Ticmas

Who (first and last name) is the Team Lead for your application and LEAP Project?

Melina Maurer

Describe the role the Team Lead plays in your organization. [100-200 words recommended]

Melina Maurer is a professional in the field of educational technology and project management, demonstrating exceptional leadership and teamwork skills. With an extensive academic background, including a master's degree in Educational Technology and Digital Competencies and advanced studies in Artificial Intelligence and Education, Melina is highly qualified to design and manage educational projects, especially in transformative and evolving contexts.
In her current role as Learning and Development Manager at Ticmas, she expertly manages the strategy, development, and implementation of learning programs to meet training needs effectively. Her ability to evaluate the success of educational products in the market sets her apart as a leader in educational technology.

Additionally, she plays a pivotal role in spearheading initiatives aimed at continuous improvement and innovation in educational content delivery, leveraging her expertise in project management and educational innovation to drive positive outcomes for Ticmas and its stakeholders.

Melina's professional journey also includes significant positions such as Regional Director of Educational Content and various advisory roles in academic settings, highlighting her versatility and commitment to educational excellence. Her proficiency in both English and French, coupled with her advanced skills in e-learning consultancy and project management, makes her an invaluable asset to any organization aiming to enhance its educational initiatives.

Explain how your Team Lead and supporting team members are well-positioned to effectively support the LEAP Project, given other priorities within your organization. [300-500 words - recommended]

Melina Maurer is a professional with extensive experience and academic knowledge in the educational field, who combines mastery of the Ticmas platform, its contents, and an analytical power capable of translating the impact that Ticmas tools have on the target market of students and educators into indicators. 

Melina  and her supporting team members are uniquely positioned to  support both summative and formative research initiatives at Ticmas. As the Manager of Learning Production, Melina brings extensive expertise in e-learning, instructional design, and educational innovation, making her well-equipped to lead research efforts aimed at evaluating the impact and effectiveness of Ticmas's educational solutions. Her deep understanding of learning principles and digital technologies enables her to guide the development of research methodologies, ensuring they align with best practices and yield meaningful insights.

Furthermore, Melina collaborates closely with her team members, who possess diverse skill sets and experiences in areas such as data analysis, educational research, and project management. Together, they can leverage their collective strengths to design and implement research studies that generate valuable data for informing decision-making processes within Ticmas. Despite other priorities within the organization, Melina and her team prioritize research initiatives, recognizing their importance in driving continuous improvement and innovation in educational content and delivery.

Moreover, Melina and her team members are adept at multitasking and managing competing priorities effectively. They can allocate resources strategically, balancing the demands of research projects with other operational tasks and initiatives within Ticmas.

One-line solution summary: In 20 words or less, summarize your organization's product or program that is the focus of your LEAP Project.

All-in-one EdTech platform for K-12 education in Latin America with comprehensive content and digital tools for transformative learning experiences.

Define the problem that your solution seeks to solve. [300-500 words recommended]

Ticmas, with its mission to leverage technology to bridge learning gaps in Latin American K-12 education, addresses a multifaceted problem deeply rooted in socioeconomic disparities, inadequate resources, and outdated teaching methodologies. Across Latin America, access to quality education remains a challenge, particularly for students in marginalized communities and remote areas. This lack of access perpetuates existing inequalities, hindering socio-economic mobility and perpetuating cycles of poverty. Moreover, traditional teaching methods often fail to engage students effectively, resulting in low academic performance and disinterest in learning.

At the heart of Ticmas' efforts lies the recognition of the urgent need to transform the education landscape by harnessing the power of technology. By providing schools with access to technology resources, Ticmas aims to level the playing field, ensuring that all students, regardless of their background or location, have equal opportunities to quality education. Through joint initiatives with other player, Ticmas aims at providing schools with digital devices, internet connectivity, and educational software, Ticmas empowers educators to deliver engaging and interactive lessons that cater to diverse learning needs.

However, addressing the digital divide is just one aspect of Ticmas' comprehensive approach. The platform also focuses on capacity building by training educators on effective technology integration. Many teachers in Latin America lack the necessary skills and confidence to leverage technology effectively in the classroom. Ticmas' training programs equip educators with the knowledge and tools they need to incorporate digital resources seamlessly into their teaching practices, enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes.

Moreover, Ticmas recognizes the importance of developing digital literacy skills among students to thrive in the 21st-century digital economy. In collaboration with governments, private corporations, NGOs, and impact funds, Ticmas promotes initiatives aimed at enhancing students' digital literacy skills. By providing access to educational content that emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital citizenship, Ticmas prepares students to navigate the complexities of the digital world and become active participants in the global economy.

