AI Class Monitor

We propose AI Class Monitor, an artificial intelligence tool that uses computer vision to track students' behaviors in the classroom. This solution aims to solve the problem of under-learning due to the low teacher-to-student ratio in low resourced educational system in a way that ensures access to a high-quality, safe, and equitable learning environment. 
   
The first phase computes the frequency gestures such as standing, raising
hands, yawning, sitting posture, walking, and other actions. These
movements are calculated, and a per-frame attention score is created,
which allows teachers to track their performance and receive feedback on
how they may improve their classroom method.  
 
The second phase involves a more individualistic approach in which teachers
and parents can have end-to-end information on a child's attentiveness,
from when he is able to make it to class to monitor him while he is
in class, to monitor a child's attentiveness, provide teachers with
personalized support based on the child's attentiveness rate, and
provide real-time updates to parents via SMS/automated voice dialing in
local languages.

Under learning
is a multidimensional problem in low-resource educational systems.
While the issue necessitates a multi-level intervention, our solution, AI Class Monitor focuses on boosting learning despite the challenges by enhancing the classroom monitoring experience, especially in packed classrooms. 
 
Despite the fact that Nigeria's National Policy on Education prescribes a
teacher-pupil ratio of 1:40 (the number of children in a specific school
divided by the number of trained instructors). However, most schools,
particularly in metropolitan areas, surpass the ratio. Nigeria is also
one of the nations mentioned by the United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization's Data Centre. 
 

 AI Class Monitor is an artificial intelligence tool that utilises computer vision to track students' behaviors in the classroom. It aims to improve the optimal performance of students by calculating the attentiveness of a class detecting using AI and aggregating assigned scores for common gestures such as hand raising, writing, standing, sitting, bending, The aggregated score is then used to determine an attentiveness score per class, per instructor and later per student.

 
In classrooms, cameras are installed to gather real-time visuals, which are subsequently evaluated by an AI algorithm in the backend. The AI class monitor cameras in classrooms would complement the efforts of teachers thus leveraging AI to promote optimal performance of students in real-time.
 
To anticipate the likelihood of a child's non-performance and indifference in school as a result of exhaustion, restlessness, molestation, illness, home issues, and starvation.  To recognize if a child is more sensitive to certain subjects than others. This can aid in subject selection as well as determining a child's interests. 

Using the findings, enhance teaching procedures and upgrade classrooms in ways that make education more enjoyable and maybe lower school drop-out rates. Holding teachers more responsible by investigating how they maintain classroom attentiveness and engagement, as well as how they ensure that they complete the task of teaching that they are paid to perform while in class.

This solution is designed to improve the learning experience for students in low-resourced educational systems where there is under learning due to overcrowding. The idea was developed in collaboration with AI researchers by experienced instructors who have taught in a system where the pupil-to-teacher ratio is high. AI Class monitor assigns an attentiveness score based on an aggregation of gestures such as frequency of activities and poses such as standing, raising of hands, yawning, sitting posture, walking. Engaging activities such as the raising hands and writing are scored higher on the attentiveness scale compared to passive activities like sitting or standing. 

The AI Class monitor is designed to support students, teachers, and parents to leverage AI technology to improve the quality of learning delivery and outcomes. 

Education in Nigeria is bedeviled with myriads of problems. These include; poor funding, poor educational infrastructures, poor teaching aids, paucity of quality teachers, and a poor learning environment. 

The AI class monitor's camera in classrooms complements the efforts of teachers by promoting the real-time optimal performance of students. This solution helps mitigate non-performance, increase attentiveness and engagement as well as creating an enabling environment for students and teachers thus serving as a decision support system.

The AI Class monitor is at its Pilot stage. The solution has been developed and tested within Data Science Nigeria learning centers. 

AI Class Monitor being an artificial intelligence tool that uses computer vision to track students' behaviors in the classroom. This solution is innovative and aims to solve the problem of under-learning due to low teacher-to-student ratio in low resourced educational system in a way that ensures access to a high-quality, safe, and equitable learning environment.

We currently use the device in training our students on Data Science and Artificial. And have monitored over 100 students. In five years, we intend to serve 1,000 institutions and 10,000,000 students.

Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Full-time:10

Part-time:5

Contractors: 3

The Team at Data Science Nigeria (AI Class Monitor) are experts in Artificial Intelligence, Education, contributing immensely to social good.

Wuraola Oyewusi is a Pharmacist and Data Scientist with global recognition for contribution to Artificial Intelligence research with a specific interest in Health dataset and education technology.

Bayo Adekanmbi has a Ph.D. in Data Science/Artificial Intelligence applications with over 20 years of industry experience in Nigeria and South Africa, leading Data scientist on Kaggle ranking

Toyin, the Executive Director of Data Science Nigeria has over 18 years of experience in education delivery management. A business leader with experience in people and process management.  

