MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

ASANKA

One-line solution summary:

Connecting Offline Learners to Local Content

Pitch your solution.

ASANKA connects offline learners to local content for free. It is a low cost, low powered (5-Watts), durable (metal case) system that shares any content you decide using WiFi (without internet). You can load your own content or purchase with preloaded local content & curriculum. And ASANKA Analytics* gives decision-makers evidence-based educational tools to improve teaching & learning outcomes.

One ASANKA can support 20 connections (for best performance) without incurring data or any other costs.

ASANKA is the Ghanaian word for “community bowl” and this ASANKA invites you to a virtual "community bowl" of free information for all.

Film your elevator pitch.

What specific problem are you solving?

ASANKA is solving three (3) major educational challenges; Curriculum & Content Distribution (CCD), Evidence-based Decision Making (EDM), & Localized Content (LC).

“In a skills assessment conducted by the World Bank in 12 countries comprising 7 African countries... Grade 2 pupils in Ghanaian… public schools are the worst-performing pupils... with almost 90% of students unable to read. In numeracy… 70%... were unable to perform simple two-digit subtraction exercises.” (4) This shows that current educational practices are not producing the necessary educational outcomes.

CCD is between 16-29% of all textbooks throughout the entire country (Ghana), however, they never reach their destination. Reasons vary from poor roads, theft, spoilage, lack of inventory control, among others.

Even if the CCD is successful there are no EDM tools to help Teachers, Administrators & Ministries improve educational outcomes. So they are left with guessing, luck and tradition.

Not all education content is created equal. It has been shown that LC is useful for increased student comprehension and reading abilities. Lack of LC often creates confusion and increases learning challenges through unfamiliar; language usage (grammar, speed & accents), problem examples and cultural references.

What is your solution?

ASANKA solves the three (3) major educational challenges of Curriculum & Content Distribution (CCD), Evidence-based Decision Making (EDM), & Localized Content (LC).

ASANKA connects offline learners to local content for free. It is a low cost ($150USD), low powered (5-Watts), durable (metal case) system that conveys any content you decide to share using Web 2.0 platform. You can load your own content or purchase with preloaded local content & curriculum. And ASANKA Analytics* gives decision-makers evidence-based educational tools to improve teaching & learning outcomes. No other system solves these challenges (CCD, EDM, LC) in the most difficult to reach communities across Africa.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Education is the foundation of citizenship, economic opportunities & gender equity. ASANKA (www.myASANKA.com) benefits society through free access to local educational materials for offline learners. Individuals who are disconnected from the Internet due to high cost or lack of access will no longer be disadvantaged. ASANKA brings local content in the form of videos, interactive games & quizzes, e-books and more to offline learners for free. Increased access to education brings increased earning potential, as high as 9%/year and even higher for girls/women (12). Thereby creating the foundation for citizenship, improved income generation, and greater gender equity.

ASANKA is the first 100% low-cost educational technology developed & produced in Ghana by Africans for Africans. It is a low cost ($150USD), low powered (5-Watts), durable (metal case) system coupled with free access to local content & curriculum. Clients can upload their own content. And ASANKA Analytics* gives decision-makers evidence-based educational tools to improve teaching & learning outcomes. No other system on the market has this combination of factors to bring locally relevant educational resources to difficult to reach communities across Africa.

Educators

ASANKA impacts educators by giving them access to local content for free. Educators can teach from an ASANKA in a more engaging way, using videos, interactive games & quizzes, e-books and even websites. And up to thirty (30) teachers can use a single ASANKA at the same time.

This teacher-directed learning is organized around a country's curriculum. Making it easier for the educator to access all relevant information. Another advantage is that ASANKA has curated, child-safe content, unlike the internet.

Finally, ASANKA Analytics gives decision-makers evidence-based educational tools to improve teaching & learning outcomes.

Students

ASANKA impacts students by giving them access to local content for free. Unlike teacher-directed learning, this Montessori-style learning is driven by student’s curiosity and independence. And ASANKA has the added advantage of curated, child-safe content, unlike the internet

With this fun, free, open-source access, students can practice their exams, review materials, read ahead or review past course work, thereby improving overall exam scores and learning outcomes.