In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), Ticmas contributes to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. By partnering with various stakeholders, including governments and private corporations, Ticmas amplifies its impact and reaches more students and educators across Latin America. Through these partnerships, Ticmas advocates for policies and investments that prioritize education, paving the way for systemic change and sustainable development in the region.

In summary, Ticmas aims to address the complex challenges facing Latin American K-12 education by leveraging technology to promote access, equity, and quality. By providing schools with technology resources, training educators, and fostering digital literacy skills among students, Ticmas is laying the foundation for a more inclusive and prosperous future, where every child has the opportunity to unlock their full potential through education.

Describe your solution and how it works in simple terms. [300-500 words recommended]

Ticmas offers innovative solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of students and educators, including:

1. Personalized Learning Pathways: Utilizing artificial intelligence, Ticmas delivers personalized learning experiences that adapt to each student's unique learning style and pace.

2. Fluency Reader App: Ticmas offers a user-friendly app specifically designed to improve reading fluency through interactive exercises and comprehension activities.

3. Lifelong Learning Opportunities: Ticmas promotes lifelong learning by providing access to a wide range of educational resources and learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom setting.

4. STEAM Education Integration: Ticmas integrates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education principles into its curriculum, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among students.

5. Project-Based Learning: Ticmas integrates project-based learning methodologies into its curriculum, empowering students to explore real-world problems, collaborate with peers, and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

6. Teacher Training and School Support: Ticmas offers comprehensive training programs for educators to enhance their teaching skills and effectively integrate technology into the classroom. Additionally, we provide ongoing support and resources to schools to facilitate the successful implementation of our platform and methodologies.

Ticmas employs a multi-faceted market strategy to reach its Latam communities effectively:

• Partnerships: Ticmas prioritizes strategic partnerships with schools, educational organizations, NGOs, private companies, and government bodies to promote its platform and solutions. These partnerships facilitate widespread adoption and integration of Ticmas's offerings within the educational ecosystem.

• Digital Outreach: Utilizing digital marketing channels, including social media, email campaigns, and targeted advertising, Ticmas raises awareness about its platform and solutions. Digital outreach allows Ticmas to reach a wide audience of educators, administrators, and stakeholders across Latin America.

• Community Engagement: Ticmas actively engages with the education community through webinars, workshops, and educational events. By fostering a sense of community and collaboration, Ticmas strengthens its relationships with educators and institutions, driving adoption and advocacy for its solutions.

• Tailored Solutions: Recognizing the diverse needs of its target customers, Ticmas offers modular and customizable solutions that cater to varying levels of technological readiness and pedagogical approaches. This approach ensures that Ticmas's offerings align with the specific requirements and preferences of each customer segment.

Through these strategic initiatives, Ticmas aims to revolutionize education across Latin America, driving positive change and empowering learners, educators, and institutions to thrive in the digital age.

Its value proposition consists of providing comprehensive and personalized educational experiences, in Spanish, for students, educators and schools. Focusing on being simple and inclusive,  Ticmas is accessible across multiple devices, and works in contexts with internet access as well as in scenarios of limited or no connectivity. Ticmas is the only player in the EdTech market to provide an integrated all in one solution for the Spanish speaking population.

Select the key characteristics of your target population. Select all that apply.

• Primary school children (ages 5-12)
• Rural
• Peri-Urban
• Poor
• Urban
• Low-Income
• Middle-Income

Upload your solution's Theory of Change or Logic Model.

Where would you place your solution on Nesta's Standards of Evidence?

To date, what research/studies has your organization conducted or commissioned that have helped demonstrate the effectiveness of your solution? [300-500 words recommended]

Ticmas gathers data analytics by tracking student performance, identifying learning gaps,  based on individual student use of the platform.

It has also gathered 

It has not conducted or comissioned any research regarding the impact of Ticmas´ tools to enhance learing experiences among students

What has the data collected from the research/studies revealed about your solution and how did it inform your work moving forward? [300-500 words recommended]

Ticmas monitors the utilization of platform content, including the hours spent, content viewed, and the frequency of correctly solved math or literacy quizzes. Additionally, it tracks the percentage of students submitting assignments on time and their evaluation grades. These and other individual and classroom metrics provide operational insights, but Ticmas requires more comprehensive data for informed decision-making.

