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How can all young learners have access to quality, safe, and equitable learning environments?

Equitable Classrooms

Closed

Submissions are closed

Timeline

  • Applications Open

    March 1, 2021 9:00am EST
  • Solution Deadline

    March 1, 2021 9:00am EST
  • Challenge Opens

    March 1, 2021 9:00am EST
  • Deadline to Submit a Solution

    June 16, 2021 2:00pm EDT
  • Judging Round 1

    June 28, 2021 11:55pm EDT
  • Judging Round 2

    July 15, 2021 2:22pm EDT
  • Judging Round 3

    July 16, 2021 11:59pm EDT
  • Technical Vetting

    August 16, 2021 11:55pm EDT
  • Solve Challenge Finals

    September 19, 2021 12:00pm EDT

Challenge Overview

The pandemic has upended entire education systems, with an estimated 1.5 billion primary and secondary learners’ (ages 5-18) education disrupted. Some schools have shifted to distance learning, while others shut down completely. Many have had limited operations for months. These disruptions exacerbate pre-existing education inequalities along wealth, gender, ethnicity, linguistic, and geographical lines. Primary and secondary school students have shown incredible resilience in the face of these challenges, yet if not addressed, unfinished learning could represent a $10 trillion loss in lifetime earnings.

Even before the Covid-19 crisis, learning environments—whether physical classrooms or remote and hybrid settings—were in need of significant reimagining to support young learners to develop the skills and competencies they need to thrive in the 21st century. Proven interventions, including early career exploration and self-directed, experiential, and social-emotional learning show promise, but will need to be adapted and scaled to benefit the most underserved and to ensure equality of opportunity for all. 

The MIT Solve community is looking for technology-based solutions that ensure all primary and secondary school learners have access to quality, safe, and equitable learning environments. To that end, Solve seeks solutions that:

  • Increase the engagement of learners in remote, hybrid, and physical environments, including strategies and tools for parental support, peer interaction, and guided independent work.

  • Enable access to quality learning experiences in low-connectivity settings—including imaginative play, collaborative projects, and hands-on experiments.

  • Ensure the physical safety and mental health of learners—for example, through tools for crisis support, reporting violence, and mitigating cyberbullying.

  • Support teachers to adapt their pedagogy, facilitate personalized instruction, and communicate with students and their families in remote and hybrid settings.

Prizes

Solver Funding 

All solutions selected for Solve’s five current Global Challenges will receive a $10,000 grant funded by Solve. Solver teams will be selected by a panel of cross-sector judges.

The ASA Prize for Equitable Education

The ASA Prize for Equitable Education will award a prize for digital solutions tailored to U.S.-based primary and secondary classrooms that provide career exploration or experimentation. Solutions that are embedded as part of core curriculum, utilize project based learning, ensure equitable access, and have an emphasis on teacher professional development are preferred. American Student Assistance® (ASA) is committed to helping students know themselves, know their options, and make informed decisions to achieve their education and career goals. Up to $250,000 will be granted to or invested in solutions from the Equitable Classrooms Challenge, the Digital Inclusion Challenge, the Antiracist Technology in the US Challenge, and/or Indigenous Communities Fellowship.

The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion

The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion is open to solutions that advance the economic, financial, and political inclusion of refugees. The prize is funded by Andan Foundation, a Swiss non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting solutions that promote refugee resilience, self-reliance and integration. Up to $100,000 will be granted to up to four eligible Solver teams from across any of Solve’s Global Challenges and the Community Indigenous Fellowship.

The GM Prize

The GM Prize is open to solutions that help create smart, safe, and sustainable communities around the world. The Prize is funded by General Motors, which is working toward becoming the most inclusive company in the world, and dedicated to making STEM education more accessible and equitable. Up to $150,000 will be granted to up to six recipients from the Antiracist Technology in the US, Equitable Classrooms, and Resilient Ecosystems Challenges.

Innovation for Women Prize

Solutions that use innovative technology to improve quality of life for women and girls are eligible for the Innovation for Women Prize. This prize is funded by the Vodafone Americas Foundation, which supports technology-focused projects that advance the needs of women and girls, and that promote a world where women’s voices can be celebrated. Up to $75,000 will be granted across up to three Solver teams from any of Solve’s current Global Challenges.

The AI For Humanity Prize

The AI for Humanity Prize is open to solutions leveraging data science, artificial intelligence, and/or machine learning to benefit humanity, as well as to those planning to utilize these technologies to amplify their impact. The prize is made possible by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, a philanthropy committed to advancing AI and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. Up to $200,000 in funding will be awarded across several Solver teams from any of Solve’s Global Challenges.

