Discussion of the challenges and lessons learned over the last ~8 years implementing Oppia in various countries and how these challenges have changed over time. This was prepared and presented in a webinar for GiZ (German Organisation for International Cooperation) in Oct 2021

1. OppiaMobile
Mobile Learning for Frontline Health Workers
Alex Little, Digital Campus - Oct 2021

2. Overview of OppiaMobile
Fully open source mobile learning platform
Designed for low resource/connectivity environments
Designed for local ownership (eg Ministries of Health)
No need for technical developer to add/update content
Usually formal training content

3. Initial challenges/questions (~2012)
For first implementation in Tigray, Ethiopia:
● User acceptance and feasibility
● No/limited experience with distance learning or
technology
● Smartphones still new and expensive in LMICs
● Electricity and mobile internet availability
Photo from Ethiopia

4. Initial lessons learned
● User acceptance very high
● Feasibility good, but still questions about smartphone
cost
● Electricity/Mobile internet issues manageable
● Ownership of devices - can use for personal use too
● Use approved/recognised Ministry training content
and certification
● Supplement rather than replace face-to-face
● Quizzes used a lot - to prepare for competency exam
● Continued use after the exam
“In our workplace we do not have reference
materials or job aids. We also do not have
health professionals to consult to. This has been
big problem for us for long period of time. But
this phone is my partner in my work place”.
“ It is easily understandable and if someone is
able to understand the basic android functions,
it is easy to access as well. It is not only well
accepted; even other health professionals
including our supervisors are asking us to lend
them for a while to read what is in it.”

5. Next implementations - challenges
In Nigeria, India & Pakistan:
● Different contexts
● Different languages
● How does Ethiopia experience transfer?

6. More lessons learned
User acceptance very high again
Minimal initial training needed on Android or the app
More focus on video content
Videos shared and shown within general community

7. Recent implementations - challenges
In Ethiopia & Uganda for Covid-19 response
● Very rapid roll out required
● Optional, entirely self-paced, with no F2F
● Wide range of target users
● Much larger deployments
In Liberia:
● Totally offline, no mobile coverage at all
● How to push out content updates
● How to monitor learning activity
Photo from LastMileHealth

8. Lessons learned & solutions
Setting up the technology can be very quick
Developing good content takes time
Different content for different target user roles
Technical developments:
● Added certification
● Bluetooth transfer/sync of content and learning activity
Photo from LastMileHealth

9. Current challenges and questions
● Improve local ownership of the technology
● MoH - limited understanding of agile tech
dev approach/process
● Integration with other health
technologies/systems
● Core Oppia vs custom features

10. Future role of Digital Campus
● Maintain the core Oppia platform
● Building developer community
● Move to more of support/training role for
in-country teams
● Getting support/funding for Oppia as Global
Public Good

11. How & why to get involved?
Join the OppiaMobile Community site: https://community.oppia-mobile.org/
How to contribute: https://oppiamobile.readthedocs.io/en/latest/technical/dev/contribute.html
● Contributing code to open source project
● Other possibilities for non-programmers
● With acknowledgement

12. Thank you! አመሰግናለሁ!
OppiaMobile Links & Contact
Core app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.digitalcampus.mobile.learning
Overview: https://digital-campus.org/oppiamobile/
Documentation: https://oppiamobile.readthedocs.io/
Community site: https://community.oppia-mobile.org/
Alex Little - alex@digital-campus.org