IN the WORLD? Absolutely Nothing, Thanks to You
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2011 Annual Report HOW MUCH DOES IT COST THESE CHILDREN TO ACCESS THE BEST HIV PREVENTION EDUCATION IN THE WORLD? Absolutely nothing, thanks to you Founded at Stanford University, TeachAIDS is a nonprofit social venture that creates breakthrough software to address numerous persistent problems in HIV and AIDS prevention around the world Best Culturally- Animated Scientific Appropriate Research & Approach Software Testing DEVELOPED AT BYPASSES LOCAL SOLVES NUMEROUS STANFORD UNIVERSITY STIGMA & TABOOS PERSISTENT PROBLEMS IN HIV EDUCATION ENDORSEMENTS TeachAIDS has been evaluated The launch of TeachAIDS has with the gold standard for already reached millions and has research and has been shown been a milestone in the prevention to be an extremely effective and of HIV and AIDS. This exciting culturally-respectful teaching tool software will be instrumental in in the fight against HIV and AIDS. curbing new infections around Clifford Nass the world. Thomas M. Storke Professor, Stanford University Anne Firth Murray Appointments in Communication, Computer Founding President, Global Fund for Women Science, Education, Law, and Sociology Nobel Peace Prize Nominee TeachAIDS has worked with an The TeachAIDS program has incredible team of world-class been a great tool to facilitate experts, governments around the discussions on HIV/AIDS. It was world, and UNICEF to create a highly appreciated by youths, as clear way to understand what they got engaged in discussions you need to know about HIV and and expressed their feeling of how AIDS. Their tutorials are being this program has helped them to used globally and are quickly better understand HIV/AIDS. becoming the standard in HIV and AIDS education. Nelly Shella Festus Mogae Educator, Rural Women Development Center Former President of Botswana Cameroon THE TEACHAIDS STORY TIMELINE TeachAIDS began with one In Botswana, the TeachAIDS customized major problem – the link between versions were launched countrywide. IRB-approved research conducted in “awareness campaigns” and “knowledge Former President, Festus Mogae, China, India & South Africa gains” was broken in much of the world. recorded a special TeachAIDS video Teaching about HIV and AIDS means “Message of Hope” for young people. 2007-2008 talking about sex, intravenous drug- The United States Peace Corps use, death, and other topics which are produced hundreds of copies of our TeachAIDS is incorporated considered taboo in many countries. software for use in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Bollywood celebrities donate their voices for Unlike, for example, anti-smoking efforts, Indian versions awareness campaigns do not necessarily Ukraine, and Zambia, to name a few. lead to an increase in knowledge or Pilot English and Spanish software available 2009 further discussion, since the topics But this is just the beginning, and we to K-12 schools in the United States are challenging to address openly. As need your help more than ever. Although TeachAIDS used in 5 countries a result, providing comprehensive HIV we’ve made great strides in identifying education in any form can be difficult persistent problems around HIV or impossible. education and bringing world experts together to develop the best solution, Awarded grants from UNICEF, Yahoo! Employee Foundation, Silicon Valley AIDS We’ve received an overwhelming most countries are still using our pilot research versions. Now, we need your Leadership Center, Nimmagadda Foundation, response from stakeholders in the global San Francisco AIDS Foundation community saying that HIV stigma and help to create the fully-customized production versions for each language, taboos are a major problem in their Music artists, including East Africa Idol judge, countries. Inspired to help solve this which will allow literally hundreds of “Scar,” donate their voices to TeachAIDS seemingly simple, yet actually complex, millions of people globally to have access to our free materials. With your Former President of Botswana, Festus problem, interdisciplinary experts 2010 at Stanford and around the world help, over the next five years, we hope Mogae, joins the TeachAIDS Advisory Board collaborated to use rigorous research to raise 15 million dollars in order to metrics to find sustainable solutions. develop enough versions to impact 95 TeachAIDS moves to donated ofce suite on Sand Hill Road Our research revealed significant percent of the places in the world where this education is needed most. improvements in knowledge and TeachAIDS used in 17 countries attitudes with the TeachAIDS materials. Join our team and help us educate The journey with TeachAIDS, from the the world. early research phases to its use in more Awarded grants from Google, Greig