Efficiently integrating into existing systems to teach a breadth of skills at scale
Introduction
The Ranchi District Administration (RDA), in collaboration with the NGO Child Rights and You (CRY), implemented a pilot intervention in 5 government middle schools in Ranchi, India, using Rangeet’s Social Emotional and Ecological Knowledge (SEEK)© codified lessons.
The participating schools were the Middle Schools of Jagannathpur, Doranda, Pandra, Bariyatu and Bajra. 1000 students ranging from grades 4-8, with the majority in grades 6 and 7, were taught the “I Am India” module from the Society Umbrella of SEEK, which focuses on rooting out discrimination and appreciating diversity.
What is Rangeet?
Rangeet is a digital platform for authoring, delivering and measuring the impact of teaching materials for schools, communities and families. It features Rangeet’s proprietary Social Emotional and Ecological Knowledge (SEEK)© curriculum and teaching resources. Based on the latest international learning science, SEEK™ uses active, playful teaching methods to prepare children for the challenges of the future by measurablydeveloping a breadth of skills, wellbeing, agency and global stewardship in every child aged 6-16.
Rangeet’s platform offers educators an affordable, scalable and inclusive curriculum / toolkit. Designed around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), Rangeet’s curriculum and teaching resources are designed to help children tackle burning social issues whilst developing a breadth of skills, including the 6Cs (Brookings Policy 2020, K. Hirsh-Pasek et al): communication, collaboration, content, critical thinking, creative innovation and confidence.
Problem to Solve?
SEEK had to be integrated into the existing curriculum of the government schools.
Students’ were perceived to have less understanding of concepts like discrimination, diversity and unity and empathy.
Promoting the inclusion of disconnected communities by bridging the digital divide, solving for inequities and variability of learning at scale requires systemic change through a technological solution – with different stakeholders working towards a complex problem in tandem: a public-private coalition.
Rangeet’s Role
Rangeet created a public-private coalition comprising:
The Government of Jharkhand – RDA provided government schools and teachers
NGO CRY – implementation partner
Corporate – funder
The Global Shapers Community – introduced Rangeet to RDA
Rangeet – technology, curriculum and implementer
Prior to the start of the project:
50 teachers from these 5 schools and 2 teacher trainer representatives of CRY participated in a three day training course conducted by Rangeet’s team over Zoom.
A baseline study was conducted where students’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour were assessed using a questionnaire containing 10 questions from the above-mentioned topics.
Thereafter, the teachers went back to their schools where they taught SEEK lessons once a week for 7 weeks in 50 minute sessions, following the very detailed codified lessons in Rangeet’s mobile app. Each teacher taught approximately 20 students each week.
1000 students ranging from grades 4-8, were taught the ‘I Am India’ module from the Society Umbrella of SEEK, which deals with 5 types of discrimination: caste, religion, colour, language, socio-economic and gender. As a group the children and the teacher were asked to come up with potential solutions to various issues. Students learn and understand the vital role that empathy and the Golden Rule play in such solutions. They learn to appreciate diversity and different perspectives by putting themselves into the shoes of others to understand what they are going through in their lives.
The two CRY representatives visited and observed the 50 teachers over the course of the 7 weeks, providing support wherever required and reporting back to Rangeet’s team with feedback.
At the end of the final lesson, an endline study was conducted with the students to measure the impact of the SEEK intervention, using the same data collection tools in Rangeet’s app.
Results and Outcomes
The intervention was successful:
100% affirmed that their pedagogical skills had been enriched
100%of the tasks in each lesson were completed by the teacher in the given 50 minute period
67%of the teachers observed did not require additional support from the CRY representatives
68% of teachers said that they could apply the pedagogical methods to teach across other subject fields
100% affirmed that their pedagogical skills had been enriched
100%of the tasks in each lesson were completed by the teacher in the given 50 minute period
67%of the teachers observed did not require additional support from the CRY representatives
68% teachers said that they could apply the pedagogical methods to teach across other subject fields
100% affirmed that their pedagogical skills had been enriched
In addition to the quantitative results, teachers also observed qualitative changes in the students who participated in the program. The results of an endline evaluation showed that:
Students’ understanding of diversity and unity improved significantly
Students demonstrated positive behaviour and were more open to dealing with social issues
Students were more skilled in combating discrimination
Teachers were able to effectively integrate the SEEK program into their existing curriculum
Testimonials
"Thanks to this project there will be a feeling of unity and camaraderie between the students."
- Mr Chhavi Ranjan, Deputy Commissioner Ranchi District - Jharkhand, India
"Rangeet provides teachers with a truly joyful and engaging way of working with children. With lessons focused on mindfulness, empathy, anti-bullying, gender equity and building an appreciation for nature – it enables children to face the world with confidence and to make better choices, especially in these challenging times. Our teachers and children have thoroughly enjoyed the teaching learning process through this easy and interactive app, which importantly includes impact measurement.”
- Kreanne Rabadi, Regional Director West, CRY
"Through play and fun activities, children are learning about air pollution, greenhouse gases. They are also learning about greenhouse effects, how to stop wasting water and electricity and to save trees and plants and they're learning about this through play, stories, videos. Even the teachers are really enjoying Rangeet sessions and in fact they are learning a lot through the process themselves. Rangeet has brought about a newsness in the learning process. Kids that were very irregular coming to the learning centers are now very regular and want to attend every Rangeet class. We're finding that the course material of Rangeet is proving to be very useful in the children's daily lives."
- Ms Kumkum SharmaProject Coordinator CRY - Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Conclusion
Aligned with the National Education Policy (2020) and the National Curriculum Framework 2023, Rangeet’s SEEK curriculum offers a transformative approach to education, fostering holistic development and lifelong learning in all children. Its engaging and interactive methods captivate young minds. SEEK empowers children with the skills to navigate the complexities of the 21st century.
Through its inclusive and adaptable nature, Rangeet’s program ensures that every child, regardless of background or circumstances, has access to high-quality education (UN SDG 4).
Closing the digital divide is the crucial first-step to provide quality education across racial, gender, socio-economic, linguistic, and geographical barriers. Rangeet has institutionalised a collaborative process to tackle systemic problems. No single stakeholder can accomplish the scale and impact of an intervention and must rely on complementary partnerships. Technology must act as an enabler of the intervention rather than a deterrent.
The solutions must be derived bottom-up i.e. there must be adequate demand from the beneficiaries for the planned intervention. The solution must be:
Accessible to all, scalable, affordable, and adaptable to different cultural contexts and languages.
Acceptable to educators and the education fraternity by being pedagogically sound and play-based, developing skills that are relevant to the future of work.
Valuable to funders and administrators by being measurable.
Originally posted on the Rangeet blog page here.
