Stanford University and Innovations for Learning Team to Bring Revolutionary $50 Handheld Computer to Latin America

Business Wire, July 1, 2008

CHICAGO & PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Stanford University's School of Education and Innovations for Learning, a Chicago-based nonprofit, have entered into a social entrepreneurship collaboration to bring the $50 Teachermate Handheld Computer to extremely underserved indigenous children in Latin America.

Teachermate is a compact mobile learning tool that resembles a hand-held game, a device familiar to many young children. Some of the innovative features of Teachermate are that students can record words on the screen into a built-in microphone and can then compare their own voice recordings to the computer's rendition of the story. A variety of math game activities are designed to reinforce basic numeracy skills.

The first implementation of the handheld computer system will be in Baja California, Mexico in collaboration with CETYS Universidad en Mexico. A pilot of the handheld computer for reading and math education will be launched in September in cities in Mexico where many poor migrant populations are concentrated. CETYS Universidad's Education and Engineering School will also develop local content for the Teachermate handheld computer while its Business School will develop and enhance scalability and sustainability models.

Stanford's participation in the social entrepreneurship collaboration is spearheaded by Paul Kim, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer for Stanford University's School of Education. Dr Kim has investigated extensively on the possible use of mobile technology for the extremely underserved population. He has been involved in designing and evaluating a mobile learning solution called "PocketSchool" for indigenous migrant children in Latin America. "Mobile learning technology loaded with innovative educational content for basic literacy and numeracy seems to be in a dire need in many regions of the global community today. For those who have no opportunity to watch TV and do not own a single book, a mobile learning solution may be a viable educational option," stated Dr. Kim.

Innovations for Learning launched the Teachermate handheld computer in Chicago this past Spring and will be rolling out the devices to all 500 Chicago elementary schools over the next two years. The nonprofit is also conducting pilots in seven major US cities, including Dallas, Denver, Detroit, New Orleans, New York, San Antonio and San Francisco. "Our Teachermate handheld computers offer schools the ability to affordably provide individualized instruction to every student," said Seth Weinberger, Executive Director of Innovations for Learning. "We are thrilled to join forces with Dr. Kim and Stanford University to bring our technology to children in need not only in the US but throughout Latin America. Mobile technology will transform education, and Dr. Kim and I are committed to demonstrating the educational effectiveness of this powerful technology."

For more information, please visit IFL at http://www.innovationsforlearning.org, CETYS at http://www.ens.cetys.mx/institucional/home.php, and Paul Kim at http://www.stanford.edu/~phkim