Michael Nwoseh is an experienced stakeholder and project management expert in Telecoms and Banking industry with broad expertise in implementing strategic plans, conducting market research, and driving execution excellence.

Lekan is an Ex-Consultant with KPMG, Data Scientist with broad experience in project management, Research, Business Process re-engineering, and Behavioral Science

Tunmise is a Chartered Accountant and experienced Grant Management on several global projects with robust experience in development, Process Management, Audit and Financial Modelling.

Uche Edwin is the Operations Lead, Data Science Nigeria EdTech, PM Consultant, with experience in Edtech Product Management, and Education delivery.

At Data Science Nigeria, we have the vision to build a world-class Artificial Intelligence (AI) knowledge, research and innovation ecosystem that delivers high-impact transformational research, business use applications, AI-first start-ups, support employability, and social good use cases. We are committed to raising one million AI talents in 10 years and thus position Nigeria as one of the top 10 AI talent/knowledge destinations with 20% GDP multiplier impact. We are poised to accelerate Nigeria’s socio-economic development through a solution-oriented application of machine learning in solving social/business problems.

DSN’s Board has overall responsibility for the effective operation of this policy and for ensuring compliance with the relevant statutory framework prohibiting discrimination in each of its areas of operation. The Board has delegated to the Executive Director the day-to-day responsibility for implementing the policy and ensuring its maintenance and review.  The Administrative Officer is responsible for ensuring that all Organisation policies and procedures support the objectives of promoting equality of opportunity and eliminating unfair or unlawful discrimination. Line Managers and supervisors are responsible for setting appropriate standards of behavior, eliminating discrimination, providing equality of opportunity within their teams, and promoting a culture of tolerance and respect. All DSN’s employees are responsible for treating others with dignity and respect. The Executive Director acts as the responsible agent in the full implementation of the Equal Employment Opportunity policy. 

Data Science Nigeria, owners of the AI Class Monitor Team will:  

• Promote a working environment where all employees are treated with respect and dignity.  

• Ensure that no-one is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be relevant to performance. 

 • Challenge discriminatory behaviours or attitudes wherever they occur.  

• Respond swiftly and sensitively to any incidences of discrimination.  

• Provide any reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities to ensure they have access to our services and employment.  

• Ensure that employees’ religion or beliefs and related observances are respected and accommodated wherever possible where the expression of those beliefs does not impinge on the legitimate rights of others.  

• Ensure that we take account of the needs of our employees’ pregnancy or maternity.  

• Celebrate a diverse workforce to ensure fair treatment. 

MIT Solve's Global Challenges has been a pioneer in connecting social entrepreneurs with the funding and resources they need to drive social impact and solve global challenges. This program avails us the opportunity to impact lives at scale and positioning MIT Solve as an impact supporter of innovation and social change globally. We want to positively impact lives through education and this avails us the opportunity to impact more lives without the constraints of finance.

The product is a niche product. A lot of effort would be put into the development and deployment of the technology to schools in Nigeria. The financial support would allow for the purchase of more cameras, the Public relations would be useful in publicity, technology adoption, benefits of the solution while amplifying the impact of the technology and MIT Solve's role in partnering to scale the innovation.

We would like to partner with the MIT faculty and members in the aspects of Innovation, research, and emerging technologies. The essence of the partnership is to learn, understand global best practices and iterate on the product and improve on it.

Data Science Nigeria (Registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria as Data Scientists Network Foundation) is a registered non-profit organization with a vision to build a world-class Artificial Intelligence knowledge, research and innovation ecosystem that delivers high impact & transformational research, business use applications, AI-first start-ups, employability and social good use cases; such that in 10 years, Nigeria will become one of the top 10 AI talent/knowledge destinations with 20% GDP multiplier impact.  

We are an award-winning community of world-class experts in Data Science, Software Engineering, Geospatial Analytics, Financial Inclusion Analytics and Artificial Intelligence with an inspiring in-house team and additional access to the largest cluster of Nigerian and International AI talents.   Data Science Nigeria’s tried, and true system of training and AI community building has been validated by world-class institutions. In January 2021, we emerged as the only African finalist in the Global XPRIZE Pandemic Response Challenge on the development of data-driven AI systems to predict COVID-19 infection rates and prescribe actions for minimizing COVID-19 transmissions.

Furthermore, in July 2020, we won the Award of Best Academic Poster at the 21st ACM Conference on Economics & Computation (EC’ 20)- the world’s premier conference on the interface of economics and computer science. In 2019, we won 2 highest Artificial Intelligence awards on the continent space at the Deep Learning Indaba, Kenya: Maathai Impact Award and 2nd Best Research Poster. In addition, we were recognized at the world’s largest Artificial Intelligence Hackathon, Tunisia 2019.  

Based on the impact of our work in the past 4 years, we have been able to impact kids and teens in Nigeria by empowering them with Future of work-related skills to make them useful to their immediate society in the long term.

One of the major problems facing Nigeria is widespread poverty, with about 86.9 million people living in severe poverty. One of the major effects of that is the significant lack of access to quality and affordable education. According to UNICEF, one in every 5 out-of-school children is in Nigeria. Although primary education is officially free, there are still over 10.5 million of the country’s children, aged 5- 14 that are not in school. Those that do attend basic primary schools also experience educational deficit as the schools are ill-equipped and grossly incapable to deliver quality education.

In Partnership with several consortium, we have and continue to develop a wide variety of educational contents, specifically for Grade 6 –12, and deployed on our audio e-learning platform that is accessible on feature phones with low data consumption. And to further reach more kids in low-income neighborhoods without low internet penetration, we have developed the Learn At Home Kiosks.

Learn At Home Kiosk is our omnichannel solar-powered Kiosks, developed as an offline learning content distribution and deployment product, to solve the challenge of lack of access to quality educational resources for kids living in a low-income neighbourhood. The kiosks are fitted with a built-in library, device charging ports, speakers and headsets, and a large screen TV that plays highly engaging animated contents. The learning contents, created in animated video formats are displayed from the TVs in the kiosks for the students.

Based on this successful innovation with Learn at home, combined with the impact work the Team is currently implementing on with the AI Class Monitor, we look forward to receiving the Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion to advance our solutions in impacting lives at scale, especially the Refugees and vulnerable children in Rural communities.

Learning for most children across Nigeria has always been formal, within the four walls of a school. Also, the introduction of technology to augment education delivery, unfortunately, alienates the majority of kids with little or no access to the internet. The Learn At Home Kiosk breaks through conventional thinking to bring learning to clustered neighbourhoods, without requiring internet access, as all contents are available offline for the kids to learn with. They don’t need to be within a school environment to learn and also do not need internet access.

We have been able to proffer solutions to the major barriers to quality education for kids from low-income households, ensuring that they can gain easy access to high-quality educational content within their neighborhoods and without prohibitive costs.    

Impact and Outreach:  We have developed and deployed 4 units of the Learn At Home Kiosks as proof of concept in 3 different local government areas in Borno state, with the core focus on children in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps around the state capital, Maiduguri.

The GM Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion would enable us to advance our solution to more refugee camps in Nigeria and beyond. Also leveraging the AI Class Monitor to monitor and evaluate the learning behaviors of the children.

We believe learning is beyond the four walls of a classroom, we would position General Motors as an impact supporter of the development of the growing generation.

Data Science Nigeria has an initiative, called Ladies in Artificial Intelligence:  Empowering young ladies to build capacity, develop expertise and explore opportunities in digital skills with focus on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

We are solving the problem of the underrepresentation of women in technology, creating an inclusive learning ecosystem with localized contents, accelerating skill transfer through mentorship, project participation, Supporting applicating through job readiness preparation, research coloration, and female digital-centric start-up support.

Our goal is to support 20,000 with access to digital skills with focus on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence through bootcamps, capacity building and project participation. This offers an immediate opportunity to earn basic stipend in data cleaning, basic modeling, etc.

The Innovation prize for women would accelerate the scale of female inclusion in Technology.

We have supported several women. View links here and here.

This award would position Vodafone Americas Foundation as an impact supporter of female entrepreneurship Globally ad support more women at scale.

Data Science Nigeria (Registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria as Data Scientists Network Foundation) is a registered non-profit organization with a vision to build a world-class Artificial Intelligence knowledge, research and innovation ecosystem that delivers high impact & transformational research, business use applications, AI-first start-ups, employability and social good use cases; such that in 10 years, Nigeria will become one of the top 10 AI talent/knowledge destinations with 20% GDP multiplier impact.  

We are an award-winning community of world-class experts in Data Science, Software Engineering, Geospatial Analytics, Financial Inclusion Analytics and Artificial Intelligence with an inspiring in-house team and additional access to the largest cluster of Nigerian and International AI talents.   Data Science Nigeria’s tried, and true system of training and AI community building has been validated by world-class institutions. In January 2021, we emerged as the only African finalist in the Global XPRIZE Pandemic Response Challenge on the development of data-driven AI systems to predict COVID-19 infection rates and prescribe actions for minimizing COVID-19 transmissions.

Furthermore, in July 2020, we won the Award of Best Academic Poster at the 21st ACM Conference on Economics & Computation (EC’ 20)- the world’s premier conference on the interface of economics and computer science. In 2019, we won 2 highest Artificial Intelligence awards on the continent space at the Deep Learning Indaba, Kenya: Maathai Impact Award and 2nd Best Research Poster. In addition, we were recognized at the world’s largest Artificial Intelligence Hackathon, Tunisia 2019.  

Based on the impact of our work in the past 4 years, we have been able to impact kids and teens in Nigeria by empowering them with Future of work-related skills to make them useful to their immediate society in the long term. Thereby supporting the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation in its mission to impact lives and benefit humanity at scale.