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How can we make learning more inclusive and equitable, while improving outcomes for all learners?

2024 Global Learning Challenge

Closed

Submissions are closed

Timeline

  • Applications Open

    February 1, 2024 6:30am EST
  • Solution Deadline

    April 23, 2024 12:00pm EDT
  • Semi-Finalist Selection

    June 11, 2024 5:00pm EDT
  • Finalist Selection

    July 8, 2024 11:59pm EDT
  • Solver Selection

    August 9, 2024 5:00pm EDT

Challenge Overview

The world faces persistent gaps in learning and educational opportunities. Globally, 250 million children are not in school, and hundreds of millions are in classrooms that lack adequate access to learning materials or disability-adapted infrastructure. In addition, the skills taught—in school or via other informal pathways—may not allow people to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Technology in education works best when centered on the needs of communities and learners, and when designed to complement rather than replace human interaction. In doing so, it can offer new assistive tools, help cross language barriers, and support educators in creating more adaptive and inclusive learning opportunities. High-impact ideas can use technology for efficient network and scale, even as the end goal remains learner success.  

MIT Solve seeks exceptional solutions leveraging technology to address equity gaps in learning. While we are excited to select and support innovators across any learning area, we have a particular interest for 2024 in solutions that: 

  • Ensure that all children are learning in good educational environments, particularly those affected by poverty or displacement.

  • Use inclusive design to ensure engagement and better outcomes for learners with disabilities and neurodivergent learners, while benefiting all learners.

  • Provide the skills that people need to thrive in both their community and a complex world, including social-emotional competencies, problem-solving, and literacy around new technologies such as AI.

Special Call: Black & Brown Innovators in the US Program

Pre-pandemic, closing the learning gaps between Black, Latine, and white students in the US was estimated to take 60 to 160 years. The pandemic has widened racial gaps, and new technology can address - or exacerbate - biases. As part of Solve’s ongoing work on US racial equity, we encourage those working to address racial disparities in US communities to apply for the Challenge and receive additional support through our Black & Brown Innovators Program.

Image courtesy of The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF).

Prizes

MIT Solve - Solver Award

All Solver teams selected for Solve’s Global Challenges and the Indigenous Communities Fellowship will receive a $10,000 grant funded by Solve.

The GM Prize

The GM Prize is open to solutions that help create smart, safe, and sustainable communities around the world. The Prize is funded by General Motors, which is working toward becoming the most inclusive company in the world and is dedicated to making STEM education more accessible and equitable. Up to $150,000 will be awarded across up to six Solver teams from the 2024 Global Learning Challenge, the 2024 Global Climate Challenge, and the 2024 Indigenous Communities Fellowship.

The GSR Foundation Prize

GSR Foundation will award a prize to solutions that use technology in an innovative way to address pressing issues in their communities, which have the potential to scale globally. Preference will be given to solutions that remove barriers to financial inclusion, and that place a strong emphasis on learning. The prize is funded by the GSR Foundation, an independent charity founded by GSR, a leading cryptocurrency trading firm. The Foundation seeks to advance education, promote equality of opportunity, and contribute to a sustainable world, emphasizing blockchain and innovative technology-powered solutions. Up to $150,000 will be awarded across several Solver teams from any of Solve's 2024 Global Challenges.

Morgridge Family Foundation AI Innovation Prize

Solutions that use AI to boldly spark change through innovation, disruption, and transformation are eligible for the Morgridge Family Foundation AI Innovation Prize. The Morgridge Family Foundation invests in leaders and organizations who are reimagining solutions to some of today's biggest challenges. Up to $50,000 will be granted across up to two Solver teams from Solve’s 2024 Global Challenges or from Solve's portfolio of Solver teams.

The AI for Humanity Prize

The AI for Humanity Prize is open to solutions leveraging data science, artificial intelligence, and/or machine learning to benefit humanity. The prize is made possible by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, a philanthropy committed to advancing AI and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. Up to $150,000 will be awarded across several Solver teams from any of the 2024 Global Challenges.

Judging Criteria

  • Potential for Impact: The planned solution implementation has the potential to impact the intended population.
  • Feasibility: The team has a realistic, practical plan for implementing the solution, and it is feasible in the given context.
  • Innovative Approach: The solution includes a new technology, a new application of technology, a new business model, or a new process for solving the Challenge.
  • Inclusive Human-Centered Design: Inclusive and equitable outcomes are considered in the design, implementation, and internal operations of the solution.
  • Scalability: The solution has a plan for financial viability and the potential to be scaled to affect the lives of more people.
  • Partnership Potential: The applicant clearly explains how the solution would benefit from the broad range of resources that the Solve community is positioned to provide.

