Mypedia: An approach to innovative execution

Technology is everywhere and it only makes sense that our schools are also effectively deploying mobile technology in the classroom. However, for many schools, implementing the latest technology is a difficult strategy to navigate. To bridge the gap between teachers, students and parents, Pearson India along with its group of academicians and technology experts launched – Mypedia, one of its kind integrated learning tools for the first time in India for Grade I – V. MyPedia is the country’s only fully-integrated learning programme that promises measurable improvement in cognitive skills of the learner. MyPedia integrates all learning and teaching tools in a well-designed manner. It comprises of teaching plans which bring together the course book, workbook, videos and assessments along with teachers’ professional development and school support visits by specialists.

What’s unique about MyPedia is its specially crafted set of course books that use an interdisciplinary learning approach and a robust pedagogy designed to build life-long skills. These are supported by worksheets designed for multiple difficulty levels to nurture critical and creative thinking skills. Each of these workbooks comes with a rating scale that helps to record overall performance of the learner. In addition, MyPedia also comes with process-based teaching plans for the teacher that helps in academic planning.

Here, Ujjwal Singh, vice president, product & innovation, Emerging Markets, Pearson Education shares more about this innovative product:

AABP: What are the USPs of Mypedia?

Ujjwal: MyPedia’s digital learning solution caters to teachers and students alike in the classroom and at home. The easy to access videos are mapped to chapters taught in class, thereby making it easy for teachers to use. The HomeApp on the other hand can be installed on the parent’s phone for them to be able to access class videos and practice questions. The Teacher’s portal caters to teacher’s need of assigning practice questions.

Besides, assessment is mapped to the school’s exam plan, including both formative and summative assessment. Assessment can be both pen-and-paper and activity-based. Pen-and-paper questions may include MCQs, Fill in the blanks, Match the following, and Long & Short answer type questions. All the questions are analysed on difficulty and cognitive levels. MCQs are specially used to provide detailed distracters and misconception analysis. The report generated thereof cater to all levels of learning – student, teacher and school.

AABP: Can you tell us how it meets Indian-specific needs?

Ujjwal: Mypedia is a made in India product. It is fully developed for Indian children with Indian curriculum in mind. Now Mypedia has moved to 3 countries and next year we will go to 5 more countries. Apart from India we have Middle East and South Africa where mypedia is getting implemented. Hongkong, China, Brazil and Mexico will also have mypedia soon. Children and teaching around the world have similar set of issues, what we are trying to do is change the way of teaching and learning as this is required in every part of the world.

AABP: What are your targets and how will these be achieved?

Ujjwal: We are on course at this point of time. The product is being already marketed and promoted to schools in India. We are hoping by the end of 2018, we will have half million students on mypedia platform in India. Pearson has invested a lot of money in building this product in India and we see a big success for this.

We have looked at a 360-degree marketing campaign for MyPedia including ATL & BTL campaigns, Future of Learning events, workshops for teachers, branding, PR, digital marketing, etc. We have focused on improving the product understanding through education and product experience. Future of Learning has proven to be a great platform for us to be able to discuss the learning needs of children of tomorrow with various stakeholders such as teachers, students, educators, etc. The sessions have focused on discussion and debates to make classrooms child-friendly.

AABP: What is the response to your earlier digital offerings in the school space?

Ujjwal: We had a product called digi class, which was the smart board with digital solutions, but slowly and gradually we see that Mypedia will be taking over that solution.

AABP: Have classrooms become universally smart or are there challenges, for teachers that impact the spread?

Ujjwal: The classrooms have become smart but that has given teachers too much to choose andthat’s one of the things which we are trying is to simplify through mypedia.

AABP: What do you think the future is for publishers in this space, especially for Pearson in India?

Ujjwal: From publishing point of view, three years back we started our digital transformation journey and I think we are in the path of this journey to say that in times to come, publishing will be under pressure and we would like to be market ready. If the children like to consume content in digital format we should be able to give the content in the same format they need and want. But at the same time, we still think there is a mass who will continue to read books and we should not say no to books in this journey, we should have a blended solution available.

AABP: Do tell us about Worldreader,Read to Kids pilot in action with the help of Katha.

Ujjwal: Katha is one of three local implementing partners for the Read to Kids project, which is being led overall by Worldreader, Read to Kids is a 2-year pilot project in Delhi State that seeks to promote a culture of reading with young children, build skills to read to children and contribute to improved language development of children by encouraging parents or caregivers to read to and with their young children (ages 0-6). Specifically, we are empowering parents by providing access to a free digital library of high quality, locally relevant books and educational materials via their mobile phones. In addition to providing rich local content for the Mobile App, Katha is also supporting implementation by helping us reach parents and caregivers. We specifically selected Katha as a partner to leverage their proven and innovative I LOVE READING program which is based on over two decades of experience in bringing children into reading for fun and at grade level. The main strategies Katha will use to reach parents and caregivers will be through:

While, Delhi One Young Team (DOYTS) (pronounced “do its”) teenagers and young adults, who act as “reading ambassadors” in communities. DOYTS is a cadre of young volunteers who commit themselves to various reading based interventions in their communities. Youth often have phones, a willingness to explore how to use technology for new behaviors and this group is already aware of and invested in reading to children.

Ma Mandals (Mother’s clubs) work to build the skills of mothers and supports them to be active decision makers, stronger parents. These clubs focus on supporting parents to understand their children’s developmental needs as well as reinforces certain behaviors.

Children are a powerhouse of talent.Imagination and creativity is a crucial educational objective to adequately equip the next generation for their future.