Administrators

ASANKA impacts administrators by giving them access to ASANKA Analytics, an evidence-based educational tool to improve teaching & learning outcomes. ASANKA analytics* gathers usage data and when connected to the internet uploads that data to an ASANKA Cloud Account (ACA) for review & analysis.

ASANKA Analytics* creates a simple closed-loop between Teacher - Student - Content - Exam Scores, like never before, allowing administrators to adjust teaching practices and for improved educational outcomes.

The ACA is a file hosting service that offers cloud storage and file synchronization with your ASANKA devices anywhere in the world. Administrators can centrally manage their content and review analytic data. The ACA comes at an additional cost.

Girls

ASANKA impacts girls by giving them ASANKA World Games. These interactive choose-your-own-adventures educate girls on making positive life choices around Health, Finance, Travel, Self-Confidence, Planning Your Future, Legal Rights, and more. Allowing the games to be played individually allows for the girls to learn without any social pressures or distractions. These games were developed in collaboration with Michelle Obama's 'Let Girls Learn' initiative and have shown many young girls how to make the best life choices for their future.

We have also found that ASANKA World Games impact young boys. They learn that the consequences of their actions can lead to negative outcomes for young girls.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Enable access to quality learning experiences in low-connectivity settings—including imaginative play, collaborative projects, and hands-on experiments.

Explain how the problem you are addressing, the solution you have designed, and the population you are serving align with the Challenge.

ASANKA solves the three (3) major educational challenges of Curriculum & Content Distribution (CCD), Evidence-based Decision Making (EDM), & Localized Content (LC).

ASANKA connects offline learners to local content for free. It is a low cost ($150USD), low powered (5-Watts), durable (metal case) system that conveys any content you decide to share using Web 2.0 platform. You can load your own content or purchase with preloaded local content & curriculum. And ASANKA Analytics* gives decision-makers evidence-based educational tools to improve teaching & learning outcomes. No other system solves these challenges (CCD, EDM, LC) across Africa.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Accra, Ghana

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Growth: An organization with an established product, service, or business model rolled out in one or, ideally, several communities, which is poised for further growth.

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution.

Growth: An organization with an established product, service, or business model rolled out in one or, ideally, several communities, which is poised for further growth.

TECHAiDE has sold to NGOs, Teaching Institutions or direct to consumers over 300 (Jan 2021) ASANKA since its debut in September 2016.

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Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

Kafui Prebbie, CEO

More About Your Solution

If your solution has a website or an app, provide the links here:

www.MyASANKA.com

If you have additional video content that explains your solution, provide a YouTube or Vimeo link here:

—

Which of the following categories best describes your solution?

A new technology

What makes your solution innovative?

ASANKA is the first 100% low-cost educational technology developed & produced in Ghana by Africans for Africans. It is a low cost ($150USD), low powered (5-Watts), durable (metal case) system coupled with the free access to local content & curriculum. Clients can upload their own content. And ASANKA Analytics* gives decision-makers evidence-based educational tools to improve teaching & learning outcomes. No other system on the market has this combination of factors to bring locally-relevant educational resources to difficult to reach communities across Africa.

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

Software and Mobile Applications

Select the key characteristics of your target population.

Women & Girls
Children & Adolescents
Rural
Peri-Urban
Urban
Poor
Low-Income
Middle-Income

Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?

4. Quality Education

In which countries do you currently operate?

Gambia, The
Ghana
Haiti
Liberia

In which countries will you be operating within the next year?

Burkina Faso

How many people does your solution currently serve? How many will it serve in one year? In five years?

TECHAiDE is a for-profit social enterprise and with economies of scale, we expect the sale price to drop below $100USD/device. With this investment, 5,700 devices with an average Ghana school population of 149 students, approximately impacting 849,300 students/year one. So over a five-year period: 5 x 849,300 = 4,246,500 students impacted.

How are you measuring your progress toward your impact goals?

