With a good internet connection and basic computer knowledge, a secondary school student in need of extra lessons can now access support online at a rate that is competitive on the market.
BrainStreet, the new local online learning enterprise, announced its arrival at GuyExpo this year where it sought to familiarize persons with the service in the hope that students would soon be logging on to learn.
After nearly a decade of offering consulting services on the local market, software company BrainStreet Tech-nologies introduced its newest service which is aimed at altering the way students learn.
The company is marketing BrainStreet as a virtual learning environment which allows students to access academic work to support their efforts as they prepare for the Caribbean Secondary Exam-ination Council (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).
Among the services included in the package are online chat rooms and forums that can facilitate collaborative discussions and sharing of experiences; online automated exams and quizzes to test the student’s knowledge of the specified curriculum; web conferencing facilities for interactive live meetings, presentations and online workshops, among other things.
Lance Hinds, Chief Technological Officer at the company, told Stabroek News that there is need for such a service in Guyana. He said the idea was floating around for sometime now and they have finally decided to launch it after much preparation. According to him, highly qualified tutors with many years in the education system have joined the team and will be facilitating the lessons.
To date, locals along with persons from Jamaica and Singapore have joined the team as tutors. Hinds said they intend to train additional tutors since the number of persons logging on to access the service is expected to grow overtime.
“The feedback at GuyExpo has been overwhelming since last Friday and over the weekend. People are responding to us but what we are currently doing is merely familiarizing people with BrainStreet,” he related.
He said courses initially being offered will be Math-ematics; English Language; Principles of Accounts and Principles of Business and General Science. Spanish and Portuguese are expected to be added shortly.
According to Hinds, their immediate target group is the students preparing for examinations but the courses are open to other students and adults. He said one of the great features is that students will learn at their own pace and access the materials any time they choose, and it will all be from the comfort of their homes or a location of their choice.
Also available will be pre-scheduled tutoring sessions and persons will be able to view archives of past sessions. Hinds noted that at all times persons accessing the courses will be supported. Given the environment, he said, so many things are possible and they intend to give persons the best quality learning experience.
The cost for the courses will be around $2,500 but later when BrainStreet introduces courses for students at the primary school level the cost will start at $1,500. Hinds said they intend to reach very young students as well since the programme is designed for different age groups.
He said they average around 20-25 students for each course but pointed out that they have the capacity to facilitate larger numbers.
Hinds said the system will function best with a high speed connection such as DSL or Broadband. This, he said, does not exempt persons with dial-up.
To register interested persons need to visit the company’s website www.-BrainStreetLearning.com using a credit card; they can go down to the company’s office at 24 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park; or download an application form from the company’s website and register at any Western Union outlet across the country. (Iana Seales)
