Using Data and Evidence to Improve our Reach, Quality, and Impact
Sesame Workshop and its partners contribute rigorous, practical evidence about how to best reach children affected by crisis with quality programs, drawing on more than 50 years of experience building a research-informed approach to creating engaging content.
Grounded in the tested Sesame Workshop model, which relies on an iterative and collaborative process between education specialists, production experts, and research teams, Sesame Workshop uses a combination of needs assessments and formative research to elevate the voices of young children and their families. We then employ a variety of approaches to analyze media and technology landscapes to understand how best to deliver our content at the last mile. Centering the experiences, needs, and voices of children and families maximizes the effectiveness and educational impact of our programs, while ensuring that the content remains engaging and relevant.
Implementing partners from a variety of sectors integrate and use our educational media and materials in direct services, both in-person and remote. We prioritize learning from implementation and monitoring to reach more children and make programs more relatable and impactful. We also partner with a range of evaluators to generate evidence of our impact and potential for scale.
See here for upcoming research on supporting Early Childhood Development in Crisis Contexts around Ahlan Simsim and Play to Learn.
Information on how Sesame Workshop designs, creates and implements content around the world.
INTEGRATING VIDEOS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN INTO MULTI-SECTORAL INTERVENTIONS: What We’re Learning from Pilots in Bangladesh, Colombia, and Kenya.
This brief provides an overview of the pilots, early learnings on feasibility and engagement, and ways you can engage with us.
Needs Assessment with Internally Displaced Ukrainian Families (Spring 2023)
Sesame Workshop conducted a needs assessment with Internally Displaced Ukrainian families.
Technology Decision Roadmap: Solutions for Distributing Media in Crisis-affected Communities
Help your team determine the most appropriate technology solutions and partnerships for distributing video content to children in low-connectivity and crisis-affected communities.
“What is the Technology Decision Roadmap and How Can I Use It?”
This blog provides background information on the development of the Technology Decision Roadmap and offers guidance on how to use it.
Playing Around the World
In this resource, you will find a snapshot of Sesame’s learnings on global play, including games that have been vetted for relevance around the world.
Rapid ECD Needs Assessment for Ukrainian Families
Sesame Workshop conducted a needs assessment with Ukrainian caregivers, host community caregivers, and educators in Ukraine and Poland to understand their ECD needs and preferences.
Creating a Sesame Street for the Syrian Response Region
Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee provide an example of our process of designing media resources to be culturally relevant to a specific context.
Research & Design in Learning Programs
In this episode of the Art and Science of Learning podcast, Sesame Workshop staff discuss the interplay of research and design that we use to create quality programming.
Implementing a Humanitarian Needs Assessment Framework for Early Childhood Development
This article presents a framework for conducting a needs assessment in a humanitarian setting.
Using a Participatory Approach to Create SEL Programming
This paper highlights the use of a participatory, trauma-informed approach in the creation of Ahlan Simsim.
Trust, Misinformation and the Role of Technology in the Localization of Information
At the 2021 ALNAP Meeting, Sesame Workshop shared information on the Ahlan Simsim program. This blog post shares five key lessons from that panel.
Lessons from a Rapid Review of Remote Delivery Modalities in ECD/ECE
We commissioned this rapid evidence review to distill key lessons from a variety of sectors serving young children and their families remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global Learnings from a Play-Based Pilot Intervention in India, Mexico, and South Africa
This article analyzes findings from the pilot phases of Play Every Day, an intervention based in urban communities in India, Mexico, and South Africa.
Trusted Words from a Trusted Messenger
This blog post describes how Sesame Workshop developed and tested a series of mobile-optimized Ahlan Simsim videos to support parents and caregivers of children in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria.
Digital Solutions for Young Learners on the Move
This presentation summarizes the design, implementation, and performance of two digital solutions for children displaced from Venezuela: Jardín Sésamo and the Sésamo Chatbot.
Informed Consent
Sesame Workshop produced a series of videos to improve the quality of the informed consent process when working with children and families in multiple languages and locations.
An area highlighting research studies and results.
Co‑Viewing Mass Media to Support Children and Parents’ Emotional ABCs
This study provides evidence that families who regularly co-viewed Ahlan Simsim reported improved emotional vocabulary and increased emotion regulation among children and parents.
Recall and Comprehension Study
The purpose of this study was to assess the reach, recall, appeal, and relevance of WASH UP! roadside billboards in Herat, Afghanistan.
Evaluation Results for Play Every Day
The Play Every Day program empowered caregivers to effectively guide children in learning through play in India, Mexico, and South Africa.
An Evaluation of a Child Injury Prevention Intervention in Bangladesh
The Play Safe with Sisimpur program influenced the safety content currently used in our refugee response programs worldwide.
