A: TeachAIDS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social venture that creates breakthrough software addressing numerous persistent problems in HIV and AIDS prevention around the world. Founded at Stanford University, TeachAIDS uses a research-based design process to develop medically-accurate, pedagogically-grounded, and culturally-tailored animated software to optimize learning and retention. Used in more than 50 countries, in partnership with national and international organizations, and incorporating the voices of cultural icons, TeachAIDS provides the most effective HIV and AIDS prevention software to educators, governments, and NGOs around the world – for free.

All TeachAIDS software is professionally developed at considerable investment, but then distributed for free under a Creative Commons License. Extensive dissemination of the materials is possible due to the flexible use of low-cost production and distribution technologies. This makes it accessible to people and organizations around the globe working with populations most vulnerable to the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS. Interactive versions are available through the Internet, to use online, download or burn to DVD, while Linear (non-interactive) versions are available for video projection in areas without computers.

TeachAIDS 2011 Annual Report

A: The research behind TeachAIDS began in 2005 as part of Founder and CEO, Dr. Piya Sorcar’s, graduate work at Stanford University. TeachAIDS spun out as an independent nonprofit in July 2009.

A: TeachAIDS is located in Palo Alto, California, near the campus of Stanford University.

A: TeachAIDS is an amalgamation of world-class interdisciplinary experts from the fields of education, public health, communications, HCI and medicine. The team couples their internal expertise with reputable global organizations, ministries of health and education, celebrated cultural icons and institutions to disseminate the TeachAIDS animated software for free.

A: Research demonstrates that voice interfaces play a critical role in enhancing learning, retention and positive responses to various kinds of persuasive technologies. Recognizing this, TeachAIDS evaluates and carefully selects cultural icons, within each market, who help optimize the learner experience. The celebrity voices, and often their “likeness”, are integrated into the TeachAIDS production versions of the animated software. Other cultural icons advise on issues around TeachAIDS strategies relating to business development, cultural integration and mass communication. Over the next few years, TeachAIDS will continue to carefully identify and integrate respected individuals into the animated software to help improve the efficacy of the overall materials. Please contact us if you have suggestions or connections to cultural icons who may be ideal for future TeachAIDS software versions.

A: TeachAIDS thrives on the talent and support of hundreds of individuals and reputable organizations from around the world. The TeachAIDS partners and supporters include organizations that have demonstrated indelible support towards promoting the TeachAIDS mission and vision. Partners and supporters typically include various governmental ministries of education and health, reputable NGOs, and private and public institutions and libraries. To explore a partnership with TeachAIDS, or to suggest the development of particular language versions, please contact us.

A: TeachAIDS uses a research-based iterative design process to develop medically-accurate, culturally-tailored animations. Partnered with reputable organizations around the world, and using a pretest-posttest-retention test control group design, we have conducted numerous large-scale experimental studies to evaluate the efficacy of the software. In each country, the TeachAIDS materials are compared against the standard materials used in the respective countries. Our research is conducted through Stanford University and is formally approved by their Institutional Review Board. The research has revealed statistically significant gains in learning, retention and positive changes in attitudes to promote acceptance around issues of HIV and AIDS. To learn more about our research practices, visit our Research page.

A: Hundreds of interdisciplinary experts, cultural icons and other dedicated volunteers have donated their talents and valuable resources in order to create the highest quality and most effective TeachAIDS learning materials. The fair market value of these materials is worth millions of dollars. However, with the tireless efforts of our volunteers and in-kind support, we are able to make the animated software available for free to those who need them most. AIDS is a preventable and treatable illness, and with the proper education it can be controlled effectively. TeachAIDS believes all entities deserve the highest quality and most efficacious materials to spread awareness in their respective communities. Through our development process, and partnerships with global organizations, we have discovered that there is a visible difference between low-cost and free; a number of areas that need this education most will pick free every time.

A: The TeachAIDS software model is platform-independent. The HTML- & Flash-based software can be used online or offline. Online, users may watch the Linear versions through our  Products page or on our YouTube Channel. Alternatively, the software is also available for download in multiple formats for use offline, including for replication and dissemination under our Creative Commons license. 



Physical copies of the TeachAIDS software (e.g., DVD, CD-ROM) are available for purchase (at the cost of printing the materials only), through the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education.

A: TeachAIDS operates under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works License. In short, this means any entity is free to use (or replicate) the TeachAIDS software in its current form only. The content may not be altered in any way and must be attributed to the TeachAIDS organization. Please contact us if you are interested in collaborating to create new language versions of the TeachAIDS software or derivatives of our products.

A: Please visit our Products page or YouTube Channel for the most up-to-date list of the animation language versions. To learn more about our activities, feel free to sign-up for the TeachAIDS mailing list available on our Home page.

A: If you do not see the language you are looking for, please contact us with your request. We keep a master database of all requests made and consider these requests in evaluating the development of our future language versions. If you have connections to help fund particular versions, please contact us directly.

