How this year’s Yidan Prize laureates are reshaping modern literacy

Key Concepts

• Bilingual Learning: Utilizing a learner’s native language alongside an official language to improve literacy and comprehension.
• Agent-Based Modeling (ABM): A computational modeling technique representing systems as collections of autonomous “agents” interacting with each other and their environment.
• Computational Thinking: A problem-solving approach involving decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithm design.
• Foundational Literacy: Basic reading and writing skills essential for further learning.
• Resilience & Adaptability: The ability to recover quickly from difficulties and adjust to new conditions – crucial skills for navigating a rapidly changing world.
• Inclusive Education: Ensuring all learners have access to quality education, regardless of linguistic background or other factors.

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The Evolving Landscape of Education: Access, Literacy, and Computational Thinking

The video highlights the urgent need for educational reform to address global challenges and prepare learners for a rapidly changing world, particularly in Africa where workforce growth is projected to be significant but hampered by limited access to education and evolving job market demands driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The core argument centers on the necessity of fostering not just knowledge acquisition, but also problem-solving skills, creativity, and adaptability.

The Challenge of Linguistic Access & Bilingual Learning Solutions

A significant barrier to education globally is access – over 250 million learners lack education in a language they understand. The video uses Senegal as a case study, illustrating the disconnect between the official language (French) and the languages spoken by the majority of the population (Wolof and Pulaar). Only approximately 20% of Senegalese citizens are fluent in French, leading to low literacy rates, with over 60% of second-grade students struggling to read or comprehend French.

This issue is being addressed by Edon Prize laureate Madu Amaduli and his team at Comprehend, in partnership with Senegal’s Ministry of Education. Their approach involves implementing bilingual learning programs. Initial results demonstrate “significant improvements” in student performance compared to monolingual settings. This model is now being expanded to other African nations, including Mauritania and Gambia. This demonstrates a practical application of bridging the language gap to improve foundational literacy.

Beyond Literacy: Cultivating Problem-Solving with Computational Thinking

While improved access and foundational literacy are vital, the video emphasizes the increasing importance of science literacy, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Traditional, linear education models are deemed insufficient for a world characterized by rapid change and interconnected systems.

Edon Prize laureate Professor Uri Winski advocates for computational thinking and agent-based modeling (ABM) as a solution. He argues that “the skill of being able to adapt, create, reason about, and model the new situations that we’re in” is more valuable than simply memorizing established knowledge. Winski contrasts traditional instruction, where students receive information and learn pre-defined results, with a more dynamic approach that encourages active learning.

Agent-Based Modeling: A Tool for Understanding Complexity

Agent-based modeling is presented as a powerful tool for understanding and managing complex systems. It functions by representing system components as individual “agents” capable of independent movement and interaction.

The video illustrates this with a traffic jam example. Using NetLogo, a platform developed by Winski, students can manipulate variables like the number of cars and their speed to observe how these factors contribute to traffic congestion. The simulation visually demonstrates the emergent patterns resulting from agent interactions, allowing students to analyze system behavior over time. ABM’s applicability extends beyond traffic to model diverse systems, including ecosystems, economic systems, and disease spread.

The widespread adoption of NetLogo is highlighted: over 10,000 scientific publications utilize the platform, and it has been downloaded over 3 million times for classroom use.

Convergence and the Future of Learning

The video draws a connection between the seemingly disparate approaches of bilingual learning and computational thinking, emphasizing their shared goal of creating more accessible and inclusive education. Both initiatives aim to empower learners and foster social progress.

The Yedon Prize Foundation is positioned as a catalyst for positive change, recognizing and supporting “visionary change makers” in education. Lee and Winski were jointly awarded the 2025 Edon Prize in recognition of their contributions.

Winski articulates his ultimate vision: “My goal is for everyone in the population to be able to use agent-based modeling and to use models to help them understand how the universe works and how to solve the complex problems that our society is facing us with.”

Conclusion

The video concludes that inclusive, innovative learning is not merely desirable, but essential for a future where all learners can thrive. By addressing linguistic barriers and equipping students with the tools for computational thinking, educators can cultivate resilience, adaptability, and the capacity to navigate an increasingly complex world, ultimately fostering a more equitable and prosperous future.