Parity to Power

Virtual Mentoring Environment Tackling Gender Parity in Developing Countries

• Introduction to Parity to Power • Requirements Gathering

– User Requirements – UML Diagrams (Use Case)

– Functional Requirements – Storyboarding – Non Functional Requirements

• Similar Systems and Applications • Architectural Diagram

• Feasibility • Conclusion • References

Introduction & Project Development

Introduction

• The primary aim of Parity to Power is to address the “UN Millennium Goal 3”: Promote gender equality and empower women.

• Parity to Power specifically aims to tackle gender disparity in primary education throughout developing countries.

The Problem • In regions such as South and West Asia, the

Arab States, and sub-Saharan Africa, there were only 80 girls (or less) starting primary school for every 100 boys (UNESCO, 2008).

• The numbers of qualified teachers in Mozambique have not increased at the same pace as student enrolments. The ratio currently stands at 61:1 (UNFPA, 2005).

The Problem • The findings of a study by the Pan-African Research

Agenda (2009) found there are 812 male teachers compared to just 367 female teachers working in Mozambique.

• This suggests that the difference in the number of male to female teachers potentially contributes to the gender gap in primary education.

• Therefore, an increase in the number of female teachers in Mozambique can potentially increase the number of female students in primary education.

The Solution

• Parity to Power will provide an electronic service where female teachers in developing countries can link up with female teachers in developed countries that are fully trained and qualified.

• This service will provide a combination of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

The Solution

• Through the VLE, the fully trained teacher can share standardised education programmes, lesson plans, assignments, training aids etc. to support the less qualified teacher.

User Requirements

• Educational

• Hardware

• Language

• Internet Experience

• Keyboard Skills

Use Case Diagram

Functional Requirements General

• Home

• About • Register

• Terms and Conditions

• Login

• Select School

• Select Teacher • Access Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

• VideoChat

• Chat • Mail

• Links – e.g. Assignments, Activities

• Lessons – e.g. Maths, History

• Calendar

• World Clock • My Diary

Functional Requirements Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Welcome

Register

Registration Info

Terms & Conditions

Thanks for Registering

Reg Info & T&C stored in Database

Login

Enter Username & Password

Home

Getting Started

View Facebook Video

View MSN Messenger Video

View Hotmail email Video

View VoIP Video

View VLE Video

Schools

Search Schools

View Schools

Select School

Upload Lessons

Contact

Contact Details

Email system Administrator

Feedback

Feedback Information

Feedback

to system Administrator

Log Out

View Video

Outline Diagram

Storyboard

Home: view home page and video About: displays information regarding the service, it’s aims and benefits

Register: Displays Terms and Conditions Register: Step 1 of 4 select teacher type

Select of fer assistance or looking for assistance

Storyboard

Register: Step 2 of 4 Register: Step 3 of 4

Register: Step 4 of 4 Login

Storyboard

Select: pick a school Step 1 Select: pick a teacher Step 2

Select: choose teacher and view teacher profile

Storyboard

Home: Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Chat: Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Loading: Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Non Functional Requirements • User Non Functional Requirements

• Usability Requirements • Security and Privacy Requirements

• Performance Requirements

• Resource and Management Requirements

• Modification Requirements

• Error Handling

• Portability • Availability

Similar Applications

http://www.teachnet.ie/

TeachNet • Irish Web based service • Encourage teachers to create and publish

educational content for Internet • Web 2.0 ready – includes blogs and podcasts • Fresh and clean layout Useful functions • RSS feeds regarding education • Podcasts • Blog • Calendar • Good use of metaphors and icons Pages • Courses • Microsoft Education (Stakeholder) • News • Disclaimer • Accessibility – would be useful in Parity to Power

Learning without frontiers – Lord David Puttnam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Iv0rOYHTIU

Similar Applications

http://teachersnetwork.org/index.htm

Teachers network • American based non-profit organisation • Run by teachers for teachers • Layout cluttered and text heavy Useful functions Connecting links to: • Facebook • Twitter • View Video • Check Out Blog Pages • Videos for teachers • Lesson plans • How to articles

Similar Applications

http://www.buddyschool.com/

Buddy School • Run by Sea Blue Media, LLC an American based

business who provide Internet educational media solutions

• Students and teachers meet up online • Search engine facilitates connections between

students and teachers • Layout clear, but a bit cluttered Useful functions • Clearly categorized into Student and Teacher • Search tutor • Subject categories ie Arts & Crafts, Languages etc Pages • Register – very clear • Find a teacher • Schedule • How does BuddySchool work • Schedule - calendar • Frequently asked questions

Other Similar Systems • African Virtual University (AVU)

– Attempts to tackle gender mainstreaming in their educational programs by marketing their courses towards women.

– Fee paying. Does not encourage primary school girls. – AVUTEP: Teacher Education Program.

• Parity.com – Social networking pen pal system designed to further

education and training in developing countries. – Pen pal system designed to encourage young schoolgirls to

continue their education. – Imagine Cup (O’Brien. G. & Doyle. L. (2009). Parity. Paper

presented at Imagine Cup)

Architectural Diagram VoIP: Voice over Internet Protocol

Database/Server: Information entered by the users in during the register process will be stored for retrieval by the users.

Administrator: The administrator will regulate, monitor and review the system information.

Communication: Teachers communicate and share through the cloud by VoIP, email, uploading and downloading files.

Business Viability

• Costing: to host fully functioning pilot system €5,000 to €10,000 approximately

• Self sustaining “eModerator”

• ICT policies within developing countries

• GOAL (2011) To provide enriching education to society’s most vulnerable people

Conclusion

• Targets for reducing gender gaps in developing countries are likely to be achieved by 2015, as long as special attention is given to girls and the reduction in gender imbalances in primary education.

• The absence of female teachers means that female students remain in a predominantly male environment increasing feelings of insecurity within the female students.

Conclusion

• Parity to Power will promote positive female role models in education which will potentially lead to an increase in the number of female students attending primary education in developing countries.

References

Bloomsberg Businessweek. (2011). Internet Software and Services. Sea Blue Media, LLC. Retrieved from http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=80817

Buddy School. (2011). Retrieved from http://teachersnetwork.org/index.htm O’Reilly, T. (2005). What is Web 2.0 . Design patterns and business models for the next generation of

software. Retrieved http://oreilly.com/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html Teachers Network. (2011). Retrieved from http://teachersnetwork.org/AboutUs/purpose.htm TeachNet. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.teachnet.ie/SitePages/home.aspx The International Development and Research Centre (IDRC). (2010). IDRC in Mozambique. Retrieved

from http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-8513-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html UNESCO (2008). Gender parity in education: Not there yet. Retrieved from

http://www.uis.unesco.org/template/pdf/EducGeneral/UIS Factsheet_2008_No%201_EN.pdf UNFPA (2005). State of world population 2005. The promise of equality: gender equity, reproductive

health & the MDGs. Retrieved from http://unfpa.org/swp/2005/presskit/factsheets/fact gender.htm.

United Nations. (2010). We can end poverty 2015: Millennium Development Goals. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/gend er.shtml.

YouTube. (2011). Learning without frontiers – Lord David Puttnam. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Iv0rOYHTIU