From the Mind of a Coder: Can I be an honorary AfriGadgeteer?

This post might be slightly different from the usual "From the Mind of a Coder" entries -- as if there was anything usual about the series! -- but it is indicative of the almost insatiable desire to solve problems.

Erik Hersman, a.k.a. WhiteAfrican, along with a whole cast of characters, maintains AfriGadget, a "website dedicated to showcasing African ingenuity... a testament to Africans bending the little they have to their will, using creativity to overcome life's challenges." I really enjoy the little glimpse it provides into creative problem-solving from the African perspective. But I'm wondering, Erik & club, can I be an honorary AfriGadgeteer? After all, you don't have to be from Africa to make use of existing resources! Exhibit A, my solution for a broken doorknob...


The problem: Turning the doorknob no longer retracts the bolt, but the deadbolt above it still works (and is sufficient for locking the door). How do I keep the bolt out of the catch so I don't have to jam a screwdriver in there to open the door?

The solution: Cut a piece of scrap wood so that it fits through the catch hole & is slightly deeper than the hole in the door frame. Then wrap a rubber band around the wood block so that it won't pop out. Screw the catch back into the door frame, et voila!

Now, the question is, at what point does my wife accuse me of simply being lazy?! After all, I am much luckier than the African problem solvers: I can easily afford to buy a new doorknob or even hire someone to replace it for me. But I can definitely empathize with their drive for coming up with creative solutions to various challenges. Wait. I did spend a good deal of my younger years growing up in New England. Maybe it's that "Yankee ingenuity." :)

Assessing Learning Technology Readiness: A Pre-Service Case Study from Botswana

This past Tuesday I led a brown bag lunch (BBL) session @ Jhpiego to share w/folks our Learning Technology Readiness Assessment (LTRA) process. From the invitation that was sent out:

"Please join the Global Learning Office for a discussion about the process of, and tools available for, conducting a Learning Technology Readiness Assessment. Originally developed for use in the Ethiopia e-Learning project, a Learning Technology Readiness Assessment has been conducted at all 8 Health Training Institutes in Botswana. We will be sharing with you our recent experiences there, highlighting both site-specific as well as the more broad challenges and opportunities, and the recommendations that have been made to the Ministry of Health and the local CDC office (BOTUSA)."

The BBL was just under an hour and you can watch an archived version online -- Assessing Learning Technology Readiness: A Pre-Service Case Study from Botswana.

You can also download copies of the Learning Technology Readiness Assessment tools (CC By-NC-SA 3.0).

Looking forward to your comments & questions...