Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wikibooks for Ugandan School Children (ID: 22105291)

From Meta, a Wikimedia project coordination wiki
statusNot funded
Wikibooks for Ugandan School Children
proposed start date2023-05-29
proposed end date2023-08-05
budget (local currency)18000000 UGX
budget (USD)5000 USD
grant typeIndividual
funding regionSSA
decision fiscal year2022-23
applicant• Mawa Collines
organization (if applicable)• N/A

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Applicant Details[edit]

Please provide your main Wikimedia Username.

Mawa Collines

Please provide the Usernames of people related to this proposal.

N/A

Organization

N/A

Are you a member of any Wikimedia affiliate or group, including informal groups like Wiki Fan Clubs, emerging language communities, not recognized Wikimedia groups etc.? Please list them all.

Yes, Wikimedia user group Uganda, South Sudan, Wiki fans club Nothern Uganda, Wiki fans club Arua

Grant Proposal[edit]

M. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.

Wikibooks for Ugandan School Children

Q. Indicate if it is a local, international, or regional proposal and if it involves several countries? (optional)

Local

Q2. If you have answered regional or international, please write the country names and any other information that is useful for understanding your proposal.


R. If you would like, please share any websites or social media accounts that your group or organization has.


1. What is the change that you are trying to bring about and why is this important.

Access to quality education is essential for any nation's development. However, in Uganda, a significant proportion of school children lack access to necessary learning resources, particularly e-books. This is a major barrier to education, particularly for children in poor households where access to physical textbooks is limited.

The absence of free e-books has made it difficult for children to read and learn on their own. The situation is further compounded by the high cost of textbooks, which many families cannot afford. In addition, many schools cannot afford to buy large number of textbooks, enough for their students.

Moreover, the lack of access to quality text-books has contributed to the poor performance of Ugandan students in international assessments. According to the 2020 World Bank data, Uganda's literacy rate is lower than the regional average for Sub-Saharan Africa. This demonstrates the urgent need to address the issue of access to learning resources, particularly e-books, in Uganda.

A diverse range of e-books developed on Wikibook covering various subjects and levels of education could be made available in English and few local languages, enabling cost-effective and sustainable access to learning materials.

This would not only improve academic performance but also promote equal access to education and bridge the digital divide in Uganda.

2. Describe your main approaches or strategies to achieve these changes and why you think they will be effective.

Conduct user research with Ugandan school children to understand their e-book needs and preferences. This will help to ensure that the e-books are relevant, engaging, and accessible to the target audience.

Collaborate with teachers, schools, local publishers, NGOs, and the government to identify key subject areas and books that are in high demand, and content that can be made available as e-books on Wikimedia Commons and Wikibooks.

Carryout training both online and offline for teachers, editors, publishers and content creators to equip them with skills for publishing e-books and learning materials on wikimedia platforms leading to a diverse range of e-books covering various subjects and levels of education being made available.

Use social media, local radios and other channels to create awareness on the existence of the e-books and ensure that the e-books are accessible to school children in rural and remote areas.

Monitor and evaluate the impact of the e-books on school children's academic performance and literacy rates. This will help to demonstrate the value of the project and inform future improvements and scaling.

Leverage the Wikimedia Foundation's open-source infrastructure to create a platform that provides free access to e-books for school children. This platform could be integrated with offline Wikipedia and Wikimedia databases to enable access to e-books in areas with limited internet connectivity.

3. What are the activities you will be developing and delivering as part of these approaches or strategies?

1. Conduct a needs assessment to identify the specific needs and preferences of Ugandan children in terms of e-books. This will help to identify the subject areas, levels, and types of e-books that are most needed by the target audience.

2. Host workshops to train teachers, editors, publishers and content creators on skills of developing and publishing high quality content on Wikimedia platforms.
3. Content development: Host an edit-a-thon in order to work with a team of teachers, editors, and translators to develop high-quality e-books in English and local languages covering various subjects and grade levels, ensuring that the e-books are engaging, relevant, and aligned with the Ugandan education curriculum.
4. Capacity building: Train teachers and librarians on how to use the e-books and integrate them into their teaching and learning activities in schools. Provide training on how to access and use the e-books on Wikibooks as well as best practices for using e-books in the classroom.
5. Conduct community outreach activities to raise awareness about the e-book platform and promote its use among Ugandan children. This can be done through community events, school visits, and other outreach activities.
6. Monitor and evaluate the impact of the e-books on children's literacy rates and academic performance. This will help to identify areas for improvement and inform future scaling and expansion of the project.
4. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign or event? If so, please select the relevant campaign below. If so, please select all the relevant campaigns from the list below. If "other", please state which.

