1. CPRSouth2017 Enumerating the obstacles of accelerating the use of digital classroom: Lessons from Bangladesh
Md Abu Sayed, Moinul Zaber,
Amin Ahsan Ali, Parvez Mosharaf,
Data and Design Lab, University of Dhaka
CPRsouth 2017, Yangon, Myanmar, 30thAugust-1st September 2017

2. Introduction
Government of Bangladesh has taken initiatives to set up Digital Classrooms with Multimedia Projector, Screen, Sound system & Laptop
Approx. 38,000 Digital Classrooms have been set up all over the country [ classroom/]
Approx. 200,000 teachers got training on content development [
We want to know What is the condition of Digital inclusion in the Classrooms of Bangladesh ?

3. Educational scenario of Bangladesh No
Educational scenario of Bangladesh No. of Primary & Secondary schools are increasing over time
Ref: Bangladesh Education Statistics-2016, BANBEIS

4. However in the Classrooms (Teacher/Student ratio is also increasing)
Student depends too much on the teacher
One way lecture delivery from teacher to students
Interactivity is missing like student feedback on a lecture delivered by the teacher
The lesson plan prepared by the teacher is sometimes boring
Students are inattentive or distracted by other issues in class
Students feel shy to ask questions to the teacher [Yousuf M.I. et al/2006]
Primary school Student-Teacher ratio
Ref:

5. Total Enrolment in Primary, Secondary, College & University level (as of 2016)
0.82 Million
Dropout
2.94 Million
Higher Secondary
3.76 Million
Dropout
6.42 Million
Secondary School
10.18 Million
Dropout
8.42 Million
Primary
18.60 Million
Ref: Bangladesh Education Statistics-2016, BANBEIS

6. How digital inclusion in the classroom may help (given huge gap in student –teacher ratio)
More interactive class helps student to understand lecture delivered easily
Better student feedback to teacher
Help teacher to pre-plan lectures
Help teacher to tailor his lectures if required
Motivate students to participate in class
Reduce Dropout

7. Digital inclusion = Infrastructure + Content Government initiated Content Portal Shikkhokbatayan:
Type of Education
General Education
Vocational
Madrasa Education
Upload contents
Download and use
Comment on contents
As of Sept 31, 2017
Total no. of Contents available: 118,755
Registered Teachers: 245,778
Digital inclusion = infrastucture + content

8. Research question
What is the rate of digital inclusion in schools in Bangladesh (in terms of usage of content)?
What is reason behind slow/fast inclusion rate?
We conduct a perception survey to answer these questions

9. Research Method Stratified Sampling Survey Qualitative Data Analysis
Preparation of Scalar Questionnaire with help of secondary sources
Stratified Sampling
Survey
Qualitative Data Analysis

10. Survey Questionnaire Information regarding the educator
Gender, district, education, school, subject taught, avg. number of students taught in classes, teaching experiences etc
Familiarity with ICT and Digital Content
Training on ICT or Content development, ICT tools for education, Daily computer/ ICT use, Use digital content from portal, Develop or modify content for class etc.
Use of Digital Content in the class
Use of content from portals like for class lecture
Time spend to develop or modify content
ICT infrastructure at School
How many computers are available at school
Access to computer at school for teachers

11. Survey Questionnaire Cont.
Student feedback
How they got student feedback in class
If teachers are interested to use ICT tools to get student feedback
Technical support at school
If technical support is available at school
Motivation from school to use digital content
If school authority encourage teachers to use digital content
If teachers are interested to use digital content in class
Content development support from experts
If teachers appreciate customized content development support from expert
If they want the experts to visit their school for customization

12. Stratified Sampling
Total No. of Educational Institutions (excluding tertiary and special ) in Bangladesh is around 1,10,000 (as of 2017)
Government has been setup 38,000 digital classrooms all over the country
Thus 34.5% schools have digital classrooms
We went to 28 schools in 4 districts among which 10 have digital classrooms
35.7% of our sample are equipped with digital classroom setup

13. Sample Selection 13
From 1st May, 2017 to 15th July, 2017
Count
Area
Sent to participate in survey
500
All over the
country
replied by teachers to participate in our survey
100
Various regions
Teachers participated in Survey 73
From 4 districts
Total Schools with digital classroom setup in those districts
10 out of 28 schools
Total Schools without digital classroom setup
18 out of 28 schools
Average no. of teacher per school
3 teachers
More than one computer is available in 92.8% schools in our sample but teachers are not using it for digital content development.

14. Districts are demographically comparable
All Level
School Education (Secondary & Higher Secondary)
District
TSR
Dropout (%)
School
Population
Population per Institution
Enrolment per Thousand Population
Dinajpur 29
21.1
693
4720 67
Khulna 32
19.6
428
5855 64
Mymensing 44
23.8
647
8921 56
Sylhet 48
23.3
387
9638 58
Ref: Bangladesh Education Statistics-2015, BANBEIS

15. Findings
1. Teachers albeit, having experiences in personal use of computing devices, are not motivated at using ICT tools regularly for in- class lecture delivery.

16. Appox.58% Teachers have 10+ years Teaching Experience
No. of Teachers surveyed

17. Approx. 70% Teachers use ICT tools at Home or School more than 1 hour a day
No. of Teachers surveyed

18. Approx. 49% Teachers have received minimum training on Content or ICT
No. of Teachers surveyed

19. Only approx.18% teachers use digital content regularly (downloaded from in class or self learning)
No. of Teachers surveyed

20. 2. Teachers are eager to use contents from third-parties such as teachers.gov.bd. However, Busy schedule (lack of expertise ?) deter educators from making digital contents by themselves.

21. Appox. 68% Teachers are busy more than 3 hours (after school) a day with school related works
No. of Teachers surveyed

22. Appox. 53% teachers develop/modify lecture contents (non digital) for classes when required. Some spend fixed time everyday
No. of Teachers surveyed

23. More than 93% teachers would appreciate usable digital content
No. of Teachers surveyed

24. 3. Teachers would appreciate co- designing contents with in-school experts

25. Approx. 92% teachers would like to co-design at their school premises with expert help
No. of Teachers surveyed

26. Summary and Policy Proposal
92.8% schools in our sample have more than one computers available for use, but teachers seldom use them for digital content development
Teachers are eager to use digital contents but they do not have enough expertise or time
Content portals such as are there, but teachers do not have that much time or expertise to download, customize and use content in class
Proposals ?
Initiate content co-designing with experts in school premises
A fix number of teachers from each school may be given periodical training with proper skills for content development who can then become in-school experts (picked up from a comment)