Multilingual Minds: Exploring Grassroots Approaches to Creating Learning Materials
Beth Samuelson
Faculty Mentor
Beth Samuelson (School of Education)
Project Description
Imagine a world where you grow up never having enough to read. That's the reality for many children who speak minority or indigenous languages (hereafter “underserved languages”). The scarcity of juvenile titles in their own languages is a constant barrier to learning. This literacy inequity slows the progress of UN SDG#4 (inclusive and equitable quality education and learning) and limits access to quality education as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26. Our research initiative explores ways to leverage technologies such as open education resources, Creative Commons licensing, and digital storytelling to create stories and non-fiction learning materials in underserved languages. We welcome anyone who wants to become storytellers, social media influencers, fund raisers, and program managers. You do not need to be multilingual to make a difference!
Technology or Computational Component
Open education resources, Creative Commons licensing, and digital storytelling; hand-held reading devices; social media