In addition to tracking student engagement and performance metrics, Ticmas also monitors the professional development activities of teachers. This includes the courses they enroll in, the modules completed, and their engagement levels with the educational materials provided. By monitoring teacher participation in these courses, Ticmas can assess the effectiveness of its professional development programs and identify areas for improvement. Furthermore, analyzing the courses teachers choose to take can provide valuable insights into their interests, needs, and areas of expertise. This data allows Ticmas to tailor its support and resources to better meet the needs of educators

In addition to tracking student engagement and teacher professional development, Ticmas diligently monitors and analyzes help desk inquiries and platform malfunctions. This comprehensive approach ensures that any technical issues or user concerns are promptly addressed, thus maintaining the platform's reliability and user satisfaction. By closely examining these inquiries and malfunctions, Ticmas can identify recurring issues, areas for improvement, and emerging trends, allowing for proactive problem-solving and continuous platform enhancement.

Ticmas recognizes the need for further examination of metrics such as student performance, engagement levels, and digital skills improvement to illustrate the platform's beneficial impact on educational outcomes. That is why Ticmas views the LEAP Project as highly valuable for the company.

Describe your organization's need to strengthen the evidence base of your solution. [300-500 words recommended]

Ticmas needs to conduct research to understand the impact of studying with its platform on students' knowledge for several reasons:

1. Effectiveness Assessment: By conducting research, Ticmas could assess the effectiveness of its platform in enhancing students' knowledge. This involves evaluating whether the platform's features, content, and teaching methods are contributing positively to student learning outcomes.

2. Continuous Improvement: Research would help Ticmas identify areas for improvement in its platform. By analyzing data and feedback from students and educators, Ticmas could detect strengths and weaknesses and make informed decisions to enhance the platform's effectiveness.

3. Evidence-based Decision Making: Research would provide Ticmas with evidence to support its decision-making process. By gathering data on student performance and satisfaction, Ticmas could make informed decisions about how to allocate resources, develop new features, and refine existing content.

4. Validation and Credibility: Conducting research would lend credibility to Ticmas as an educational platform. By publishing findings in academic journals or presenting them at conferences, Ticmas can demonstrate that its platform is backed by empirical evidence and is based on sound educational principles.

5. Tailored Support: Research would help Ticmas understand the specific needs and challenges of its users. By identifying patterns in student performance and behavior, Ticmas would be able offer tailored support and resources to help students succeed.

Overall, research plays a crucial role and it would helpTicmas ensure that its platform is effective, efficient, and responsive to the needs of students and educators. By conducting research, Ticmas will be able to continue evolving and improving its platform to better serve the educational community.

What are 2-3 research questions that you would like your LEAP Project to help you answer? [100 words recommended]

Based on Ticmas' goals and focus on improving education in Latin America, Ticmas would like the LEAP project to help answer these questions:

1. What is the impact of Ticmas' platform on academic performance and learning outcomes among K-12 students in Latin America?
2. How does the integration of technology, such as Ticmas' platform, influence student engagement and motivation in the learning process?
3. What are the most effective strategies for educators to utilize Ticmas' platform to personalize learning experiences and address the diverse needs of students in Latin American classrooms?

What type of research methods do you think will help answer your stated questions? Select all that apply.

• Formative research (e.g. usability studies; feasibility studies; case studies; user interviews; implementation studies; process evaluations; pre-post or multi-measure research; correlational studies)
• Summative research (e.g. impact evaluations; correlational studies; quasi-experimental studies; randomized control studies)

Please elaborate on your selection above by describing your desired outputs of the 12-week LEAP Project sprint. [300 - 500 words recommended]

The output of formative research would provide Ticmas with valuable insights into the effectiveness, usability, and impact of their platform and initiatives, helping Ticmas make informed decisions and improvements to better serve the needs of Latin American K-12 education. It could include valuable insights and data that inform various aspects of the platform and initiatives. Mainly:

1. Pre-Post or Multi-Measure Research: Measuring changes in outcomes or behaviors before and after implementing Ticmas interventions, or using multiple measures to assess program effectiveness from different perspectives.

2. Correlational Studies: Exploring relationships between variables such as platform usage, student engagement, and academic performance to identify factors that contribute to educational outcomes.

And also:

1. Usability Studies: Understanding how users interact with the platform, identifying usability issues, and gathering feedback on user experience to make improvements.

2. Case Studies: Examining real-world implementations of Ticmas in schools or communities to identify best practices, challenges, and areas for improvement.

3. User Interviews: Gathering qualitative feedback from educators, students, and other stakeholders to understand their needs, preferences, and challenges related to education and technology.

4. Implementation Studies: Evaluating the process of implementing Ticmas initiatives in schools or districts, including factors that facilitate or hinder successful implementation.

