Prosper Dzidzienyo, member of the victorious National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) team from Presbyterian Boys High School (PRESEC) who won the competition in 2009 has together with other colleagues developed a new learning app to boost basic education particularly in these pandemic times.
Prosper was on stage with Jeffrey Asala and Frank Adu-Poku and that pair helped Presby Boys High School to execute the first and only back to back trophy win in the competition’s history.
His present team constitutes a group of young innovative Ghanaians from Smartix Education who have developed an application to support teaching and learning at the basic level in Ghana.
The App, named Teleplay, was successfully piloted during from June to July 2020, during the COVID 19 pandemic and earlier tests of the app content were run during the Smartix Summer School, first, at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Primary School, Kumasi, and subsequently in some selected schools in Ho and Kumasi.
Project Lead of Smartix, Mr. Prosper Dzidzienyo, said the App was born out of a desire to see that children enjoy learning, while sparking their sense of curiosity and creativity.
“Our aim is not to upend the system but to support it to change. Our goal is for the system to depart from a quest to just prepare students to just pass exams. We believe this will help stem the production line of the formulaic, industrial age, cut-for-procedure type of students we churn out year in year out. We want children to enjoy school, play, be creative and learn not to just solve exams questions but to also solve real world problems.”
The App has interactive educational games, daily fun puzzles, videos, illustrative lessons, fun quizzes, and live teachers who students can reach out to any time for help in understanding a lesson or any concept. The android app can be downloaded from Google Playstore and the wep app can be accessed at www.teleplay.app
Inventors say a combination of these packages will give students a comprehensive educational experience as the learning tools shape the development of creative and analytical skills which are required to solve the world’s challenges. And they can do this from home with a Phone, a tablet or a computer.
Speaking on the feedback from the various boot camp sessions held in selected schools, Mr. Dzidzienyo said, “We observed from our piloting that students were more excited about learning, were always present sometimes an hour before teachers arrived and wanted to get their hands dirty learning to fix something.”
“This gives us confidence that this will work and we are more committed now than ever to our mission. We believe we can transform tomorrow today,” he added.
Mr. Prosper Dzidzienyo is also a member of the victorious National Science and Maths Quiz team from Presbyterian Boys High School (PRESEC) who won the competition in 2009.