A: For accessibility and ease of use, the TeachAIDS software is available in multiple format types that may be used based on the resources available in your community environment. The formats available are listed below.

If you do not see a format you can use, please contact us directly.

CD Disc Image: This master copy, available as an ISO file, allows for software replication and distribution. It can be used to burn copies of the TeachAIDS software onto any storage device (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD, thumb-drive). Under our Creative Commons license, this Master may be used to play or install software onto multiple devices.

The CD Disc Image is available for both Apple Mac OS and Microsoft Windows. If you are using a different operating system, please contact us directly.

DVD: This master copy, available as an ISO file, can be used to burn copies of the TeachAIDS DVD. Under our Creative Commons license, the DVD can be used for replication and distribution. The DVD can be played on any device that is compatible with the format selected for download.

The DVD Disc Image is available in both NTSC and PAL formats. The NTSC format is used in most of North and South America (except Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and French Guiana), Burma, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and some Pacific Island nations and territories. The PAL format is used in more than 120 countries around the world. See this map of DVD compatibility around the world for more information.

Software: The TeachAIDS software can be played directly from your computer and does not require any additional programs to launch the animated software.

The Apple Mac version of our software is available as an HTML file and can be launched offline using an existing web browser.

The Microsoft Windows version is available as an EXE file, which installs the animation onto the computer. After being downloaded, the software can be launched offline using the TeachAIDS icon on the desktop.

The software is available for both Apple Mac OS and Microsoft Windows. If you are using a different operating system, please contact us directly.

Video: This is available as an MP4 file. It can be played on any computer running compatible video software.

Based on your download speed, you may select which size you are able to download. The video versions are available in three different sizes, which are high-quality (~500MB), medium-quality (~200MB), and low-quality (~100MB).

We always recommend that you use the highest quality versions of the videos when possible but certainly appreciate the difficulties around limited download access and speed.

A: We have three TeachAIDS DVDs available, each containing 5-6 animations. Below are the specifics:

DVD 1
English (North America) Pilot Animation
Hindi Pilot Animation
Mandarin Pilot Animation
Spanish Pilot Animation
Swahili Pilot Animation

DVD 2
English (Botswana) Production Animation – Female
English (Botswana) Production Animation – Male
Kinyarwanda Pilot Animation
Setswana Production Animation – Female
Setswana Production Animation – Male
Swahili Pilot Animation

DVD 3
English (India) Production Animation – Female
English (India) Pilot Animation – Male
Hindi Pilot Animation
Telugu Production Animation – Female
Telugu Production Animation – Male

A: The Educator’s Handbook is a supplementary document that was developed to accompany the use of the TeachAIDS software. It includes letters to educators from an interdisciplinary team at Stanford University, basic HIV and AIDS related terminology, mini case studies demonstrating the use of TeachAIDS in multiple countries, activities for a classroom setting (e.g. worksheets, quiz questions) and frequently asked questions.

A:The Educator’s Handbook may be viewed online directly from our Products page or downloaded for free (available in multiple formats). Physical copies may be purchased (at the cost of printing only) through the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education.

All TeachAIDS products, including the Educator Handbook, are available for free under our Creative Commons license.

A: The single-page layout displays each page separately. This may be useful if you are interested in printing particular pages from the Handbook. The double-page layout displays the content in a magazine format. This is typically used to print the entire Handbook as a bound hard copy.

The high-quality (large) version is optimized for printing hard copies, while the lower-quality (small) version is optimized for viewing the Handbook online or on a screen.

A: Thousands of young people around the world are using the TeachAIDS software to educate themselves and their loved ones. Given that the TeachAIDS software is available for free, below are some steps you can take to help empower your community:

• Organize a showing of the animated software to educate others (e.g., in schools, clubs or at-risk groups in your community). This is especially popular around December 1st – World AIDS Day.
• Promote learning through use of social media – post animation links to Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc.
• Share the TeachAIDS animations with other nonprofits, church groups, study abroad programs and/or with comparable organizations in your community.
• Volunteer your talents with the TeachAIDS organization and help us continue to build new animated software. See the Join Our Team section below for more information.

A: As an educator, you are in an instrumental position to promote awareness among many learners. Despite your knowledge level around issues of HIV and AIDS, you will be able to use the TeachAIDS animations to optimize learning and retention in your learning environment. If you are highly knowledgeable about these issues, or have access to a medical/health expert, the TeachAIDS software can be used as supplementary tool to reiterate key concepts and messages. However, if you are new to this information, or uncomfortable to teach about health-related topics, you may simply play the animations in your classroom to impart comprehensive and accurate knowledge to your learners.