Kind regards, than 50 countries, has been a humbling Family Foundation, MAC AIDS Fund, and rewarding experience. Watching UNICEF, Barclays Bank, San Francisco passionate young people, educators, AIDS Foundation governments, scientists, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers around the world Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Dr. Piya Sorcar work together to tackle this issue head- Society distributes 25,000 copies of Founder & CEO, TeachAIDS on has been an inspiration to all of us. TeachAIDS software In 2011, our team accomplished many MIT Technology Review awards TR35 milestones. We grew from impacting to TeachAIDS Founder 17 countries in 2010 to 50 globally, educating millions of learners. In Andhra 2011 TeachAIDS Founder speaks at TEDxWomen Pradesh (pop. ~80MM), an Indian state where HIV stigma is among the highest, TeachAIDS custom software launches 25,000 copies of our software were nationally in Botswana on World AIDS Day distributed to schools and counseling facilities and shown on television. MAA TV, Doordarshan, and NTV air TeachAIDS animations for World AIDS Day TeachAIDS used in 50 countries RESEARCH & METHODOLOGY The seminal research behind TeachAIDS began in 2005 Animated storyboards The TeachAIDS software has been cited at Stanford University. Using an iterative design approach, the TeachAIDS animated were developed that emphasized the as a model health intervention. Since the software has been researched, developed, and optimized over several years by biological aspects of HIV transmission materials were developed with an aware- a global and interdisciplinary team of experts, who span the fields of education, and used customized cultural euphe- ness of issues of stigma, they allow HIV communication, public health, and medicine. The animations provide effective HIV misms to overcome social stigma and education to be provided more easily in education by incorporating pedagogical and communication theories and respecting taboos. In addition, specific pedagogical communities where it previously was not cultural values. techniques (e.g., instructional scaffold- allowed or where stigma and taboos hin- ing) were utilized to create a coherent der the learning process. In other com- conception of HIV transmission for munities, the tutorials provide the highest 3 learning effects and comfort rates of any KEY FINDINGS Most students learners, as opposed to the fragmented prefer not to learn tested educational approach. Our research showed that HIV education is one of the ideal knowledge created by mass media about HIV from their applications for computer-assisted learning. For our specific teachers, so creating campaigns. The design its software, some of our key research findings included: virtual private learning process included the In order to evaluate environments enhances development of products, TeachAIDS upholds the “gold student comfort 4 Utilizing multiple proto- standard” of research by using the pre- research-based, test-posttest-retention test control group 2 localized pictures and types and over culturally-appropriate design. The baseline pretest measures Many teachers do not 150 iterations, accents in the software feel comfortable teaching knowledge and attitude levels before any have been pivotal in starting with about HIV because they are garnering in-country intervention is implemented. Next, the embarrassed or do not have concept maps, acceptance the health knowledge to do so; screenplays, TeachAIDS software is tested against the a self-directed tutorial is the storyboards, and standard materials (e.g., government ma- TM perfect solution TM low-fidelity paper terials, mass media, local NGO materials) prototypes,87.9% and in the country or community through the eventually leading posttest. Finally, a retention test is given at a later date (1-3 months later) to as- Current HIV/AIDS Program Use of software to interactive 5 Masssess overall Media outcomes. The assessments90.8% allows educators 70.3%versions of the 72.6% 1 with varied levels of curriculum in evaluate knowledge of HIV transmis- 2D animated HIV knowledge to deliver sion and prevention methods as well as characters are the most comprehensive multiple media, Mass Media the ideal balance and medically accurate including attitudes regarding social acceptance between clarity 68.1% education with final versions in around HIV and AIDS related issues. and comfort every showing Adobe Flash. EFFICACY RETENTION COMFORTABLE Willing to Join TeachAIDS to Measured Knowledge Long-Term Gains WITH TEACHAIDS STOP THE SPREAD OF HIV 1% TM 3% TM NO NO TM 91% 99% 5% 87.9% YES MAYBE Current HIV/AIDS Program 92% Current HIV/AIDS Program 73% Mass Media 90.8% 70.3% 72.6% YES Mass Media Mass Media 68% 68.1% * Based on data collected in China, India, and South Africa 3% NO 5% MAYBE 92% YES