key features and functionality of the mobile app: Relevant, curriculum-based study material; Data analytics; Security and data encryption; Parental access and controls.

What problem does your idea solve?

In Kenya, as in many developing countries, we have many big and obvious problems to grapple with. As such, many subtle and hidden challenges - such as mental disabilities - are often not acknowledged or appreciated as needing attention. Mild to moderate learning disabilities are often missed by both teachers and parents. Children suffering from them may be mistaken for being lazy, naughty, troublesome or simply not intelligent. They are denied the help they need and opportunities in society.

Explain your idea

A user experience map showing how Carol (the primary user) and Mama Carol (Carol's mother) will both interact with the app. The map shows Carol using the app, the app analyzing her usage and her mother getting a report showing that Carol has a high probability of dyscalculia. Mama Carol then seeks expert advice from relevant, local organizations to address the problem. A user experience map showing how Carol (the primary user) and Mama Carol (Carol's mother) will both interact with the app. The map shows Carol using the app, the app analyzing her usage and her mother getting a report showing that Carol has a high probability of dyscalculia. Mama Carol then seeks expert advice from relevant, local organizations to address the problem.
Our solution will be developed around our Revision844 study app. Usage of Revision844 generates a lot of data - both performance results and app interaction patterns. All the data we collect can tell us a lot about the user who generated it, if interpreted correctly. Part of the information we can deduce is whether the user has symptoms of learning disabilities. Our solution aims to work with experts to help us unlock these insights.
Local primary school students testing Revision844 and giving their feedback. Local primary school students testing Revision844 and giving their feedback.
Process diagram showing how we will work with learning disability experts, data analytics experts and volunteer users from Revision844 to develop the app's analytics features and capabilities. Process diagram showing how we will work with learning disability experts, data analytics experts and volunteer users from Revision844 to develop the app's analytics features and capabilities.
Diagram showing key features and functionality of the mobile app: Relevant, curriculum-based study material; Data analytics; Security and data encryption; Parental access and controls. Diagram showing key features and functionality of the mobile app: Relevant, curriculum-based study material; Data analytics; Security and data encryption; Parental access and controls.
Revision844 is a study app for 8-14 year olds in Kenya. It has over 3,000 users. By analyzing user performance results and app usage patterns we gain many insights about the user. This has lead us to realize that we could also detect signs of mild to moderate learning disabilities - Auditory Processing Disorder, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia and Language Processing Disorder. Why a study app? Rather than feeling compelled to use the app, relevant educational content incentivises usage as users see the direct benefit of improving in their knowledge and academics. Why an app? Apps provide an interactive platform with which to apply data analytics. Smartphone uptake in Kenya stands at 44% with access to affordable smartphones increasing. We also hope to eventually partner with schools/NGOs with computer labs to reach those without devices. Why not simply use provide traditional learning disability tests? Often, parents or teachers are unaware or reluctant to simply test for learning disabilities via the traditional methods. Incentivising them to use these methods therefore proves challenging. What is the pilot and roll out plan? With volunteers from the Revision844 user-base, we plan to identify children with and without learning disabilities with the help with mental health experts applying traditional testing methods. The experts, the students and the students' app usage data will then help us develop and test our analysis model for detection.

Who benefits?

The main beneficiaries will be primary school students suffering from learning disabilities between the ages of 8-14. The main beneficiaries will be primary school students suffering from learning disabilities between the ages of 8-14.
A diagram showing the beneficiaries of this solution. The primary beneficiaries are children with learning disabilities. The secondary beneficiaries are parents, teachers then schools and society in general. A diagram showing the beneficiaries of this solution. The primary beneficiaries are children with learning disabilities. The secondary beneficiaries are parents, teachers then schools and society in general.
"Learning disabilities are not well known in Kenya yet they are more common than either physical disability, visual and hearing impairments or mental handicaps. With the proper intervention, however, they need not be a hindrance to academic excellence” - Florence Onyango (Standard Newspaper, Kenya). The primary beneficiaries will be children aged 8-14 with mild to moderate learning disabilities (Auditory Processing Disorder, dyscalculia, dyslexia, Language Processing Disorder).