The GSR Prize

GSR will award a prize to solutions that use an innovative and sustainable approach to tackling the most pressing issues of their local communities. As a leading cryptocurrency trading firm, GSR seeks to support education (in particular STEM), alleviate poverty, and contribute to a sustainable world, with an emphasis on blockchain or innovative technology-powered solutions. Up to $150,000 will be awarded across three solutions from the Digital Inclusion, Equitable Classrooms, or Resilient Ecosystems Challenges.



FAQ

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Judging Criteria

  • Potential for Impact: The planned solution implementation has the potential to impact the intended population.
  • Feasibility: Solution implementation is feasible, and the team has a plan for financial sustainability.
  • Innovative Approach: The solution includes a new technology, a new application of technology, a new business model, or a new process for solving the Challenge.
  • Inclusive Human-Centered Design: The solution is designed with and for underserved communities, and the solution team demonstrates proximity to the community and embodies and addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion through their solution.
  • Scalability: The solution can be scaled to affect the lives of more people.
  • Partnership Potential: The applicant clearly explains how the solution would benefit from the broad range of resources that the Solve community is positioned to provide.
  • Scalability (actual):

Solutions

Selected

JovenSalud.net

By Mary Coffman
Mary Coffman
Selected

ProGame - Coding WITHOUT Computers!

By Suraj Meiyur
Suraj Meiyur Sowjanya Suraj
Selected

Rocket Learning

By Namya Mahajan
Namya Mahajan Azeez Gupta
Selected

sensoryREADY

By Ayman Arandi
Ayman Arandi
Selected

Ubongo Edutainment

By Fatema Ismailjee
Fatema Ismailjee
Selected

Tyto Online

By Lindsey Tropf
Lindsey Tropf
Selected

Otsimo

By Zafer Elcik
Zafer Elcik Sercan Değirmenci
Finalist

Read to Lead

By Matthew Chacko
Matthew Chacko
Finalist

Kolibri

By Lauren Lichtman
Lauren Lichtman Navya Akkinepally Laura Danforth Richard Tibbles
Finalist

Brume

By Serge Versille
Serge Versille
Finalist

The ReFunza Project

By Ruth Njiri
Ruth Njiri
Finalist

eFlow Education

By Bassel Jalaleddine
Bassel Jalaleddine Ghadeer Taki Samer Bawab
Finalist

Arts for All by Slam Out Loud

By Jigyasa Labroo
Jigyasa Labroo
Finalist

Interactive at-home learning on WhatsApp

By Aishwarya Geete
Aishwarya Geete Akshay Saxena
Submitted

Class Saathi

By Pankaj Agarwal
Pankaj Agarwal

Meet the Judges

Challenge Leadership Group

Emiliana Vegas

Emiliana Vegas

The Brookings Institution, Senior Fellow and Co-Director
Kimberly Coletti

Kimberly Coletti

Save the Children, Director of Global Center of Excellence for Innovation
David Moinina  Sengeh

David Moinina Sengeh

Government of Sierra Leone, Chief Innovation Officer
Claudia Urrea

Claudia Urrea

MIT, Senior Associate Director of MIT pK-12
Rudayna Abdo

Rudayna Abdo

Thaki, Founder
Michel DeGraff

Michel DeGraff

MIT / MIT-Haiti, Professor / Founder & Director
Adam Simpson

Adam Simpson

UN Women, Special Advisor, Policy Programme & Intergovernmental Division
David Ocanas

David Ocanas

Grupo Dragon, Finance
Gouri Gupta

Gouri Gupta

Central Square Foundation, Director EdTech
Adesuwa Ifedi

Adesuwa Ifedi

Heifer International, Senior Vice President, Africa Programs
Alisa Wilke

Alisa Wilke

American Student Assistance, Senior Vice President, Product Operations
Thomas Davin

Thomas Davin

UNICEF Office of Innovation, Director
Björn Haßler

Björn Haßler

Open Development and Education Limited, Director
Nadia Gil

Nadia Gil

GSR, ESG Director and Chair GSR Foundation
Alex Twinomugisha

Alex Twinomugisha

World Bank Group, Senior Education & Technology Specialist
Rina Lopez

Rina Lopez

Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc., President
Camila Pereira

Camila Pereira

Lemann Foundation, Education Director
Jaye Richards-Hill

Jaye Richards-Hill

Microsoft, Learning and Skills Lead - Middle East and Africa HQ Education Team

Faculty Co-Chair

Eric Klopfer

Eric Klopfer

MIT, Professor and Director of the Scheller Teacher Education Program and The Education Arcade