So as part of the partnership between mFriday and Mobile Web Ghana (MWG), a Web Foundation initiative, there is an ongoing training for mFriday members. Only a week into the training, trainees are poised to become the changemakers that the world needs. All of them are thinking really hard and implementing mobile applications to make the world a better place. Pictures at the training are available here.
At mfriday, we put power in the hands of our members by empowering them with knowledge. We offer trainings to members to help them to be more productive. In this training, most of the participants taken were completely new to web technologies. Now, they appreciate technologies of the web and are using them to solve common and everyday problems.
The training is divided into two tracks, technology and business. The technology track takes the trainees through web technologies (HTML/CSS/Javascript, PHP and MySQL), Voice and Mobile Application development, UI/UX. Trainees will be taught on how to validate their business ideas by developing business models.
I would hate to take the words out of the trainees’ mouths. A short survey was conducted right after the third session (SMS) of the training. Trainees were asked to assess the first three sessions (UI/UX, Voice and SMS Apps).
What were your expectations when you heard the user experience and voice application?
“I expected to learn more about how voice applications worked and how to build them. I also wanted to learn as much as possible about creating a good UI and UX.”“My expectation was to get to no more on how to identify my persona for my application and the how-to of interviewing the target audience . I think for the voice i expected to really know how to write Voice applications.““I was expecting to create at least a first voice application. And building an app i need take the user into consideration.”“I was very glad and expected to learn a whole new thing. I knew it was a service used by companies and other organisations hence it had a great market value. The most interesting part was when we begun the study and for my first trial after coding , i successfully implemented my voice application without any error. i was such a great experience. What i saw and learnt exceeded my expectations. Thank you mfriday.”“I wanted to understand the core of the voice prompt I hear when I call the Telcos help line. I was always amazed at the automated voice that spoke and how it responded to the numbers it ordered me to press to perform certain tasks.”“with the user experience, I was expecting to be taught how to design GUIs and to make a webpage dynamic and iterative using javascript, css and others but I released it goes beyond designing interfaces to actually designing your service so that it actually add value to the users. but the trainers dwells so much on each topic to the extend that I kind of lose interest in it. But overall it was enlighting. For the voice application it was so cool and his method of training easy to understand.”How has the training helped you so far ?
“At least I can confidently say I know how to build both simple voice and sms applications. I also know where to look when it comes to UX/UI design.”“well, more than i can actually say because i was entirely lost from the beginning but so far i know nitigritis of how to solve everyday problems in an efficient way and one is through the building of applications either sms, voice etc”“it has tremendously helped me in terms of my coding life and the ability to think and find the very problems in my community. And last but not least, i think it has really motivated me into learning so many program and scripting languages.”“I had a lot of motivation from the training I now have knowledge on php-mysql,softwares ,web-site resources etc. I now have new friends to share ideas with and having the opportunity meet people like Nii,Alfred,Franco etc”“It has broaden my knowledge, taught me the value in usage and implication to society especially in solving problems. I have learnt things i have never heard of, things which i would have paid huge amount of money to learn. I have also had the opportunity to meet experts who told us the in’s and out’s of the software industry. The need for team work, networking and sharing ideas has also been among the things i learnt. This is the best opportunity any one could possibly have in such a platform.”“I have learnt how develop voice application which prior to the training I did not any idea as to how to go about it. The user experience taught me that I need to identify my target users of my application and ask them for what they want to see in my app”“asside the main lessons on how mobile services work i’ve also had a better understanding of the various markup languages. i’m also able to use certain software like xammp,voxeo , audacity and frontline and understand their application to mobile web”Any recommendation or suggestions for the organizers of the training?
“It would be good if there is a session, before the training begins, for brainstorming apps and forming groups so that we learn in context of the apps we are building. There should also be adequate time allotted for group work on the apps.”“i think they have done very well,for making sure at least everyday comes with so much knowledge. I appreciate the small size of the class too,for effective learning”“i suggest that next time they expand the number of days because it seems we are doing everything so quick and most of us were not able to catch with the training.”“The materials for the program should be made available on time. Because it took a very long time for my ‘prophecy’ to run; the ‘frontline sms’ hmmm…..”“I suggest that briefings on such a training should be made to the general public quite earlier with its intended activities.”“I recommend that for people who are not fortunate to be members of mfriday the information and all materials on the training should get to them earlier so that they can prepare to keep up with the other mfriday members.”“The organizers has been great.”“oh yea…they have been very great in their respect ground…teaching and delivering wat is expected”“Yes! participants should be given some requirements to satisfy such as knowledge in PHP,Python and other language to keep them keen to learn.”“We need to close early at least by 4:30 pm to give us time to relax and study what we learn in class the organizers should make arrangements with the restaurant so that we have different foods for different days such as red red apart from the usual rice. as in we take rice for 2 days, then take red red…or if possible let us chose what we want”“the number of training days could be in creased to help cover more and reduce stress for the students again there could be a special course for people who would like to understand mobile web but do not have a background coding. this could be done prior to the main course and the applicants could be charged more than the regular applicants”
All the trainees answered YES when they were asked if their expectations for the training had been met after the first three sessions. They have expressed so much enthusiasm in the training because according to them, they are learning a lot.
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rashkeed
