Overview of the Project
This project involved conceptualising an assistive device for educating children in rural Bihar and was carefully crafted keeping in mind the massive socioeconomic and political hindrances to education. The device was designed to provide a support system towards children’s education and was conceived as a part of a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model. It was not speculated as a smartphone integrated audio-visual device, as very few in the village possessed them. Two intense weeks were spent in Bihar, oscillating between two villages called Ambadi and Kuridangi, a homogeneous and a heterogeneous social context respectively.
The aim of the initial research was to identify the systemic factors, environmental causes, mental models that affect and influence the children’s aspirations and contribute towards their holistic development. The insights from this study were instrumental in creating the assistive technology, with due consideration given to the father’s role and the societal expectation on education. The standards of education were in a dismal state and the only option was unaffordable private coaching. The practice of teaching at home was missing due to many factors such as mother’s illiteracy and paucity of time for fathers. The children were at the disposal of the Anganwadi teachers, who were unmotivated and often resorted to corporal punishments.
Outputs and Outcomes
In such a scenario, designing assistive technology, which aimed to involve fathers in the process of educating children while tending to their social-emotional needs was conceptualised in ten days. In the long-run, the idea was to transform the belief systems of the father and the entire family knowing change is incremental and therefore requires both digital and non-digital interventions.
The assistive technology conceptualised was part of “Char kadam Apne Shiksha parivartan ke ore” programme under the PPP model involving the local NGOs, the government and the family. It consisted of four steps: Sikho-Sunno (Learn & listen), Sunnao-Sikhao (Tell & Teach), Prayog Karo (Practice and Follow), Aklan-Sahasrijan (Assess and Co-create), and the assistive device called Siksha Saarathi was a part of this programme. The device could show a movie or video lessons and even play recorded stories. It is an audio-video device that operates on a set of batteries easily. I had to resort to a holistic intervention involving a support system because change is incremental and doesn’t just rely on the motivation of an individual but of the collective. Factors such as financial incentives, accountability and support were orchestrated into the device usage making it robust. I am still in the process of making the prototype functional using Arduino Uno.
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Systems Map: The casual and consequence map of children’s aspiration was debunked using systems map
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Synthesising the raw materials, anecdotes and interviews into a Thematic analysis to ascertain emerging patterns of community and its influence on the social and cognitive development of the children. The four categories in this analysis were External Narrative, Internal Narrative, Tangibles and Intangibles.
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The use of the Causal Layered Analysis model was to map the research into the litany, systemic causes, worldview and Metaphors & Myths in order to make changes at different levels for a coherent future.
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Use of stakeholders map to clarify the relationship between the Parents, External Organisations and the Bihar government’s involvement.
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The assistive technology was created using a few mapped parameters such as Audio-visual form and content, Cost Effectiveness, Easy to Navigate, From their Environment, Replacing entertainment.
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A spin on the empathy map tool to determine a typical day in Father’s life to intercept and intervene the gap.
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Rapid paper prototyping and designing a 3D version of the prototype was attempted using different analogous inspiration and design from existing digital products of our daily use like, loudspeaker, bioscope and TV screens.
Approaches and Methods
Both the methods used in research and conceptualising the device are discussed in this segment.
The methods employed to do the research were mainly ethnographic research but, the most effective ones with the children and mothers were roleplaying and using speculative design tools, like the magic box- thought experiment and participatory design activities using what-if scenarios and drawing with the children in order to reach out and prod them to respond deeply and intrinsically. This was done in lieu of survey forms and formal interviews, which yielded no responses initially.
The insights were brought back to the design table; it was dissected to address the vicious cycle of deteriorating education systems for the children in Bihar.
This process involved unpacking the insights using different design tools and frameworks such as the following:
