Case Study: eSFI

A collaboration between CanopyLAB, Samsung, Telia, and the SFINX Swedish for Immigrants (SFI)
school in Jarfälla municipality to provide online Swedish language learning courses to immigrants.
The program is a pilot test designed to digitize the official accredited SFI program for the first time.

The Project

A collaboration between CanopyLAB, Samsung, Telia, and the SFINX Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) school in Jarfälla municipality to provide online Swedish language learning courses to immigrants. The program is a pilot test designed to digitize the official accredited SFI program for the first time.

The Challenge

The project was a response to a significant waiting list to learn Swedish in Sweden as a result of the increasing influx of migrants beginning in 2015. At the time, accredited language courses were only available in physical language learning centers. Our public-private partnership (PPP) challenge was to address this through the creation of an online learning platform with learning materials available on the go. The target was also better test scores and higher exam passing rates. Finally, it was important to make the digital learning experience meaningful to the eSFI students. A major challenge confronted by teachers was to cater to a diverse group of students with varying IT skills, language skills, and age.

The Challenge

The project was a response to a significant waiting list to learn Swedish in Sweden as a result of the increasing influx of migrants beginning in 2015. At the time, accredited language courses were only available in physical language learning centers. Our public-private partnership (PPP) challenge was to address this through the creation of an online learning platform with learning materials available on the go. The target was also better test scores and higher exam passing rates. Finally, it was important to make the digital learning experience meaningful to the eSFI students. A major challenge confronted by teachers was to cater to a diverse group of students with varying IT skills, language skills, and age.

The approach

In order to enable digital language learning, the consortium partners each contributed with what they are best at; Samsung contributed with tablets and smart TV’s and trained the teachers in how to use the technologies. Telia shared SIM cards with preloaded data plans, CanopyLAB provided the learning platform and insights into how to digitise the language learning curriculum and the teachers from Jarfälla municipality digitized the curriculum and use the platform with a group of students for two pilot tests lasting for 12 months.

Solution

The eSFI solution enables teachers to deliver content online and to monitor student progress and activity by using the platforms’ learning analytics functions. They are able to save valuable time creating courses for a new semester as they platform facilitated the upcycling of course content, exercises and materials.

Solution

The eSFI solution enables teachers to deliver content online and to monitor student progress and activity by using the platforms’ learning analytics functions. They are able to save valuable time creating courses for a new semester as they platform facilitated the upcycling of course content, exercises and materials.

Testimonials

“Right now we are planning courses for the new semester, and we log on to eSFI and see our previous courses and can say - this is perfect, we can use everything once more! It is a big investment at the beginning, but if you have recurring courses then we save a lot of time as teachers!”

~Bodil Renlund, Teacher at SFINX language center | Järfälla municipality

"Through the eSFI learning platform, the students improved their Swedish language skills, and developed key IT competencies needed in Swedish universities and workplaces. Students have greater flexibility as they control when they learn, allowing them to balance other responsibilities including taking care of their family, work or attending university classes"

~Student at eSFI & SFINX language center | Järfälla Kommun

“The platform gives you great possibilities and really helps you reach your goals”

~Student at eSFI & SFINX language center | Järfälla Kommun

"The eSFI case states clearly that learning to master a foreign language is made much more flexible, focused and relevant for the individual learner if approached through a social and adaptive learning platform like CanopyLAB. The case and the solution is scalable in terms of approach to language learning and the challenges in the need for differentiation"

~Student at eSFI & SFINX language center | Järfälla Kommun

“...an interactive platform that allowed you to listen, read, write and communicate (...). It contains smart and relevant features and offers a great way to communicate with fellow students.”

~Student at SFINX language center | Järfälla Kommun