Feb 22, 2013 - Mobiles for literacy, education quality and gender equality ... which will be hosted at the organization'
Call for Proposals UNESCO Mobile Learning Week 18-22 February 2013 Mobiles for literacy, education quality and gender equality UNESCO is currently inviting proposals to present at Mobile Learning Week 2013 (MLW) which will be hosted at the organization’s headquarters in Paris from 18-22 February 2013. Presenters will have an opportunity to address an international audience of mobile learning experts, high-level education policy makers, and individuals from relevant NGOs and corporations. To submit a proposal, please review the themes and submission guidelines below. We also encourage you to refer to the website for the First UNESCO MLW which was held in 2011. UNESCO looks forward to receiving your proposal and would like to thank you in advance for your time and participation.
Themes Presentations for MLW 2013 should relate directly to one or more of the following themes, which stem from UNESCO’s Education for All (EFA) goals: Mobiles for Literacy: According to the latest data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, approximately 793 million adults lack basic literacy skills, almost one fifth of the world’s adult population. Nearly two-thirds of these people are women and most live in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Literacy levels for millions of children are also disturbingly low. As in the adult population, illiteracy disproportionately affects females and is concentrated in specific geographic regions. UNESCO is committed to understanding how mobile devices—either alone or in combination with other information and communication technology (ICT) and education initiatives—can support the literacy development of adults and children. Presentations focused on this theme should showcase innovative case studies or research that explores how mobile technology is being used (or might be used) to support literacy development. Presentations can also highlight particular policies and practices capable of supporting progress in this area.
Mobiles to Support Teachers and Promote High-Quality Education The need to train high-quality teachers is urgent. In order to meet the EFA goal of providing universal primary education, the world needs to train and employ an additional 5.4 million teachers by 2015. Compounding this numerical challenge are concerns surrounding teacher quality. Data collected by the UN has shown that a large number of teachers are unqualified or underprepared to meet the educational demands of the twenty-first century. Far from being evenly distributed, teacher shortages and deficits in teacher quality are most urgent in communities confronting other difficulties, including high unemployment, poverty, unreliable infrastructure, and political instability. Conversations about ICT in Education sometimes overlook the key role played by teachers in learning processes. For this reason, UNESCO wishes to explore, directly rather than as an afterthought, how mobile technologies can (or might) support teachers and contribute to their professional development. Presentations on this theme should illustrate how mobile technologies can help ensure that teachers who work with students are skilled and empowered professionals. Mobiles for Gender Equality in Education For every 100 boys in school in Afghanistan there are just 66 girls. In Somalia gender inequality is even more severe, with only 55 girls in school for every 100 boys. Despite important progress in gender parity, educational opportunities for men and boys and women and girls are often inequitable. Had the world achieved gender equality at the primary level in 2008, there would be an additional 3.6 million girls in school today. While the primary global challenge with respect to gender parity is making education more accessible and inclusive of women and girls, increasingly men and boys are not taking advantage of educational opportunities at the same rate as females, especially at the secondary and post-secondary level. The 2012 UNESCO World Atlas of Gender Equality in Education explains that “whereas the challenge of gender equality was once seen as a simple matter of increasing female enrolments, the situation is now more nuanced.” In light of this data, UNESCO hopes to understand how mobile technologies can help ensure that all people—women and men, girls and boys—have full and equal access to education of good quality. In addition to gender gaps in education, a gender gap also exists in the ownership and use of mobile devices. On average, fewer women than men own mobile phones in low- and middle-income countries. This gap is primarily attributed to the total cost of ownership of mobile devices, technical literacy, and cultural barriers that discourage or prevent some women and girls from owning or using mobile technology. UNESCO wishes to explore how some of these challenges be overcome to ensure that women and girls have full access to mobile learning opportunities.
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Presentations on this theme should share the best examples of achieving gender equality through the use of mobile technologies.
Selection for presentations A review panel comprised of UNESCO members and participating organisations will review submitted presentations. Specifically the panel will be looking for presentations that:
Have topical relevance to the themes of MLW 2013. Advance cutting-edge research. Describe innovative pilot projects that can be replicated elsewhere. Introduce new project approaches and designs. Explicate valuable lessons learned. Share projects with implications for mobile learning policies.
Presentations in English, Spanish or French will be accepted.
Format of presentations and proposal template Presentations should last 15 minutes with an additional 5 minutes for questions and answers. PowerPoint presentations as well as other audiovisual materials are welcome. UNESCO encourages presentations that involve interactivity and engagement. The organization hopes that presenters will involve the audience in dialogue and utilize the expertise of collected participants. Live demos of mobile learning initiatives are especially encouraged. To submit a presentation proposal please use the template below and email it to
[email protected] with the subject line MLW 2013. To be considered, presentations must be received by UNESCO on or before midnight Paris time, 15 October 2012. Proposal template (English)
Important dates Call for Proposals Proposals due to UNESCO Notification of selected presenters Presenters to confirm attendance Draft presentations due Final presentations due UNESCO MLW
1 September By 15 October 15 November 22 November 15 December 15 January 18-22 February
Thank you for your interest in participating in the MLW. Please note that although there are no registration fees for MLW 2013, presenters and participants will be responsible for all costs associated with attendance.
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Contact Information For any enquiries related to the MLW please contact us at
[email protected].
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