TECHAiDE Indicators

Number of ASANKA Sold
Number of Publishers on ASANKA Store platform
Number of ASANKA Cloud Accounts (ACA)
Improved BECE scores
Improved WASSCE scores

About Your Team

What type of organization is your solution team?

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

How many people work on your solution team?

Kafui Prebbie, MBI, CEO: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ka...

FJ Cava, MBA, COO: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fj...

Matilda Agyei, Finance & Admin Manager: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ma...

Newton Oboro, ICT Manager: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ne...

Dora Vondee, ICT Officer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/do...

Thomas Eghan Ekuban, Educational Content Officer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/th...

How long have you been working on your solution?

Since 2017 - 5 years

How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

Kafui A. Prebbie is an Education and ICT for Development expert who has worked for several years developing and applying technology and education solutions - especially within rural settings in Africa. Kafui’s work as an ICT and Education consultant both locally and internationally, has seen him work for several clients and collaborators including the Commonwealth of Learning, Canada; Campaign for Girls Education (CAMFED), UK; World Education International, USA and Ghana; Plan International, Ghana; International Institute for Communications and Development, Netherlands; EDIFY, USA; Wireless Africa Project, South Africa; DelPHE Project funded by British Council Ghana; European Union FP7 funded Digital World Forum Project; and the Ghana Aids Commission under the Office of the President of Ghana, among others.

Mr FJ Cava has decades of experience in challenging African environments applying his strategic leadership, technical expertise, cross-cultural understanding, functional project management (time, quality & cost), & effective personnel management skills in order to achieve success on difficult projects. He brings value (financial & social) to every organization with which he works; through his pragmatic get-stuff-done (GSD) attitude, through his MBA in Entrepreneurship, and through his eclectic experiences throughout EMEA.

What is your approach to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive leadership team?

http://techaide.global/team-me...Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

TECHAiDE encourages minorities and women to apply for positions that are often underrepresented, in order to be an example to society-at-large and encourage others to do the same thing.

Your Business Model & Partnerships

Partnership & Prize Funding Opportunities

Why are you applying to Solve?

TECHAiDE is applying because it's difficult to get large injections of capital for growth. TECHAiDE is growing the ASANKA product by reinvesting the profit margin, however explosive growth will come with an injection of capital. The ASANKA is already an excellent product and has evidence to prove its positive educational outcomes. Co-designed with IBM, we have a solid education tool that impacts educational outcomes. However, our growth rate is limited by our capital reserves which at this point is set at the profit margin. With a large injection of capital, the distribution of ASANKA and its impact could reach millions more quickly. This is why we hope to be selected to become an MIT Solver. TECHAiDE is passionate about impact education across Africa and with your support we can do it faster and better.

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?

Human Capital (e.g. sourcing talent, board development, etc.)
Financial (e.g. improving accounting practices, pitching to investors)

Please explain in more detail here.

Pitching to investors = our CEO is inexperienced at pitching investors and only raised $40K through friends & family. Any help could improve the outcome of our second round of funding.

Human Capital - we currently are looking for a CTO to handle the challenges of the ASANKA product. Any help in this area could be appreciated.

What organizations would you like to partner with, and how would you like to partner with them?

We would like to partner with all of the Ministries of Education across the African continent. We want to show them how the ASANKA can improve teaching and learning outcomes in their country. We just need support in showcasing the ASANKA.

The second target market would be any multi-lateral funders like USAID, UKAID, Foundations, showcasing the educational benefits at both the HQ-level, country level, and regional offices so everyone is aware of how the product works and how it can support their educational programs.

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The ASA Prize for Equitable Education? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The ASA Prize for Equitable Education to advance your solution?

We are currently focused on the African continent but we would be open to working in America. I'm not sure how we are qualified but the alternative choice was, "No, I do not wish to be considered for this prize, even if the prize funder is specifically interested in my solution." And we would consider it if the prize funder is specifically interested in our solution, ergo we chose yes.

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The GM Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for the Innovation for Women Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The AI for Humanity Prize to advance your solution?

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The GSR Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize