Updated Jan 15, 2021
Paul Frank
Send Message357 million primary school-aged children do not possess basic reading skills, and many of these children are not learning to read because there are no books in a language they speak and understand. Without reading materials in their first language, it will be much harder or impossible for these children to learn to read. In low- and middle-income countries, there is also an inadequate supply of titles. Not only are there not enough physical books, but not enough authors and publishers are producing stories in languages children use and understand. Studies have demonstrated the importance of high quality reading materials in supporting learning, particularly when in the local language students understand. But despite their importance, local language books are absent or in short supply in too many communities and classrooms around the world.
Bloom enables local experts in all language communities to grow libraries. Speakers of local languages with little to no computer literacy can use Bloom to create literature in their own languages that they want their children to read. The free Bloom book creation software is the only tool available for creating linguistically-correct decodable and leveled reading materials. The tool is easy to use by people with limited experience with technology and is an offline tool, thus making a live Internet connection unnecessary. They can use Bloom templates or "Shell books" posted online on the Bloom Library. Bloom facilitates the creation of books in a single language or in two or three languages, and exports titles as PDFs, ePUBs, or for use with the free Android Bloom Reader App. Tools for adding audio and video support visually impaired and Deaf readers. Users can upload their books to the Library for others to access and/or download books to adapt into their own language. There are extensive Bloom training materials, including end user and Training of Trainers curricula and a process for certifying Bloom trainers.
Funding Goal | 500,000 | |
Projected Cumulative Lives Impacted | 4,500,000 | |
New Implemented Countries | Mali | |
Recruit | 22 certified trainers; 5 software developers; 5 service staff | |
New Feature | Planned: Upgrade accessible book and sign language tools; improve website and program functions and architecture to make them cross-platform; Bloom Business Model Development |
The Bloom software team is composed of seven people who maintain and develop the software and website. There are 20 Certified Bloom Trainers with that number increasing steadily. Two people manage and provide services to clients. The technical lead is John Hatton, a senior software developer with 26 years of experience in software engineering. The administrative lead is Paul Frank, with a PhD in linguistics and 38 years in applied linguistics research and management of development programs.