It’s how we know where it hurts and how to fix it!
Solving a problem that affects you hits different. I know this because it is what we are doing at Stranerd — creating solutions for students like ourselves through technology.
The numbers are huge when you consider the rate of student failure, especially in Nigeria. For example, 1.4 million Nigerians took the primary gateway examination, UTME, in 2020 and out of that number, 85% failed. When you also think about the fact that the number of universities in Nigeria are also not enough to host the number of students available, you realize it becomes an improper fraction that cannot be made even anytime soon.
So what are we doing?
We know that education can become so much better than it is today, which is why we’re placing all bets on what we’re building. And not just in Nigeria where we’re starting out from but beyond the shores of Africa.
On a campaign outreach to the University of Lagos, Nigeria; I encountered many students who were not only interested in what we were building but even made suggestions on what they wanted. This is where our confidence comes from, there IS a need that we are filling.
One girl complained about how her lecturer had given her an ‘unreasonable assignment’ whose answers she could not find on Google and I see hope sweep across her face when I whip out my phone, sign in and explain the ‘Ask a Question’ feature on Stranerd which connects students to the solutions they need from other students who have experience with it.
Another guy loved the flashcard feature, which in my opinion stops cramming right in its tracks. Why cram when you can memorize and retain information the right way? He made a suggestion too, about combining our Notes and flashcard feature so thay could be used together in a specific way he mentioned and you bet we took note of that.
Building has never been easy, especially when it’s a structure that defies existing blueprints. As we roll out features, we’re sure to keep in mind that it solves a problem for our users. Each feature revolves around our topmost values of collaboration, creativity and competition with the vision of creating opportunities for students to be the most valuable that they can be.
The best part remains that we are our users. Since we are students, we can regularly pause and ask ourselves, ‘how would this help me?’ ‘does this make sense in the long run?’ ‘how can it be better?’ ‘what do I need as a student?’ ‘what do I like as a student?’
Being students also means that we have a network of students within reach to test our product and correct our solutions when there is need to.
We know what students want.
We will not stop here, at just providing tools, no. We’re going further to create a system that brings students to a place where learning is not only convenient but also personalized to their unique needs at different levels.
But first, start here! — Stranerd.com.
