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{{Infobox organization
| name = TeachAids
| logo = [[File:TeachAids_logo.svg|200px|alt=TeachAids Logo]]
| type = [[United States|U.S.]] [[501(c)(3)]] [[nonprofit organization|nonprofit]]
| founded_date = 2009
| founders = [[Piya Sorcar]] [[Clifford Nass]] [[Shuman Ghosemajumder]] Ashwini Doshi
| location = [[Palo Alto, California|Palo Alto]], [[California]]
| area_served = Worldwide
| origins = [[Stanford University]]
| key_people = [[Piya Sorcar]] (CEO)
| focus = [[HIV/AIDS]] [[education]] [[technology]]
| homepage = [http://www.teachaids.org teachaids.org]
}}

'''TeachAids''' (pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˌ|t|iː|tʃ|ˈ|eɪ|d|z}}) is a [[nonprofit organization|nonprofit]] [[social enterprise]] that develops global [[HIV]] prevention education technology products, based on an approach invented through research at [[Stanford University]].<ref name=timesofindia>{{cite news |title=Moving pictures, moving minds|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VENSTS8yMDExLzA5LzI0I0FyMDEwMDA%3D&Mode=Gif|author=Mahafreed Irani|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=24 September 2011 |accessdate=4 October 2011 }}</ref><ref name=thehindu>{{cite news |title=Overcoming barriers through technology|url=http://www.thehindu.com/health/policy-and-issues/article2424489.ece|author=Paromita Pain|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=5 September 2011 |accessdate=5 September 2011 }}</ref>

The TeachAids software has been cited as a model health intervention.<ref>{{cite book |title=Health Communication in the New Media Landscape|url=http://www.springerpub.com/product/9780826101228|last1=Parker|first1=Jerry C.|last2=Thorson|first2=Esther|year=2008 |publisher=Springer Publishing|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-8261-0122-8|page=393}}</ref><ref name=stanford>{{cite news |title=Stanford-affiliated nonprofit sets standard for AIDS education|url=http://news.stanford.edu/news/2012/july/nonprofit-aids-education-072512.html|author=Max McClure|date=25 July 2012 |publisher=[[Stanford University]]|accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref> Since the materials bypass issues of [[Discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS|stigma]], they allow HIV prevention education to be provided to communities where it has previously not been allowed.<ref name=mtr>{{cite news |title=TR35: Piya Sorcar: Software that can be localized to teach taboo topics|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?TRID=1102|work=[[MIT Technology Review]]|date=23 August 2011 |accessdate=23 August 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Star touch to animated film on HIV/AIDS|url=http://expressbuzz.com/cities/hyderabad/star-touch-to-animated-film-on-hivaids/226342.html|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=27 November 2010|accessdate=16 December 2010}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> In other communities, the tutorials provide the highest learning effects and comfort rates of any tested educational approach.<ref name=dt />

The TeachAids products are animated, [[E-learning|interactive software tutorials]], developed for individual cultures and languages, and incorporating the voices of celebrities from each region. In [[India]], these include national icons such as [[Amitabh Bachchan]],<ref name=ab>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/global/amitabh-bachchan-joins-s-f-bay-area-nonprofit-teachaids/article_7db6b21c-7cb3-11e4-acab-5b0e15f111e5.html|title=Amitabh Bachchan Joins S.F. Bay Area Nonprofit TeachAids|publisher=India West|accessdate=24 June 2015}}</ref> [[Shabana Azmi]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Animated film to educate students on HIV|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JSC8yMDEwLzExLzI1I0FyMDA1MDA%3D&Mode=Gif|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=26 November 2010 |accessdate=16 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Nagarjuna (actor)|Nagarjuna]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Animation lessons on HIV/AIDS awareness released|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/27/stories/2010112765081200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204231641/http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/27/stories/2010112765081200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 December 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 November 2010 |accessdate=16 December 2010 }}</ref> and [[Sudeep|Sudeep Ssanjeev]]. In [[Botswana]], they include musicians [[African hip hop#Botswana|Scar]], [[Zeus (Musician)|Zeus]], and former [[List of heads of state of Botswana|President of Botswana]], [[Festus Mogae]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae, joins TeachAIDS Advisory Board|url=http://teachaids.org/blog/former-president-of-botswana-festus-mogae-joins-the-teachaids-advisory-board/|work=TeachAIDS|date=16 September 2010|accessdate=16 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206080535/http://teachaids.org/blog/former-president-of-botswana-festus-mogae-joins-the-teachaids-advisory-board/|archive-date=6 December 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

