Harnessing Technology for Inclusivity in Education: The Top Parent Approach

In today's digital age, technology has become a powerful tool in transforming the landscape of early childhood education. At Top Parent, we spearhead innovative approaches that use technology to create an inclusive learning environment for children. Top Parent is a FREE resource to serve communities that need it the most, fostering holistic development through parental engagement, specially targeting low-income families with children aged 3-8 years.

Transformative Features Tailored for Diverse Learning Needs

Top Parent sets itself apart with a range of unique features tailored to diverse learning needs:

Educational Videos: The app integrates educational videos for children to enhance learning experiences. It has two sections: one for the parents and another for the child. The parent section consists of videos to provide knowledge and information about early childhood domain areas beyond numbers and letters, including social and emotional learning, nutrition, well-being, child protection, and more.?

Gamified Worksheets: Traditional worksheets get a digital makeover with interactive elements and game-like challenges, making learning fun and engaging for children of all abilities.

Our live-streaming feature brings real-time learning experiences directly to the fingertips of young learners. Blended Learning sessions in Math and English, including a targeted curriculum focusing on interventional strategies that are designed to help children develop new skills, overcome challenges in understanding, and achieve their goals. Live streaming sessions for Spoken English with vernacular support for ESL learners.

Accessibility Features: The app is designed to be user-friendly and accessible, even for those with low literacy or connectivity issues. Developed using a human-centered design, Top Parent uses less than 3Mb space; and can be used anytime, anywhere even with low connectivity.? With features like vernacular support, currently available in Hindi and with Marathi language support. Audio is supported for low literacy.?

Our innovative ChatBot solution offers a seamless interface for users to interact with on WhatsApp. Our front-end engagement is optimized through Glific for WhatsApp nudges and Bhashini for text-to-Indian-native-voice features. Our chatbot's architecture is designed to provide a multilingual, interactive experience that accommodates a broad spectrum of user queries.

Strategies for Equitable Access:

In addition to the above listed built-in accessibility features listed above, a range of strategies has been implemented to ensure equitable access to educational technology. These measures are designed to bridge gaps and promote inclusivity, ensuring that all learners have the opportunity to benefit from digital learning resources.

1. Our app leverages the understanding of brain development by deploying multiple learning modes, thereby creatively engaging parents and children. According to The Gordon Kelley Academic Success Center, students exposed to multiple learning styles (multimodal) can learn quicker, deeper, and also retain more of what they learned. By offering diverse learning formats such as audio, video, text-based materials, and interactive sessions, it activates multiple sensory systems in the brain. This approach fosters faster, deeper, and more effective learning outcomes as it forms multiple sets of connections associated with the learning experience.

1. We have implemented an Accelerated Learning Framework (ALF) model to match the skill and competency level of the child. It works on two levels: a) identified key competencies mapped to the national curriculum to serve content that promotes foundational literacy and numeracy, and b) scaffold learning through self-paced learning based on competencies and levels. This ensures that children receive appropriate instruction and support, advance children's learning, closing learning gaps, and increasing learners’ self-efficacy.

1. In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, parents play a pivotal role in shaping their children's educational journey. As advocates for their child's learning experience, parents are increasingly turning to technology to bridge gaps, enhance accessibility, and promote inclusivity in education.?

Worldwide research has found that higher parental engagement in children’s learning positively affects their learning outcomes, including academic achievement and greater social and emotional development. Our vision is to create an ecosystem where parental engagement is used as a lever to foster early childhood education in low-income families across India. We intend to reach out to 1Mn+ families by 2023 and 3Mn+ families by 2025. Our initiative places a strong emphasis on parental engagement to empower young children for school readiness and lifelong success, with the goal of nurturing positive early childhood development.

In conclusion, our innovative approach to integrate technology for inclusivity in education represents an important step towards breaking down barriers to education and empowering children to reach their full potential. By providing a comprehensive and engaging learning environment that caters to diverse learning needs, Top Parent is not only fostering academic growth but also promoting social inclusion and equity in education. Through the collaborative efforts of parents, and technology, Top Parent is paving the way for a brighter future for children across India. The Top Parent App is available for download on the Google Play Store. Click Here (link)