VVOB joined hands with Elewa, a tech company, to pilot a microlearning system to strengthen teacher involvement and motivation in online learning in Rwanda. Together with its partners, Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) and the University of Rwanda – College of Education (UR-CE), VVOB is implementing a multi-year programme “Leading, Teaching and Learning Together (LTLT)—Umusemburo w’Ireme ry’Uburezi” (2017-2021) to promote the quality of basic education through a continuous capacity development programme for teachers, head teachers and deputy head teachers. This programme focuses on advancing the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum while supporting the improvement of learning outcomes in mathematics for girls. One of the courses offered is a Certificate course in Educational Mentorship and Coaching and (CEMC) offered by the UR-CE in collaboration with VVOB.
To make the programme cost-effective, the shift from a face-to-face approach to a blended approach for teachers and head teachers was implemented and with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic this shift was accelerated. The Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses are now hosted on University of Rwanda’s online learning platform: Moodle.
However, the shift from face-to-face to online and blended delivery of the CPD Programmes may create various challenges. First, some trainees find it difficult to stay motivated throughout the online course. Secondly, many find it hard to self-regulate, plan their learning, and complete the activities within the set time period. Thirdly, there are indications that learning outcomes are lower when CPDs are delivered fully online. Finally, offering full CPD programmes online may have equity implications, as participants with limited access to devices, low digital literacy skills or lower confidence levels are put at a disadvantage.
To help trainees with learning, involvement, and motivation, providing regular microlearning support via a conversational approach was considered. A semi-automated support system, via chatbots using WhatsApp©, was developed together with Elewa, delivering educational content and activities as well as motivational messages to trainees.
Support through conversation
Conversational Learning simply means that every learning activity is as natural as a conversation. This is a radically different approach from traditional eLearning, which is mostly unidirectional. With conversational learning, all activities and contents are structured as a two-way conversation. These conversations take place between a learner and a trainer in real-time but are often automated using conversational bots.
The chatbot, i.e., an artificial intelligence (AI) software, can simulate a conversation (or a chat) with a user in natural language through messaging applications, websites, mobile apps or through the telephone. A management portal dubbed the Elewa Conversational Platform or “Educator Bot” enables management of all the operational aspects of the course and offers the following:
Figure 1: Some of the aspects of the Conversational Learning Chat Bots
The delivery relies on Chat Apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, SMS and Websites. These apps are easily accessible. WhatsApp for instance, has 2 billion users in more than 180 countries. It is also very affordable as it uses minimal data. Also, most countries, especially in Africa have Free WhatsApp packages which are usually provided by Internet Service Providers and Telecommunication Companies. The free packages allow the users to receive all WhatsApp messages despite not having data. One only needs data when they want to view images or watch videos which they can always do after completing the textual activities.
Furthermore, Conversational Learning does not run into issues regarding digital literacy. Since the content can be delivered via chat apps which are used on a daily basis by a larger population, the learners do not need to use time to figure out how to use the platform as is the case with most traditional learning management systems. Such a low-tech solution reduces some learning strain on the learners making the learning process more efficient.
The pilot project
This conversational learning pilot aims to address issues relating to learning, involvement and motivation experienced by teachers taking the CPD Certificate programmes in Educational Mentoring and Coaching (CEMC) and Certificate in Educational Mentoring and Coaching for Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (CEMC-STEM) by complementing the current provision of online learning on the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS), with support of WhatsApp Conversational Bots.
The Conversational Learning elements follow a microlearning approach, in which online learning is offered in relatively small chunks of educational content and / or activities in short timeframes at regular times. The idea is that the constant repetition of these small chunks leads to better internalisation of the learning content. (see Table 1 for some examples).
Table1: Conversational Learning Elements as prepared by the trainers
The elements, first prepared by trainers in a text file, are then transferred to the Chat Bot which allows for visualization and gamification, hence making the content more enjoyable. For instance, once uploaded to the bot, the content reflected in Table 1 would appear as a decision tree, as shown in Figure 2 each week’s content on WhatsApp is linked to the corresponding Moodle activities to track the influence of these messages on the completion of the Moodle activities.
Figure 2: Conversational Learning Elements on Chat Bot
Easy access
The Conversational Learning Pilot is delivered on WhatsApp, a low-tech solution in Rwanda. This allows the trainees to have easy access to the Conversational Learning Elements as no creation of accounts is needed. The trainees simply need to save a certain number on their phones and say “Hi” on the same thread after which the bot is activated immediately.
Figure 3: CEMC STEM Bot activation
They receive a different message via WhatsApp every day. These messages encourage them to complete the course activities on Moodle in a fun, interactive and visual way. A link to the specific Moodle Chapter is always provided to ease their log in process.
Figure 4: STEM Conversational Elements on WhatsApp
Does it work?
Does providing regular support via chatbots using WhatsApp© help with learning, involvement and motivation?
For this, the project will compare the experiment (the group whose online learning on Moodle was supported by conversational learning) with a control group (only online learning on Moodle). Random allocation of trainees to the experiment or control group was done at district level. Effects of additional conversational learning via a chatbot on motivation and perceived barriers and enablers to online learning are investigated using previously validated scales. We also assess effects on learning outcomes, using activity completion rates and assessment scores. Focus groups and in-depth interviews with trainees and trainers are used to explore mechanisms and pathways further.
The study was completed in October 2021 and results will be shared later.
