Paper Presents Impact of Open Learning in Remote Areas
The impact of open education practices on K-12 learning is the subject of a paper published by MIT Open Learning on November 26, 2024.
In the paper, the authors introduce Sopala, an innovative approach to K-12 education designed to work both online and offline, ensuring access for underserved students. Using AI-enhanced, open-source tools, Sopala delivers high-quality educational resources to remote areas, addressing issues like “learning poverty” in sub-Saharan Africa.
Initially launched in Ghana’s Northern Region, Sopala has expanded to Kenya and South Africa, serving as a scalable model for other regions.
The initiative also highlights how open-source materials can improve learning and data accessibility, overcoming barriers posed by proprietary educational tools, with potential applications in higher education.