Digital Story Time
USABILITY/STATUS: In Use
INNOVATOR: eKitabu
GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS: Kenya
SOLUTION TYPE: Communications Technology
Summary
Half-hour Digital Story Time episodes feature Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) videos and storybooks designed to help all children continue their learning. The program began while schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The episodes, which were originally broadcast on Kenyan TV, YouTube, and ekitabu.com/TV, are also available at Digital Story Time.
Usability/Features
- Operating system: N/A
- Hardware: Television, smartphone, tablet with Internet access
- Connectivity: Online: Viewers can access 37 episodes via YouTube, including audio and KSL video with illustrations and comprehension questions.
- Accessibility features: Sign language video, subtitles
- Accessories needed for use: Headphones
- How it supports learning: Digital Story Time was developed by eKitabu during the COVID-19 pandemic to support children out of school in Kenya. The content was developed from KSL books that were funded under ACR GDC’s Book Boost and Sign on for Literacy competitions.
- Costs: Device to access episodes; no other cost implications
Setting
- Settings: Home, school
- Target Populations: Teachers, parents, children, project implementers
- Current Language(s): English/ Kiswahili
- Geography (locations): Kenya
Use Case
- Through the Book Boost: Access for All Challenge and Sign on for Literacy prizes, ACR GCD funded eKitabu to adapt more than 100 early grade books into accessible EPUBs, including 51 with embedded KSL and RSL (Rwandan Sign Language). In response to COVID-19, eKitabu rapidly built on these materials to produce Digital Story Time, a daily, 30-minute television broadcast for children and families. The stories were added to the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development’s (KICD) term learning activities, and run twice daily on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.