Twilio > Case Studies > University of Michigan Leverages Twilio for Distance Learning in Low-Income Schools

University of Michigan Leverages Twilio for Distance Learning in Low-Income Schools

Technology Category

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms
Sensors - Temperature Sensors

Applicable Industries

Education
Telecommunications

Use Cases

Smart Campus
Speech Recognition

Services

System Integration
Training

About The Customer

The customer in this case study is the University of Michigan’s Center for Digital Curricula. The center was tasked with developing a solution to support distance learning for over 4,000 students across urban and rural public schools in Michigan during the COVID-19 pandemic. These schools were primarily Title 1 schools in low socio-economic status areas, with many having almost 100% of their students participating in free and reduced lunch programs. The center's co-director, Elliot Soloway, recognized the need for digital tools to support seamless learning, both in the classroom and at home.

The Challenge

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 led to the closure of schools across Michigan and the U.S., disrupting the normalcy of in-person learning for thousands of students, teachers, and families. The challenge was to transition from classroom-based learning to effective, individualized instruction at home. The University of Michigan’s Center for Digital Curricula was tasked with developing a solution that could support distance learning for over 4,000 students across urban and rural public schools in Michigan. These schools were primarily Title 1 schools in low socio-economic status areas, with many having almost 100% of their students participating in free and reduced lunch programs. The main issue was not the schools or teachers, but the lack of digital tools to support seamless learning, both in the classroom and at home.

The Solution

The University of Michigan’s Center for Digital Curricula developed the Collabrify Roadmaps Platform, an online learning environment that provides teachers with a standards-aligned, vetted, digital curricula. This platform supports synchronous collaboration, allowing teachers and students to work together in real-time without being in the same physical location. The platform was integrated with Twilio’s Programmable Voice API, enabling students to communicate with each other and work together within the platform with the click of a button. The platform also includes resources for parents to help their children with homework. The solution was designed to be simple enough for even the youngest students to master, with the phone feature built right into the platform, eliminating the need for students to have a cell phone.

Operational Impact

The implementation of the Collabrify Roadmaps Platform with Twilio’s Programmable Voice API has significantly enhanced the learning experience for students and teachers. The platform has enabled students to work individually or in small groups, and communicate with each other in real-time, enhancing their learning experience, especially when isolated at home. Teachers have also benefited from the platform, as it has given them greater flexibility over the techniques they use to enrich the learning process. The platform has also facilitated teacher collaboration, allowing them to meet and discuss improvements to their digital curricula. Looking ahead, the center plans to roll out the capability for connecting after-school tutors to students using the phone feature, and enabling parents to talk to their children’s teachers and support personnel through the phone feature.

Quantitative Benefit