Mobile Teacher

Mobile Teacher is a professional development app built for and by teachers working in developing countries. These educators have desire for professional development, but it may be offered where/when they cannot get to it, provided by external experts whose solutions may not be appropriate for the local context, or not available at all. These educators also have mobile phones, but may lack internet or reliable connectivity. Nevertheless, their phones can be used to democratize their access to professional development, or teacher training, via Mobile Teacher. The digital divide does not have to affect their access to opportunities and those opportunities do not always need to be imposed solutions from external experts.

The app features short video teaching tips of effective classroom practices from teachers working in developing countries. Users can create and submit their own videos for review and posting and/or submit recommended videos by other teachers working in developing countries (see submission guidelines).

The Android app is freely-available on Google Play and was created following best practices from Google, Android, and UNESCO for designing for the next billion users, or those in developing countries with no, slow, or unreliable connectivity and who may be new internet users. The app uses Google Drive to accommodate a variety of user connections and respect user budgets for data consumption, allowing videos to be watched and downloaded before viewing and sharing offline. The app also provides an SMS alternative for those who do not connect to Internet.

Mobile Teacher created a “digital scorecard” based on Google, Android, and UNESCO standards that developers can use when designing for the next billion users (see scorecard).

If you are not a teacher in a developing country, you can still use the app to benefit from the expertise of those who are. The app is also ideal for U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers and English Language Fellows working with host country teachers.