AI tool being introduced into Western Cape schools to help pupils improve literacy levels
Lynn Beachy Head, from Chase Education Solutions, said that the AI tool called 'Amira' could test learners, as well as help them with their comprehension skills.
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CAPE TOWN - A collaboration between a South African technology company and schools is proving that technology can assist teachers with improving literacy skills of pupils.
Reading for comprehension among school-going children has seen a decline in recent years.
But an AI tool called "Amira" is being introduced into schools in the Western Cape, to assist learners with their literacy levels.
Lynn Beachy Head, from Chase Education Solutions, said that Amira could test learners, as well as help them with their comprehension skills.
"She is an AI-enabled tutor, and she is an AI-enabled reading solution. How she essentially works is she listens to children reading levelled passages out aloud and as she listens to them reading, she identifies any errors that they might be making. She works both in an assessment mode as well as in a tutoring mode."
She added that Amira was also able to help teachers with their workload and could assist with learners becoming more proficient in languages.
"Even just in eight weeks of using it in Litha Primary for example, in the western cape, in eight weeks, the learners doubled their reading proficiency, so that was an extraordinary accomplishment. So, the critical factor is the frequency, how much exposure they get to Amira and I guess in a dosage, we recommend smaller periods of dosage, more frequently."