GEM II Task Order 39 Quarterly Report: ICT4E FY 2012, Quarterly Report: October 1, 2011 – December 31, 2011

The initiative's primary objective was to support the launch of USAID's Education Grand Challenge: All Children Reading, and to further develop the Mobiles for Education (mEducation) Alliance and its Working Groups, particularly Mobiles for Reading. Aguirre/JBS International, the contractor responsible for implementing the ICT4E initiative, conducted extensive research and analysis during the first quarter of FY 2012. This included reviews of existing and promising projects using mobile devices as assistive technologies, as well as analyses of mobile technologies used for youth and workforce development projects, reading and literacy projects, and market trend analysis on micro ("pico") projectors and their potential uses in educational development. The contractor also provided knowledge exchange and support services, including attending and reporting on relevant events such as USAID's Partnership Forum and Qualcomm's WirelessEd Conference. Aguirre/JBS assisted affiliated organizations with knowledge sharing related to ICT4E/mEducation activities, and provided support to Alcatel-Lucent connecting them to various researchers and resources related to mobiles in education projects. In addition, the contractor provided extensive support for the launch event of USAID's Education Grand Challenge: All Children Reading, held in Washington, D.C. on November 18th. This included procuring and implementing a contract for venue and ACR video piece, event registration website and nametag printing, recruitment and coordination of "petting zoo" of project demonstrations, and audio-visual planning. The contractor also convened two of the monthly Seminar Series for the mEducation Alliance, and assisted with a professional development retreat for EGAT/ED staff. The contractor also assisted with a concise review of EMIS activities funded under Equip 2 leader awards, and participated in UNESCO's mLearning Week, contributing to knowledge-collecting efforts in the field of mobile technologies for education. Aguirre/JBS dedicated significant effort to the development of the mEducation Alliance website, including soliciting feedback from Alliance stakeholders and the COTR. The contractor's budget for the first quarter of FY 2012 was $87,137.66, with actual expenditures totaling $87,137.66. The budget for the entire program year was $494,244.00, with $152,932.01 remaining unobligated. The contractor anticipates continuing to focus on the development of the mEducation Alliance in the coming quarter, including supporting the Alliance's partnerships, Working Groups, and the public launch of the Alliance's website.