One Computer Per Learner

Advantages:

• Each learner can work at his/her own pace
• Learners have privacy, which can make learning about sensitive subjects more comfortable

Teaching Suggestions:

• Use the Interactive version
• Option to provide group-wide breaks for discussion

Requirements:

• Headphones, one per learner (optimal)
• Computer with CD drive and/or Internet access

One Computer Per 2-4 Learners

Advantages:

• 2–4 learners can use one computer to view the animations together
• Engages small groups of learners interactively

Teaching Suggestions:

• Use the Interactive version
• Walk among the small groups to make sure that each learner is engaged
• Learners may want to take turns being in charge of the computer mouse

Requirements:

• Speakers
• Computer with CD drive and/or Internet access

One Computer Per Many Learners

Advantages:

• Only one computer per group is necessary
• The teacher may pause between chapters to engage the entire class in discussion

Teaching Suggestions:

• Use the Linear version (optimal)
• Be mindful that some learners may not feel comfortable asking questions or discussing sensitive subjects in front of the entire class

Requirements:

• Speakers
• Blank wall or screen
• Computer projector
• Computer with CD drive and/or Internet access

You can download our Educator’s Handbook, which may be used as a supplement to the animated software.

Should you prefer a physical copy of the TeachAIDS animations, you may purchase particular versions, at cost of printing only, from the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education.

A: The NGO community has been instrumental in mobilizing large independent entities to take action with the TeachAIDS materials. Below are the most common models used:

• Empower local leaders through a “train the trainers” model. This model allows for training of selected leaders of a community to use the TeachAIDS materials to then, in turn, train others, traveling to other communities, to take action.
• Replicate the TeachAIDS animations locally and distribute the customized software to neighboring partner organizations, libraries, schools and after-school programs. Contact us if you would like help with the replication process.
• Organize larger showings of the TeachAIDS animations with neighboring or partner organizations.
• Include a link to the TeachAIDS software on your resources/information website page.

A: Government partnerships have been a powerful vehicle to deliver the TeachAIDS materials to large groups of learners in short periods of time. Particularly through centralized distribution channels, governments (e.g., ministries of education, health, family welfare, science and technology) have been able to replicate the TeachAIDS software and implement them into the local government and government-aided scholastic institutions. Below are the most useful actions:

• Partner with TeachAIDS to customize and bring culturally-appropriate animated software to your state or country.
• Replicate free software locally and disseminate through all distribution channels/networks to reach a large community of learners.
• Use software to train government-affiliated health care workers and arm them with materials to train their constituents.
• Integrate the TeachAIDS animations into your government’s official health-related curricula.
• Provide links to the TeachAIDS software on government health-related web pages.

A: In 2005, the initial TeachAIDS applications were designed for young people. Since then, we have tested our materials with learners from middle school age through college age, with high efficacy levels. However, over the years, organizations have been using the animations for children in elementary school all the way through folks in who are past their working years, with much success. The animations have been used to educate individuals in various demographics with differing health education knowledge levels; for instance, soldiers in the military, commercial sex workers, HIV-positive populations, orphaned children, school-going populations, at-risk youth, corporate social/recruiting events, training of health case workers, among others.

A: The “Interactive” version of the TeachAIDS software allows users to interact with the animations through question/answer sessions. This option is ideal for individuals or small groups operating the animation on a computer. The “Linear” version plays the animation straight through. This option is ideal for projecting the animation to groups of any size.

See response to “I am a teacher” above for optimal use.

A: All our software versions are research-based, pedagogically-grounded and incorporate locally developed and tested scripts, indigenous voices/accents, and culturally-appropriate metaphors and euphemisms.

The Production versions are fully customized, incorporating the voices of celebrated regional cultural icons, evidence-based animated characterizations, and are distributed widely through established country-specific partnerships.

The Pilot versions integrate voices of localized accents for each language the software targets and uses generalized doctor/student characters with limited pictorial customizations.

A: TeachAIDS operates almost entirely with the support of volunteers. We have a formalized application-based volunteer selection process. If you are interested in joining our global efforts, please contact us.

A: For the most up-to-date information on positions available at TeachAIDS, please visit our Contact page.

A: Any organization is welcome to use our free animated software. Please see the section above on TeachAIDS Products.

A: Every year, we showcase a handful of TeachAIDS partner stories from around the world to inspire others to take action in their own communities. If you would like to be considered, please send your story directly to our development team through our Contact page. We are eager to learn more about how you are expanding your educational efforts among your learners.

A: You may donate online via PayPal or Google Checkout, or mail us a check or money order. TeachAIDS is registered as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (Federal Tax ID: 27-0618533). Contributions are tax-deductible in the United States to the fullest extent of the law. Please see our Donation page for more information.

A: With TeachAIDS, 100% of your gift directly supports the development of new HIV and AIDS materials for those who need them most.

A: To receive the latest updates regarding the TeachAIDS software and associated efforts, you may sign-up for our mailing list on the Home page, subscribe to our blog, follow us on Twitter and/or become a fan of us on Facebook.

The latest animated software will always be available on our Products page as well as through our YouTube Channel.