How can teachers and educators provide accessible, personalized, and creative learning experiences for all?

Challenge Overview

Education remains the most important investment a community can make both to bolster the growth of its economy and to reduce inequality. Yet, 61 million children do not have access to primary education, another 142 million teenagers are not enrolled in secondary school, and less than 10 percent of the world’s population hold college degrees.

Further, as technology continues to transform the job market and the economy, youth and adults require new skills and lifelong learning opportunities that are relevant to the jobs and livelihoods of the future. They also require learning experiences that foster creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking—skills that can never be taught solely or perhaps at all by machines, an app, or a video. Teachers and educators of all types—whether in the classroom, in the lab, in the workplace, in the workshop, or at home—are essential to providing learners with the knowledge and skills they need to contribute to society and reach their full potential. Yet, teachers and educators are too often undervalued, inadequately trained, and poorly supported. What’s more, UNESCO estimates the demand for teachers in developing countries will double by 2030, requiring an additional 69 million new educators globally.

Instead of thinking that technology and digital tools will usurp and replace educators, how can technology amplify the work of teachers, support new educators and learning facilitators, and help them bring better quality education to their students?

The Solve community aims to find innovative solutions to support teachers and educators to better provide accessible, personalized, and creative learning experiences for all. To do so, Solve welcomes solutions from innovators around the world that:

• Support educators in fostering innovation, creativity, critical thinking, social and emotional learning, and skills-building in diverse learners

• Propose new models for affordable training to increase both the quality and quantity of teachers and other educators, particularly in disadvantaged communities

• Ensure educators are adequately recruited, well-trained, professionally qualified, motivated, and supported

• Personalize and adapt teaching to all, especially people with disabilities, and learners living in areas disrupted by crises or in low-income settings

Solver Funding, Prize, and Partnership Eligibility for the Teachers & Educators Challenge

Solver Funding

All solutions selected in Solve’s four current Global Challenges will receive a $10,000 grant funded by Solve. Solver teams will be selected by a panel of cross-sector judges at Solve Challenge Finals during UN General Assembly week in New York City on September 23, 2018. The deadline to apply is July 1, 2018.

In addition to Solve funding, Solver teams who also fulfill the criteria below are eligible for the following prizes and partnerships. You do not need to meet these requirements to apply to the Teachers & Educators Challenge:

The GM Prize for Advanced Technologies

Solutions that deploy advanced technologies are eligible for grant funding provided by General Motors. Selected solutions will use advanced technologies to provide affordable and accessible training to educators, personalized learning for a diverse set of learners, or a holistic approach to teaching STEM. A panel of cross-sector judges will select up to two Solver teams from the Teachers & Educators Challenge to receive the prize at Solve Challenge Finals during UN General Assembly week in New York City on September 23, 2018.

Artificial Intelligence for the Betterment of Humanity Prize

Solutions that use artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve the human condition are eligible for this prize. This prize is made possible by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and our global community through information technology. Up to four recipients of the Artificial Intelligence for the Betterment of Humanity Prize will receive an initial grant of $25,000 each when selected during Solve Challenge Finals in September. One of these Solver teams will then be eligible for an additional grant of $100,000 to be announced at Solve at MIT in May 2019. Eligible Solver teams may be selected from any of Solve's four current Global Challenges.

UN Women She Innovates Prize for Gender-Responsive Innovation 

Solutions that are women-led or use innovation to advance the needs of women and girls are eligible for this prize. This prize is founded by UN Women Global Innovation Coalition for Change. The grant is made possible by Citi, with additional support from SAP Next-Gen. One Solver team will be the recipient of the UN Women She Innovates Prize for Gender-Responsive Innovation, and will receive a grant of $30,000 when selected during Solve Challenge Finals in September. Eligible Solver teams may be selected from any of Solve's four current Global Challenges.

Blockchain for Social Impact Prize

Solutions that make use of the Ethereum blockchain are eligible to be selected as one of four ConsenSys Blockchain for Social Impact Coalition (BSIC) Fellows. BSIC is a global network supporting social and environmental impact through blockchain-based innovation. Each Fellow will receive $5,000, a two-month minimum residency at a global ConsenSys location, and the opportunity to participate in a bootcamp in Santa Monica, CA. Successful residency can lead to additional funding or investment from ConsenSys Ventures or other members of the coalition. Applicants must include a link to a published white paper in their application by July 20, 2018. Eligible Solver teams may be selected from any of Solve's four current Global Challenges.

Save the Children Prize for Breakthrough Innovations for Children

Solutions that benefit children or youth in countries where Save the Children works are eligible for the Save the Children Prize for Breakthrough Innovations for Children. Up to four Solver teams will receive a grant of $25,000 per solution and access to in-country Save the Children resources. This prize is made possible by Save the Children, which believes every child deserves a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm. 

Teachers & Educators Prize

Up to six Solver teams selected from the Teachers & Educators Challenge will receive a grant of $25,000 per solution. This prize is made possible by an anonymous donor.