Solutions

Selected

Yeti Confetti for Refugees

By Alexandra Chen
Alexandra Chen
Selected

Musa

By Erik Sibille
Erik Sibille Monica Ramos
Selected

NABU Multilingual Reading App and Web Reader

By Isabel Sheinman
Isabel Sheinman Jessica Laing
Selected

The Tatum T1

By Samantha Johnson
Samantha Johnson Nicole Rich
Selected

Hunu

By Rudolph Ampofo
Rudolph Ampofo Efua Gambrah-Sampaney
Selected

MakerDost

By Azra Ismail
Azra Ismail Krithika Ganesan
Finalist

Scholé: Upskilling for Adult Learners

By Vinitra Swamy
Vinitra Swamy Paola Mejia
Finalist

The Batazia Knowledge-equity Solution

By Barbara Gwanmesia
Barbara Gwanmesia
Finalist

Language Supp Ukraina

By Michal Tarnowski
Michal Tarnowski Maria Jędrzejewska
Finalist

Tilli

By Kavindya Thennakoon
Kavindya Thennakoon
Finalist

Erandi Aprende App

By Andrea Remes
Andrea Remes Miroslava  Rodríguez
Finalist

The Next-Gen Tech Talent Pipeline

By Lilly McNicholas
Lilly McNicholas
Finalist

Tablet-Based Learning for Refugee Children

By Nafis Islam
Nafis Islam
Finalist

Skalo: Empowering Educators for Inclusive Teaching and Timely Student Support with AI

By Luisa Velez
Luisa Velez
Semi-finalist

Ambessa - Children Building Everywhere

By Sara Berkai
Sara Berkai

Meet the Judges

Judges

Eric Klopfer

Eric Klopfer

MIT, Professor and Director of the Scheller Teacher Education Program and The Education Arcade
Claudia Urrea

Claudia Urrea

MIT, Senior Associate Director of MIT pK-12
Mariana Luz

Mariana Luz

Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal Foundation, CEO
Peter  Materu

Peter Materu

Mastercard Foundation, Chief Program Officer
Gouri Gupta

Gouri Gupta

Central Square Foundation, Director EdTech
Aarti Chandna

Aarti Chandna

Chandna Foundation, Executive Director
Ana María Raad

Ana María Raad

REimagina Foundation, Founder
Prae Nanthaporn  Seributra

Prae Nanthaporn Seributra

Starfish Education , CEO
Janhvi M. Kanoria

Janhvi M. Kanoria

Education Above All , Director of Innovation Development Directorate
Louisa Rosenheck

Louisa Rosenheck

Kahoot!, Director of Learning Design
Javed Ahmed Malik

Javed Ahmed Malik

Malala Fund , Program Director
Christopher Capozzola

Christopher Capozzola

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Senior Associate Dean for Open Learning
Kartik Sawhney

Kartik Sawhney

GNYPWD LLC, Founder
Farida Bedwei

Farida Bedwei

Digital Opportunity Trust, Project Platform Consultant
Zach  Yeskel

Zach Yeskel

Google for Education, Director of Product Management
Salyne  El Samarany

Salyne El Samarany

Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education, Vice President
John Ochsendorf

John Ochsendorf

MIT Morningside Academy for Design, Founding Director
Sumit  Joshi

Sumit Joshi

Lorinet Foundation, Global Director
Shin Gee Tan

Shin Gee Tan

Temasek Foundation, Senior Director
Ambika Kapur

Ambika Kapur

Carnegie Corporation of New York, Director, Education Program
Kelsey  Gaines

Kelsey Gaines

General Motors, Head of STEM Education for Corporate Giving

Technical Vetters

Aaron Ray

Aaron Ray

MIT / LIDS, PhD Student
Bethanie Drake-Maples

Bethanie Drake-Maples

Atypical AI / Stanford, Founder / Research Fellow
John Masla

John Masla

MIT, Assessment Specialist
Jonathan Adams

Jonathan Adams

Florida State University, Professor
Rosa Weinberg

Rosa Weinberg

Morningside Academy for Design, Design Education Consultant