Title
Can't Wait to Learn A quasi-experimental mixed-methods evaluation of a digital game-based learning programme for out-of-school children in Sudan
Author
Brown, F.L.
Farag, A.I.
Hussein Abd Alla, F.
Radford, K.
Miller, L.
Neijenhuijs, K.
Stubbe, H.
de Hoop, T.
Abbadi Abdullatif, A.
Turner, J.S.
Jetten, A.
Jordans, M.J.D.
Publication year
2020
Abstract
Innovations are needed to address the global issue of access to high-quality education, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This paper shows quasi-experimental evidence that a digital game-based learning programme (‘Can’t Wait to Learn’) led to significantly greater improvements in mathematics competency, Arabic literacy competency, and psychological wellbeing of children aged 7–9 in Sudan, compared to state-provided education for out-of-school children, 6 months after the start of the programme implementation (n = 221). These findings were corroborated and extended by qualitative data from 33 focus group discussions and key informant interviews with children, learning directors, caregivers, community leaders, and supervisory staff. We found no difference between groups on child-reported hope, and we found evidence for a significant negative intervention effect on child-reported self-esteem, though the psychometric properties of these instruments were not adequate. We report several considerations related to the experience of local facilitators, programme implementation challenges, and the importance of community acceptance and engagement for fidelity of implementation. © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Subject
Digital game-based learning
Education; learning outcomes
Mixed-methods
Psychosocial outcomes
Quasi-experimental
Sudan
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:33543c7a-2a6b-422a-a27b-152760fa0e32
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/19439342.2020.1829000
TNO identifier
955388
ISSN
1943-9342
Source
Journal of Development Effectiveness, Epub 19 nov
Document type
article