Course-prep: A blended learning platform

JHS1 Students of Glory Kindercare Complex exploring the platform

Last Monday, I was privileged to introduce a blended learning platform -- Course-prep -- to first year students of the Glory Kindercare Learning Complex JHS, in Sunyani.

"Blended learning is the integration of online technology/learning, with the traditional face-to-face class activities, in a planned, pedagogical, valuable manner". - Online Learning Consortium

Features of Course-prep

Randomised Questions and Answers: Questions and answers (MCQs) are randomly displayed to prevent cheating during in-class quizzes.

Multimedia Course Material Supplement: Supplementary course materials such as videos, audios and other e-learning files can be uploaded to augment face-to-face teaching.

Students' Performance Statistics: Review of quiz results by individual students, showing them how they compare to the overall average. 

Available Online, and on-premise: Course-prep can be deployed online for assignments, or deployed locally on a school's LAN for in-class assignments. 

If you'd like to try the free version of Course-prep, kindly submit your request here.
You can also contact via e-mail for inquiry and support.

Screenshot of a Revision quiz question

A student reviews his performance after a practice quiz

The Zoobashop experience

Cursor H-Series 5050W

So I've heard of Zoobashop from friends a number of times, and decided to try their services.

Zoobashop is an online shopping website launched in 2013, that makes it easier fro customers to have access to products online, and make purchases, which are delivered to them. Less hustle.

I created an account on their page, and ordered a Cursor H-Series 5050W.

It was a smooth ordering experience, and I had a number of options in paying for the item.

I chose to pay via a bank account of theirs.

As I live outside Accra, I had to pay extra for delivery.

Zoobashop's LOG IN page for registered users

However when I was tracking my the delivery, I didn't like the experience of logging back into my account (As a registered user). On two successive occasions, I hit the Register button instead of Login because of the placement of the buttons.

I think I would have a better, enjoyable experience, if the Login button was placed on top, or even to the left (if both buttons are placed on the same horizontal line)

What has been your experience with online shopping websites/platforms in Ghana?

Chale, where (did) my credit go?

Mobile Data under Phone's Settings

Mobile internet bundles have contributed to the low patronage of Internet Cafes in Ghana. The other 'culprit' in this regard are the modems from the telecommunication networks.

Inasmuch as these mobile bundle services have increased the convenience of users, a number of grievances still abound.

A trivial one has to be with 'stolen' credit when users buy credit vouchers and find out they can't bundle data because 'they don't have enough credit units'.

Really?

Take my friend Kofi, who bought a GHS20 worth of  Vodafone airtime the other day. He loads it onto his phone, and enters the short code to begin the bundle process. All goes accordingly until the final step, where he chooses the bundle that he wants (1.6GB), and is told he has insufficient credit.

Surprised, he checks his balance and realises it's GHS1.99456! He starts cussing.

Chale, where my credit go?

I'm sure we've experienced this before. I know I have.

I approach Kofi and ask him if his mobile data is on. With confusion drawn on his face, I take his phone from him and show him the mobile data in his phone's settings page. In other phones, this is simply known as Background data.

His mobile data was on, so I had to explain to him how leaving the data on before recharging airtime isn't a good idea. You see, once your mobile data is on, it allows apps on your mobile phone to access the Internet in the background. This uses your airtime.

Kofi was grateful for this hack that I showed him.