South African ed-tech startup Paper Video has expanded its maths and science support solutions to reach students across five school grades.
Paper Video aims to help students in need of extra learning support, and combat low maths and science retention rates in schools, through the innovative use of video delivered on mobile devices, without the need for internet connection.
The startup launched an Android app in 2015, with videos explaining over 6,000 exam questions across Grades 10, 11 and 12 in four subjects: Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences (Biology) and Accounting.
Last year, Paper Video rolled out its microSD cards, which inserted into any Android device or Windows computer, made its videos available without any internet connection or mobile data.
The startup has now partnered with the Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA) to further expand its offering to include support for learners in grades eight and nine – the first two years of high school – across the subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Accounting.
In addition, students can now access “subject maps”, which map out the various concepts to be covered in each subject curriculum, with learning videos available connected to each concept.
“While we previously offered exam books that had video solutions for each question, we now have the Subject Maps that offer an in-depth video lesson for every concept in the Maths and Science curricula of grade eight and nine,” explains Paul Maree, co-founder of Paper Video.
“In other words, grade eight and nine students are now able to use a cellphone or computer to get every lesson they will need in Maths and Science for the first two years of high school, without requiring an internet connection. Furthermore, the structure of the Maps is such that they are easily understandable when it comes to working your way through the curriculum.”
Paper Video hopes to tackle the low rates of students retaining maths and science subjects as they progress through the school system; particularly so in low-income or rural areas. The startup develops solutions based on the belief that personal circumstances should not impact access to quality learning.
“There are a lot of tech-based learning resources in South Africa, but almost all of them exclude the vast majority of South African students because they cannot be used without an internet connection and data. We wanted to create a resource that does not exclude anyone due to their personal circumstances,” Maree says.
“Grades eight and nine are crucial foundation years, and yet we are finding that many students, especially those in more rural and impoverished areas, do not receive the adequate grounding to continue with mathematics and physics. The Subject Maps offer a powerful and cost-effective solution to this challenge,” says Mike McDougall, chief executive officer (CEO) of ASSA.