Wiki Loves Africa, Other (please specify)

Open Education Resources
5. Do you have the team that is needed to implement this proposal?

Project Manager: username Mawa Collines: I shall oversee the entire project and ensure that it's completed on time and within budget. I will be responsible for coordinating the team members, communicating with stakeholders, and ensuring that everyone is on the same page.

A team of 5 primary teachers and 10 secondary teachers: This group will be responsible for creating the content of the e-book. They will work closely with me to ensure that the content is in line with the project goals and objectives.

Editor: The editor will be responsible for reviewing and editing the content of the e-book. They will work with the writer to ensure that the content is grammatically correct, flows well, and is free of errors.

Designer: The designer will be responsible for creating the layout and design of the e-book. They will work with the project manager to ensure that the design is in line with the project goals and objectives.

A Marketer: The marketer will be responsible for promoting the e-book on Wikibook to potential readers. They will work with the project manager to develop a marketing strategy and execute it effectively.

6. Please state if your proposal aims to work to bridge any of the identified CONTENT knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select up to THREE that most apply to your work.

Content Gender gap, Geography

6.1 In a few sentences, explain how your work is specifically addressing this content gap (or Knowledge inequity) to ensure a greater representation of knowledge.

As a teacher, I have developed topical based notes for secondary level in Biology and Chemistry before and I am only looking to scale this using Wikimedia platforms

7. Please state if your proposal includes any of these areas or THEMATIC focus. Select up to THREE that most apply to your work and explain the rationale for identifying these themes.

Education, Human Rights, Open Technology

8. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities?

Gender Identity, Geographic , Disabilities, Linguistic / Language, Socioeconomic status, Digital Access

9. Who are the target participants and from which community? How will you engage participants before and during the activities? How will you follow up with participants after the activities?

The target participants in in this e-book project shall be Ugandan teachers and school children, in secondary and primary levels, especially from the poor regions of Northern Uganda who have limited access to educational resources, including those from underrepresented communities. I will consider partnering with schools, community centers, and district local governments to identify and reach out to potential participants.

To engage participants before and during the activities, I shall use a variety of strategies, such as:

Conducting focus groups and surveys: Engage with participants through focus groups and surveys to gather feedback and insights on the e-books. This will help us to continually improve the content and ensure that it remains relevant and engaging.

Hosting events and workshops: Organize events and workshops to introduce the e-books to potential participants and demonstrate their benefits. This will help build excitement and momentum around the project.

Providing incentives such as offering free access to the internet services or prizes for those who participate in the project. This can help motivate participation and encourage continued engagement.

To follow up with participants after the activities, I shall do the following:

Conduct evaluations to gather feedback and insights on the e-books and their impact on participants. This can help to continually improve the content and identify areas for growth.

Hosting follow-up events: Organize follow-up events and workshops to continue engaging with participants and provide additional support and resources.

Build a community of participants through social media and other online platforms to encourage ongoing engagement and support.

Ensuring that participants have continued access to the e-books and other educational resources after the project has ended. This can help to reinforce the impact of the project and encourage continued learning and growth.

10. In what ways are you actively seeking to contribute towards creating a safer, supportive, more equitable environment for participants?

Prioritize the safety and well-being of participants in all aspects of the project.

Establish clear guidelines and expectations for behavior and communication, and communicate them openly and regularly.

Foster an environment of mutual respect and open dialogue, where all participants feel comfortable sharing their perspectives and ideas and that everyone has an equal opportunity to be heard

Be responsive to feedback and concerns, and take appropriate action to address any issues that arise.

11. Please tell us about how you have let your Wikimedia communities know about the planned activities and this proposal. Use this space to describe the processes you carried out to make the community more involved in planning this proposal. Please link the on-wiki community discussion(s) around the proposals.

Post a message on relevant Wikimedia community discussion pages, highlighting the purpose and goals of the proposed activities, and seeking input and feedback from the community.

Organize virtual meetings or webinars where community members can join to learn more about the proposed activities and provide feedback or ask questions.

Utilize social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook, to promote the proposed activities, and to engage with the community and answer any questions they may have.

Collaborate with existing Wikimedia community groups, such as local user groups, to involve them in the planning process and leverage their expertise and networks to promote the activities.

Consider conducting surveys or polls to gather feedback and input from the community on various aspects of the proposed activities, such as the timing, format, or topics covered.

12. Are you aware of other Rapid Fund proposals in your local group, community, or region that are being submitted and that align with your proposed project?

No

If yes:

12.1 Did you explore the possibility of doing a joint proposal with other leaders in your group?
N/A
12.2 How will this joint proposal allow you to have better results?
N/A
13. Will you be working with other external, non-Wikimedia partners to implement this proposal? Required.