How is your idea unique?

Our idea is unique in the following ways: - Use of data analytics rather than applying traditional, direct testing methods - Targeting of mild to moderate learning disabilities - the milder versions are often ignored or disregarded - Use of a medium (mobile app) and content (study material) that incentivises children and parents to participate due to the direct benefits of being able to revise and study via fun, interactive tests and quizzes. - Financial sustainability and accessibility. Revision844 has free and premium educational content that parents have proven willing to pay for. This enables it to be financially self-sustaining with the paying users helping to subsidise the non-paying users. - Scalability. The solution is scalable beyond the initial target region. - Through partnerships with schools and NGOs with computer facilities (or sponsoring access to them), our solution will be accessible to children without access to the internet or mobile devices.

Tell us more about you

We are Haba Haba & Co, a software development company specializing in cloud, web and mobile applications. We are based in Nairobi and are the developers of Revision844 - a study and revision application. Our experience of developing and maintaining Revision844 lead us to discover that there a lot we can detect and diagnose through data analytics based on app usage patterns. We are Haba Haba & Co, a software development company specializing in cloud, web and mobile applications. We are based in Nairobi and are the developers of Revision844 - a study and revision application. Our experience of developing and maintaining Revision844 lead us to discover that there a lot we can detect and diagnose through data analytics based on app usage patterns.
Revision844 is a study application for 8-14 year olds based on the 8-4-4 Kenyan education curriculum. The app is available on web, iOS and Android and has over 3,000 users. The app has both free and premium content which enables it to be financially sustainable. Revision844 is a study application for 8-14 year olds based on the 8-4-4 Kenyan education curriculum. The app is available on web, iOS and Android and has over 3,000 users. The app has both free and premium content which enables it to be financially sustainable.
Showcasing Revision844 to parents, teachers and students at a local education fair. Showcasing Revision844 to parents, teachers and students at a local education fair.
Showcasing Revision844 to parents, teachers and students at a local education fair. Showcasing Revision844 to parents, teachers and students at a local education fair.
Organisational chart showing the project's key role and members including: Haba Haba & Co core team, partners/consultants and the user focus group. Note: some roles are share the same team member. Organisational chart showing the project's key role and members including: Haba Haba & Co core team, partners/consultants and the user focus group. Note: some roles are share the same team member.
Image showing Haba Haba & Co team at work. We love technology and the endless possibilities it offers. Image showing Haba Haba & Co team at work. We love technology and the endless possibilities it offers.
Diagram showing the projects process with the involvement of the various stakeholders and partners at key relevant stages. We use an iterative waterfall process (hybrid between kanban and waterfall) that releases features incrementally rather than all at once and involves users as often as possible. This enables us to respond quickly to user feedback and incorporate it into the development process. Diagram showing the projects process with the involvement of the various stakeholders and partners at key relevant stages. We use an iterative waterfall process (hybrid between kanban and waterfall) that releases features incrementally rather than all at once and involves users as often as possible. This enables us to respond quickly to user feedback and incorporate it into the development process.
A brainstorm session at Haba Haba & Co. Whiteboards are to thinking what air is to breathing. A brainstorm session at Haba Haba & Co. Whiteboards are to thinking what air is to breathing.
Process diagram showing how we will work with learning disability experts, data analytics experts and volunteer users from Revision844 to develop the app's analytics features and capabilities. Process diagram showing how we will work with learning disability experts, data analytics experts and volunteer users from Revision844 to develop the app's analytics features and capabilities.
Haba Haba & Co is a software development company. We are the developers of Revision844 - a study and revision application for the Kenyan education curriculum. We intend to consult/work with the following organisations that specialise in learning disabilities: - Kenya Institute of Special Education - Kenya Community Centre for Learning - The Grangeville School - Kenyatta University We currently work with 5 local primary school teachers who generate the study content for Revision844.

