Using digital technology and a community based approach to improve educational outcomes for culturally, linguistically diverse and exceptional children in Pakistan: a conceptual framework

This paper discusses a project designed to create a holistic, scalable model to significantly improve the reading skills of children in grades one through three in Pakistan. Innovative aspects of this project include: 1) In terms of technology, the authors adapt digital tools in ways that are appropriate to the landscape of a developing country. Their vision of technology extends beyond the digital to include paper based and learning materials, such as manipulatives and realia, designed in concert with the digital instructional tools. 2) It is innovative in that they approach family and community engagement by combining a Community of Practice (CoP) approach with a Community Based Participatory Research approach (CBPR). They engage families and the local community to deliver technology and instructional materials, but also work with families and communities to develop, implement and evaluate the technology and instructional materials. 3) Their approach is innovative in that it is holistic. Incorporating mother tongue instruction and culturally appropriate materials, while drawing in all students including those with special needs, will create an ‘edu-system.’ This paper details the background and significance of the project, the underlying conceptual framework, the methodological approach to design and evaluation, as well as the plan for pilot implementation.