Yes

13.1 Please describe these partnerships and what motivates the potential partner to be part of the proposal and how they add value to your work.

NGOs working in Uganda like Windle International, Aga-Khan foundation, among others could provide valuable expertise, community networks and research resources. They will be motivated to participate in the project because they see potential for the project to improve education outcomes for Ugandan children, and it aligns with their organizational mission.

Educational Institutions: Local educational institutions in Northern Uganda will be valuable partners in the project. They could provide in-kind support such as access to subject matter experts, research resources, or classroom support. Educational institutions will be motivated to participate because there is potential for the project to improve learning outcomes for their students.

Local government Agencies especially the District education officer shall be valuable partners, because the project aligns with their educational policy priorities. They could provide in-kind support such as access to research resources or expertise.

14. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select a maximum of THREE options that most apply.

Improve User Experience, Coordinate Across Stakeholders, Innovate in Free Knowledge

Learning, Sharing, and Evaluation[edit]

15. What do you hope to learn from your work in this fund proposal?

What are the most effective ways to promote free access to e-books on Wikibooks?

How can I best engage with the target audience to generate interest and participation in the project? What are the most popular genres and topics among the target audience?

How can I measure the success of the project in terms of the number of users, downloads, and feedback?

How can I improve the user experience of the e-books on Wikibooks to increase user satisfaction and retention?

What are the challenges and obstacles that need to be overcome to sustain the project in the long run?

What are the potential partnerships and collaborations that can enhance the impact and outreach of the project?

How can I leverage social media and other digital channels to reach a wider audience and promote the project?

How can I use the data and insights generated by the project to inform future projects and initiatives related to e-books and digital literacy?

16. Based on these learning questions, what is the information or data you need to collect to answer these questions? Please register this information (as metric description) in the following spaces provided.
Main Open Metrics Data
Main Open Metrics Description Target
Number of the users This metric measures the number of visitors to the Wikibooks website, specifically the pages where e-books are located. The target participants are anyone who visits the site, regardless of whether they download or use the e-books. This metric can help determine the overall reach of promotion efforts and whether they are successful in driving more traffic to the site. 5000
Audience engagement Total number of engagement with project promotion efforts on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The targets are anyone who views or interacts with the e-books promotion efforts on social media, including liking, sharing, or commenting on posts. This metric can help determine the effectiveness of social media promotion efforts and the level of interest among social media users. 30000
User feedback Number of user feedback with the e-books and the Wikibooks website. The target participants are anyone who uses the e-books and is willing to provide feedback, including through surveys, user testing, or comments and reviews. This metric can help determine how well the e-books are meeting user needs and where improvements can be made. 50
N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A
17. Core quantitative metrics.
Core Metrics Summary
Core metrics Description Target
Number of participants This metric focuses on the number of teachers and students using the content for their learning purposes 10000
Number of editors The number of new, active and returning editors: New editors are individuals who have never edited on Wikibooks before. The target is to attract and encourage new editors to contribute to the site. 40
Number of organizers Number of individuals involved in organization of the project activities 12
Number of new content contributions per Wikimedia project
Wikimedia Project Description Target
Wikibooks E-books for lower primary in local languages, upper primary and secondary in English focusing on Mathematics, Sciences, Social studies among others 15
Wikisource Number of pages or books created 10
Wikimedia Commons Topical notes in some subjects 20
N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A
17.1 If for some reason your proposal will not measure these core metrics please provide an explanation.


18. What tools would you use to measure each metric selected? Please refer to the guide for a list of tools. You can also write that you are not sure and need support.

Users will be determined using website traffic analysis. Registration of participants will be used to determine number of trainers and content creators Social media analytic tools can help gauge engagement. Surveys can generate feedback from users.

Financial Proposal[edit]

19. & 19.1 What is the amount you are requesting from Wikimedia Foundation? Please provide this amount in your local currency.

18000000 UGX

19.2 What is this amount in US Currency (to the best of your knowledge)?

5000 USD

20. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f9StCsTXo2hPotqaCr88InjdZKQ-KddD/edit#gid=1161968829

We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.

Yes

Endorsements and Feedback[edit]

Please add endorsements and feedback to the grant discussion page only. Endorsements added here will be removed automatically.

Community members are invited to share meaningful feedback on the proposal and include reasons why they endorse the proposal. Consider the following:

  • Stating why the proposal is important for the communities involved and why they think the strategies chosen will achieve the results that are expected.
  • Highlighting any aspects they think are particularly well developed: for instance, the strategies and activities proposed, the levels of community engagement, outreach to underrepresented groups, addressing knowledge gaps, partnerships, the overall budget and learning and evaluation section of the proposal, etc.
  • Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
  • Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
  • Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).

Endorse