What are some of your unanswered questions about the idea?

We are experts in mobile and education technology. We suspected and have confirmed that our idea is viable - i.e. the vast amount of data we collect from usage of Revision844 can be used to unlock many insights including the possibility of learning disabilities. However, we are not experts in diagnosing or treating learning disabilities. We have reached out to local learning disability experts to help us with: a) Identifying appropriate established learning disability tests b) Applying tests from (a) to identify volunteers with/without learning disabilities c) Identifying the resources we can recommend to parents and teachers of children with learning disabilities

Where will your idea be implemented?

  • Kenya

Experience in Implementation Country(ies)

  • Yes, for more than one year.

Expertise in Sector

  • I've worked in a sector related to my idea for more than a year.

Organizational Status

  • We are a registered for-profit company (including social enterprises).

Idea Maturity

  • Research & Early Testing: I am exploring my idea, gathering the inspiration and information I need to test it.

How has your idea changed based on feedback?

Local primary school children, teachers and experts invited for a Revision844 testing and feedback session. Local primary school children, teachers and experts invited for a Revision844 testing and feedback session.
Getting feedback on Revision844 from local primary school students. Getting feedback on Revision844 from local primary school students.
Our feedback solicitation process and how the feedback has been incorporated into our decision making process. It started with some basic research which lead us to a hypothesis. A user experience map was then produced and presented to focus groups drawn from Revision844 users to discuss and improve through an iterative process. Our feedback solicitation process and how the feedback has been incorporated into our decision making process. It started with some basic research which lead us to a hypothesis. A user experience map was then produced and presented to focus groups drawn from Revision844 users to discuss and improve through an iterative process.
Getting feedback on Revision844 from local primary school students. Getting feedback on Revision844 from local primary school students.
Haba Haba & Co - a software development company - are the developers of the Revision844 study app. We will be the core of the team. We work with 5 local primary school teachers who generate the study content for Revision844. We plan to work with the following organisations that specialise in learning disabilities: Kenya Institute of Special Education; Kenya Community Centre for Learning; The Grangeville School; Kenyatta University. Haba Haba & Co - a software development company - are the developers of the Revision844 study app. We will be the core of the team. We work with 5 local primary school teachers who generate the study content for Revision844. We plan to work with the following organisations that specialise in learning disabilities: Kenya Institute of Special Education; Kenya Community Centre for Learning; The Grangeville School; Kenyatta University.
Getting feedback on Revision844 from local primary school students. Getting feedback on Revision844 from local primary school students.
Diagram showing the projects process with the involvement of the various stakeholders and partners at key relevant stages. We use an iterative waterfall process (hybrid between kanban and waterfall) that releases features incrementally rather than all at once and involves users as often as possible. This enables us to respond quickly to user feedback and incorporate it into the development process. Diagram showing the projects process with the involvement of the various stakeholders and partners at key relevant stages. We use an iterative waterfall process (hybrid between kanban and waterfall) that releases features incrementally rather than all at once and involves users as often as possible. This enables us to respond quickly to user feedback and incorporate it into the development process.
Process diagram showing how we will work with learning disability experts, data analytics experts and volunteer users from Revision844 to develop the app's analytics features and capabilities. Process diagram showing how we will work with learning disability experts, data analytics experts and volunteer users from Revision844 to develop the app's analytics features and capabilities.
Diagram showing key features and functionality of the mobile app: Relevant, curriculum-based study material; Data analytics; Security and data encryption; Parental access and controls. Diagram showing key features and functionality of the mobile app: Relevant, curriculum-based study material; Data analytics; Security and data encryption; Parental access and controls.
We are working with Revision844 users, teachers, parents and mental health experts to refine our idea. Target audience/users Teachers, parents and some experts felt we should focus on learning disabilities in children aged 8-14. They felt identifying learning disabilities would get easier buy-in and is also more in line with our approach of using a study app. Plan of implementation We previously planned to design our own custom tests and build a new app. We now plan to leverage the Revision844 app, its exiting users and data. We also plan to incorporate established learning disability testing methods to identify the children to work with in developing and testing the solution. The Revision844 user-base will also provide readily-available focus groups and sets of pilot users. Roll out plan The feature will be rolled out to Revision844 users starting with gradually increasing sets of volunteers. Each set will help test and refine the detection analysis algorithm.