TeachAids operates globally, with its software in use in more than 80 countries.<ref name=stanford /> Its materials are made available for free under a [[Creative Commons]] [[Creative Commons licenses|License]],<ref>{{cite news |title=10 Game-Changing Projects from Creative Commons' Team Open|url=http://www.shareable.net/blog/10-game-changing-projects-from-creative-commons-team-open|author=Cat Johnson|work=Shareable|date=14 January 2015|accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref> funded by sponsorships, grants, and donations. Backers include [[Barclays]],<ref name=barclays>{{cite web|url=http://www.barclays.co.bw/supporting-communities.html|title=Barclays: Supporting our Communities|publisher=[[Barclays]]|accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref> [[Cigna]],<ref name=iw>{{cite news |title=Tech Laureate TeachAIDS Expands in India|url=http://www.indiawest.com/news/business/tech-laureate-teachaids-expands-in-india/article_66824dbf-64bb-5d13-bdab-b5faa15b68d7.html|work=India West|date=21 October 2012 |accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref> [[Covington & Burling]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Service Activities 2011|url=https://www.cov.com/~/media/files/corporate/publications/2012/03/public_service_activities_report_2011.pdf|work=[[Covington & Burling]]|date=2011|accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref> [[Google]], [[Microsoft]], [[UNICEF]],<ref name=unicef>{{cite web |title=UNICEF Botswana Annual Report 2010|url=http://www.unicef.org/botswana/Final_BCO_Public_Annualreport2010_20July.pdf|work=[[UNICEF]]|date=20 July 2010|accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref> and [[Yahoo!]].

==History==
[[File:Festus Mogea with George Bush July 10, 2003.jpg|thumb|237px|right|Former [[President of Botswana]], [[Festus Mogae]] (right), a TeachAids advisor, helped bring the tutorials to Botswana.]]
TeachAids began in 2005 as a research project at [[Stanford University]]. From 2005 to 2009, a new [[Interdisciplinarity|interdisciplinary]] approach to HIV/AIDS education was developed through [[Institutional review board|IRB]]-approved research by [[Piya Sorcar]].<ref name=nbc>{{cite web |title=Research finally shows that online education works—for sex, alcohol, and health|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/10/17676894-research-finally-shows-that-online-education-works-for-sex-alcohol-and-health|author=Anya Kamenetz|author-link=Anya Kamenetz|work=[[NBC News]]|date=10 April 2013 |accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref> Key advisors included professors Shelley Goldman ([[Learning Sciences]]), Martin Carnoy ([[Comparative Education]]), [[Cheryl Koopman]] ([[Psychiatry]]), Randall Stafford ([[Epidemiology]]), and [[Clifford Nass]] ([[Communication]]).<ref name=dt>{{cite web |title=Teaching Taboo Topics Without Talking About Them: An Epistemic Study of a New Approach to HIV/AIDS Prevention Education in India|url=http://gradworks.umi.com/33/53/3353027.html|author=Piya Sorcar|work=[[Stanford University]]|date=1 March 2009 |accessdate=1 March 2009 }}</ref>

The project's goal was to find a way to address the frequently [[taboo]] subjects associated with sexual issues and HIV/AIDS specifically. One major finding was that [[Traditional animation|2D]] [[cartoon]] figures were the optimal balance between comfort and clarity in terms of visual representation for sex-related topics.<ref name=dt /><ref>{{cite news |title=Treating Africa's Biggest Diseases|url=http://tech.caltech.edu/TECH/archive/05_05_2008.pdf |work=[[The California Tech]]|date=5 May 2008|accessdate=9 January 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830142607/http://tech.caltech.edu/TECH/archive/05_05_2008.pdf|archivedate=30 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> On that basis, animated storyboards were created which emphasized the biological aspects of [[HIV]] transmission and used cultural [[euphemism]]s to overcome [[social stigma]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Let's NOT Talk About Sex, Baby|url=http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=e5589d57e3d6e65b0e17efb1fd28bba4|work=[[New America Media]]|date=1 December 2007 |accessdate=16 December 2010 }}</ref> In addition, specific pedagogical techniques (e.g., [[instructional scaffolding]]) were utilized to create a coherent conception of HIV transmission for learners, as opposed to the fragmented knowledge created by [[mass media]] campaigns.<ref name=hb>[https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Research-Digital-Media-Advertising/dp/1605667927 Handbook of Research on Digital Media and Advertising]. Matthew Eastin, Terry Daugherty, Neal Burns. Information Science Reference, July 31, 2010. {{ISBN|1-60566-792-7}}. Chapter: [http://www.igi-global.com/bookstore/Chapter.aspx?TitleId=43374 Teaching Taboo Topics Through Technology].</ref>