5. Process Evaluations: Assessing the fidelity and quality of program implementation, identifying strengths and weaknesses in program delivery, in order to make adjustments.

The output of summative research would provide Ticmas with evidence of the impact and effectiveness of their platform and interventions, helping Ticmas make data-driven decisions, and advocate for further support and investment in their initiatives. Among other outputs:

1. Impact Evaluations: Assessing the overall impact of Ticmas initiatives on key educational outcomes such as academic achievement, student engagement, and digital literacy. This would involve measuring the extent to which Ticmas has achieved its intended goals and objectives.

2. Correlational Studies: Investigating relationships between various factors, such as platform usage, teacher training, and student outcomes, to identify patterns and associations that may inform program improvement or optimization.

3. Quasi-Experimental Studies: Comparing outcomes between groups of students or schools that have and have not implemented Ticmas initiatives, controlling for relevant variables. This would help determine whether Ticmas has had a causal effect on educational outcomes.

4. Cost-Benefit Analyses: Evaluating the cost-effectiveness and return on investment of Ticmas interventions compared to traditional educational approaches.

How will your organization put these outputs into action? [300-500 words recommended]

By translating research findings into actionable initiatives, Ticmas can continually refine and optimize their platform to maximize its positive impact on student learning outcomes and educational equity in Latin America.

Ticmas can translate the outputs from the LEAP Project into actionable steps to further enhance their platform and educational impact:

1. Improving Platform Features: Ticmas can use insights from the research to refine and enhance their platform features to better meet the learning needs of students. For example, if the research indicates that certain interactive features positively impact student engagement, Ticmas can prioritize the development of similar features.

2. Professional Development for Educators: Ticmas can provide targeted training and professional development opportunities for educators based on the research findings. For instance, if the research highlights specific instructional strategies that correlate with improved student outcomes, Ticmas can offer workshops or online courses to help educators implement these strategies effectively.

3. Tailoring Content and Resources: Ticmas can use the research findings to customize content and resources on their platform to address specific learning needs or preferences identified in the research. This might involve curating additional educational materials, adjusting curriculum frameworks, or integrating culturally relevant content to better resonate with students in Latin America.

4. Outreach and Advocacy: Ticmas can leverage the research findings to advocate for broader adoption of educational technology and evidence-based practices in Latin American education systems. By sharing research-backed insights with policymakers, educators, and stakeholders, Ticmas can contribute to systemic changes that support inclusive and equitable education for all students.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation: Ticmas can establish mechanisms to continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions based on the research outcomes. This might involve implementing data analytics tools to track student progress, conducting regular surveys or assessments to gather feedback, and iterating on their strategies based on ongoing insights.

Describe your desired long-term outcomes of the 12-week LEAP Project sprint for both your organization and solution. [300-500 words recommended]

Operating without conducting formative and summative research currently poses several drawbacks for Ticmas. Without formative research, Ticmas  struggles to understand the needs, preferences, and challenges faced by students, teachers, and educational institutions, hindering its ability to design effective interventions and tailor its platform to their specific requirements. This lack of understanding might result in the development of solutions that are not user-friendly, relevant, or impactful, ultimately leading to low adoption rates, limited engagement, and dissatisfaction among users.

Similarly, without summative research, Ticmas is not fully able to accurately assess the effectiveness, impact, and scalability of its educational interventions. Al present Ticmas operates without completely knowing if its efforts are achieving the desired outcomes, such as improvements in academic achievement, student engagement, or digital literacy. 

Having said all these, the long term  outcomes of the LEAP Project for Ticmas, on the other hand, would result in a comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness, impact, and scalability of the educational platform and initiatives in Latin American K-12 education. 

With insights from usability studies, feasibility studies, case studies, user interviews, and process evaluations, Ticmas would refine its platform design, development processes, and implementation strategies to better meet the diverse needs of students, teachers, and educational institutions.

 Additionally, the evidence generated from impact evaluations would provide Ticmas with robust data on the outcomes and effectiveness of its interventions, including improvements in academic achievement, student engagement, digital literacy, and overall educational quality. These empirical evidence would not only guide data-driven decision-making within Ticmas but also inform advocacy efforts, policy recommendations, and program scaling initiatives aimed at promoting equitable, inclusive, and high-quality education for all students across its markets.

By leveraging the insights gained from formative and summative research, Ticmas would be empowered to continuously refine and enhance its platform and interventions, ensuring their sustained impact and relevance in the ever-evolving landscape of Latin American K-12 education.