Who will implement this idea?

Haba Haba & Co - a software development company - are the developers of the Revision844 study app. We will be the core of the team. We work with 5 local primary school teachers who generate the study content for Revision844. We plan to work with the following organisations that specialise in learning disabilities to provide subject-matter expertise: - Kenya Institute of Special Education - Kenya Community Centre for Learning - The Grangeville School - Kenyatta University

Using a human-centered design approach, you may uncover insights that lead to small or foundational changes to your organization’s existing strategy or processes in order to unlock the potential of your idea. How would your organization go about making such changes?

We hold weekly status sessions where we review progress and any changes that need to be incorporated into any project or process. If needed, another brainstorming session may be arranged to explore in depth the impact of proposed changes. The brainstorms adopt a 'ignore-sunk-cost' mentality where we evaluate the way forward irrespective of how much we may have invested (time, money or other resources) into our earlier approach. An impact analysis is then carried out to determine how the project plan, specifications, designs or processes may need to be modified. For projects, a project committee decides if/how the project is to be altered taking into consideration factors such as deadlines and available resources. Organisational changes are decided at board level.

What is it that most attracted you to Amplify instead of a more traditional funding model?

The ability to get assistance in implementing the idea, both from the IDEO team and from the community was really attractive. In particular, the opportunity to strengthen our design thinking. Revision844 is sustainable financially through its freemium model but does not generate high enough returns to entice traditional investors. Content creation or adding of major features and functionality requires significant initial capital that traditional investors may not recoup quickly enough.

What challenges do your end-users face? (1) What is the biggest challenge that your end-users face on a day-to-day, individual level? (2) What is the biggest systems-level challenge that affects your end-users?

"Sylvia used to be in a mainstream school with her twin sister. She used to have a hard time catching up in school and the teachers did not understand why this was so. They told her to go sit at a corner in the class. One time she was left there sleeping. It was so hard for her that she refused to go back to the school." - Taken from https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/lifestyle/article/2000052835/coping-with-learning-disabilities Apart from the lack of recognition or understanding of learning disabilities, society in general considers mental health challenges to be minor or secondary to the many other 'major' problems. Individuals with these challenges therefore face the dual problem of being excluded from society and from help mechanisms that exist.

Tell us about your vision for this project: (1) share one sentence about the impact you would like to see from this project in five years and (2) what is the biggest question you need to answer to get there?

IMPACT: By 2022 we aim to have scaled geographically to be in at least 30 developing countries - in Africa, Asia and South America - reaching 1,000,000 students. QUESTION: How do we structure the solution to be locally relevant and effective yet scalable and process driven in order to be sustainable?

How long have you and your colleagues been working on this idea together?

  • Between 6 months and 1 year

How many of your team’s paid, full-time staff are currently based in the location where the beneficiaries of your proposed idea live?

  • Under 5 paid, full-time staff

Is your organization registered in the country you intend to implement your idea in?

  • We are registered in all countries where we plan to implement.

My organization's operational budget for 2016 was:

  • Between $100,000 and $500,000 USD

If your team/idea/organization has a website, please share the URL below.

http://www.habahaba.co (company website) http://www.Revision844.co.ke (product/project website)

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Photo of Nancy Wagi
Team

This is ground breaking!Kudos!

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Photo of An Old Friend
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Thank you Nancy.

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