Early research versions of the software were sponsored by [[Time Warner]], the [[Government of South Korea]], and [[Neeru Khosla]], and used custom illustrations drawn by Sorcar's father, award-winning animator [[Manick Sorcar]].<ref name=hb /> Pilot versions were subsequently created in [[English language|English]], [[Hindi]], [[Kinyarwanda]], [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]], and [[Spanish language|Spanish]]. Additional experts contributed to the design and evaluation of the materials, including Stanford professors David Katzenstein ([[Infectious Disease]]), Douglas Owens ([[Medicine]]), and [[Roy Pea]] (Learning Sciences).<ref name=about>{{cite web |title=About TeachAids|url=http://teachaids.org/about|work=TeachAIDS|date=16 December 2010 |accessdate=16 December 2010 }}</ref>

TeachAids was spun out of Stanford in 2009 as an independent 501(c)(3) organization, co-founded by [[Piya Sorcar]], [[Clifford Nass]], [[Shuman Ghosemajumder]], and Ashwini Doshi.<ref name=stanford /> It began developing its infrastructure and new versions of its software for additional countries and languages around the world. The first additional versions of the software in [[Indian English]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], and [[Tswana language|Tswana]] were launched in 2010.<ref name=newapproach>{{cite news |title=A New Approach to Global HIV/AIDS Education|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-piya-sorcar/a-new-approach-to-global-_b_790420.html|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=1 December 2010 |accessdate=16 December 2010 }}</ref>

==Celebrity partners==
[[File:Amitabh Bachchan - TeachAIDS Recording Session (19284544383).jpg|300px|thumb|right|TeachAIDS character of [[Amitabh Bachchan]] (left); Bachchan in 2013 TeachAids recording session (right)]]
The TeachAids interactive software implements animated [[Avatar (computing)|avatars]] of cultural icons to improve pedagogical efficacy. Over time, numerous international actors, musicians, and celebrities have lent their voices and likenesses to the TeachAids materials.<ref name=about /> These include:
{{Refbegin|15em}}
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]]<ref name=ab />
* [[Amol Palekar]]
* [[Anu Choudhury]]<ref name=telegraph>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131122/jsp/odisha/story_17598480.jsp#.VZ6RhHjFv1I|title=Hush-Hush Topic Gets a Voice|publisher=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]|date=22 November 2013|accessdate=8 July 2015}}</ref>
* [[Anu Prabhakar]]
* [[Anushka Shetty]]
* [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]]
* [[Imran Khan (Bollywood actor)|Imran Khan]]
* [[Moloya Goswami]]
* [[Nagarjuna Akkineni]]<ref name=telegraph />
* [[Navdeep]]
* [[Prashanta Nanda]]
* [[Swati Reddy]]
* [[Shabana Azmi]]<ref name=telegraph />
* [[Shruti Haasan]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/shruti-haasan-lends-her-voice-for-aids-awareness/|title=Shruti Haasan lends her voice for AIDS awareness|publisher=[[Indian Express]]|accessdate=8 July 2015}}</ref>
* [[Siddharth (actor)|Siddharth]]
* [[Sudeep]]
* [[Suhasini Maniratnam]]
* [[Suriya]]
* [[Vijay Raghavendra]]
* [[Zerifa Wahid]]
* [[Zeus (Musician)|Zeus]]
{{refend}}

The TeachAids advisory board includes film director [[Mahesh Bhatt]], HIV/AIDS treatment pioneer [[Nimmagadda Prasad]], [[Global Fund for Women]] founder [[Anne Firth Murray]], and former [[List of heads of state of Botswana|President of Botswana]] [[Festus Mogae]]. Actress [[Amala Akkineni]] is a trustee of TeachAids in India.<ref name=about />

==Worldwide use==
[[File:Suriya - TeachAIDS Recording Session (13567066435).jpg|243x243px|Suriya at a TeachAIDS campaign|thumb|alt=]]
[[File:Anushka Shetty - TeachAIDS Recording Session (12106643625).jpg|thumb|right|Actress [[Anushka Shetty]] in 2013 TeachAIDS recording session]]
The TeachAids tutorials are available for free online and are used in more than 80 countries around the world, distributed by over 200 partner organizations.<ref name=stanford /> Numerous [[AIDS service organization]]s, [[AIDS education and training centers]], [[NGO]]s, and government agencies distribute and utilize the tutorials as part of their own HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.<ref name=about /> Some of the organizations partnered with TeachAids include [[CARE (relief agency)|CARE]], the [[Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation]], and the [[United States|U.S.]] [[Peace Corps]].

In India, the [[National AIDS Control Organisation]] approved the TeachAids materials in January 2010,<ref name=thehindu /><ref>{{cite web|title=National AIDS Control Organisation of India approves TeachAIDS curriculum|url=http://teachaids.org/blog/naco-approves-teachaids/|work=TeachAIDS|date=15 January 2010|accessdate=17 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719203133/http://teachaids.org/blog/naco-approves-teachaids/|archive-date=19 July 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> marking the first time [[HIV/AIDS]] education could be provided decoupled from sex education. Later that year, the [[Government of Karnataka]] approved the materials for their state of 50 million and committed to distributing them in 5,500 government schools.<ref>{{cite web|title=Karnataka government to implement TeachAIDS tutorials in 5,500 schools|url=http://teachaids.org/blog/karnataka-government-to-implement-teachaids-tutorials-in-schools/|work=TeachAIDS|date=7 June 2010|accessdate=16 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728083607/http://teachaids.org/blog/karnataka-government-to-implement-teachaids-tutorials-in-schools/|archive-date=28 July 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In [[Assam]], [[List of Chief Ministers of Assam|Chief Minister]] [[Tarun Gogoi]] helped launched TeachAids.<ref name=iw /> [[Odisha]],<ref name=telegraph /> [[Andhra Pradesh]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Partnership between APSACS and TeachAIDS|url=http://apsacs.org/teachaids.html|work=[[Andhra Pradesh]] State AIDS Control Society|date=2013|accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref> and other Indian states have also joined with official support and distribution.

[[File:TeachAIDS Screenshots 1 (5386016934).jpg|thumb|left|Screenshot from the TeachAIDS software]]
In Botswana, the TeachAids tutorials were adopted nationally as the standard method for HIV/AIDS education. In 2011, the [[Education in Botswana|Ministry of Education]] began distributing the tutorials to every primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institution in the country, reaching all learners from 6 to 24 years of age nationwide. June 15 in Botswana was declared "National TeachAIDS Day".<ref name=stanford /><ref name=barclays />

In the [[United States]], the [https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/ Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education] distributes the tutorials on [[CD]] along with a custom educator handbook, both of which are made available at no cost.<ref>{{cite web |title=TeachAIDS Educator Handbook: A Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Prevention Curriculum|url=http://spice.stanford.edu/catalog/teachaids_educator_handbook_a_comprehensive_hivaids_prevention_curriculum/|date=16 December 2010|accessdate=16 December 2010 }}</ref>

The creation of TeachAids has been cited as an important innovation in achieving the [[United Nations]] [[Millennium Development Goals|Millennium Development Goal]] for combating the spread of HIV/AIDS.<ref>{{cite book |title=Millennium Development Goals Technology Road Map|url=http://www.globalwireonline.org/2015/01/05/buy-now-millennium-development-goals-technology-road-map/#.VZ6XFXjFv1I|last1=Whyte|first1=Talia|last2=Nakello|first2=Marjane|year=2015 |publisher=Global Wire Books|location=New York, NY|asin=B00R5D2Z6C|page=10}}</ref>

In 2012, TeachAids was named one of 12 global laureates by [[The Tech Awards]],<ref>{{cite web|title=The Tech Awards Laureate: TeachAIDS|url=http://thetechawards.thetech.org/the-laureates/teachaids|work=[[The Tech Awards]]|date=2012|accessdate=9 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703020742/http://thetechawards.thetech.org/the-laureates/teachaids|archive-date=3 July 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=28 Award Winners Highlight Innovation in Social Entrepreneurship|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/devinthorpe/2012/09/30/28-award-winners-highlight-innovation-in-social-entrepreneurship/|work=[[Forbes]]|date=30 September 2012|accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref> referred to as the "Nobel prize of tech philanthropy".<ref>{{cite web |title=Tech Museum chooses honorees for annual awards|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16127072|work=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|date=21 September 2010|accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[AIDS education and training centers]]
* [[HIV/AIDS in Africa]]
* [[HIV/AIDS in India]]
* [[Sex education]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.teachaids.org TeachAids official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/TeachAIDS TeachAids official channel] on [[YouTube]]
* [https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0374377 TeachAids software versions] on the [[Internet Movie Database]]

[[Category:Companies based in Palo Alto, California]]
[[Category:Educational software companies]]
[[Category:Free and open-source software organizations]]
[[Category:HIV/AIDS prevention organizations]]
[[Category:International charities]]
[[Category:Charities based in California]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2009]]
[[Category:Science education software]]
[[Category:Social enterprises]]
[[Category:Health charities in the United States]]
[[Category:Medical and health organizations based in California]]

TeachAids - Revision history

MerryGrubb79668: minor changes

imported>Kailash29792: /* top */clean up