Android Session 4 @ Mbarara University 2015

Hi Developers! My name is Lynet Ampiire, a second year student at Mbarara University of Science and Technology pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering.
Participating in this Android training has given me an opportunity to enhance my programming skills especially learning how apps are developed.

Student explains concept during class

On Saturday, 18, April, 2015 we had our fourth study session where i was able to acquire more experience. The focus was on Shared Preferences and I'm going to share with you what I learnt.

I, Lynet and my groupmate explain our assignment app to class

• Shared preferences enable a developer to store and retrieve information. This works for simple information such as user names and passwords. 
• SQLite is preferred when dealing with complex information.

Additionally a couple of methods come in handy when dealing with Shared Preferences which include;

Android Class during session

• getSharedPreferences() method which retrieves information stored and is applied in multiple application components.
• getPreferences() method does the same thing as the getSharedPreferences() method only that it is applied in a single application.

We also looked at the Editor class that has a name that can be used to invoke or reference other methods such as edit () method, put (), and get () method.

Finally, I take this opportunity to thank Google in partnership with Udacity for enriching us with this great knowledge.  I look forward to applying these concepts in the application i intend to develop by the end of the training. 

I would like develop a digital diary app. I just can’t wait till it's done…....Cheers!

For a link to more session photos; click Android Session 4

+Chimdindu Aneke +Jeminatu Alabi-Isama +Richard Kimera +Kimera Richard +Galiwango Martin +Brian Kagimu

Android Session 3 @ Mbarara University 2015

Hello programmers! Have you heard of the Android revolution at Mbarara University? The study sessions are getting more exciting, fun and engaging for the Android Team @Must with each passing day.

Android Students have fun after the session

Googlers @Must have formed teams to specialize in different concepts as they learn how to develop Android Applications.

Programmers are developing apps based on specific topics and they get to present to the rest of the Study team during the sessions, get advice from the facilitators and explain to the rest better. It's efficient, effective and more exciting since each one of us has to be the best at what they specialize in. 

A student explains layouts in Android

Developers are acquiring public speech skills, team work, learning how to use GitHub and Doing cool things that matter. Three teams got a chance to present in this session and guys did amazing work each taking home nice Google swag.

A lucky student admires his Android T shirt

If you have a dream of making a great impact in the world, then this is an opportunity you can't afford to miss.

Don't miss the next session on 16th April 2015 its going to be [bloody] as the rest of the teams present and we learn from them. Hope you have already gotten a project to work on.

Have fun. For a link to more photos about the session; go to the link Android Session 3. Thank you.

Phyllis Ntananga,

Android Student @ Mbarara University and GSA Core Team Member

+Chimdindu Aneke +Jeminatu Alabi-Isama +Richard Kimera +Kimera Richard +Galiwango Martin +Ntananga Phyllis +Brian Kagimu +Ziyal Amanya +Ziyal Amanya +Ankwasa Bernadine 

GSoC 2015 Meetup @ Mbarara University

The Google Summer of Code is an opportunity for technical students to learn the best practices of software development by engaging in open source software development.
On the 26th of February 2015 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, we had a meet up at Mbarara University of Science and Technology to raise awareness about the program and encourage students to participate.
A total of about 72 students attended the event.

Students listening attentively during the event

Three students who're part of the Google Student Ambassador team facilitated. Phyllis Ntananga talked about the program, its' benefits and the experience to be gained.
Patricia Katusiime encouraged the students to join the GSoKites Virtual Classroom (GVC) in order to be effectively prepared to apply for the competition once application opens on March 16 2015.
Kagimu Brian talked about Git, a distributed version control system as well as GitHub, a site for code collaboration.

Phillys explains the GSoC program

Students got excited and it ended in challenging the dance-shy GSA to pull off a few strokes.
This year, our students are more likely to be successful in the program than before.

We are grateful to the University administration for provision of the facilities, the student community for their participation in the events as well as Google for enabling the Google Student Ambassador Team to Do Cool Things That Matter.

Selfie of the event

Students interacting during the event

For a link to more photos; click Google Summer of Code 2015 Awareness

 +Chimdindu Aneke +Jeminatu Alabi-Isama 

+Karani bob kennedys +agnes katusiime +Ntananga Phyllis +Patricia katusiime +Brian Kagimu 

Google AdClass Session 4

On the 2nd of March 2015, we had our fourth session of the Google AdClass here at Mbarara University of Science  and Technology.

We met as a small group at the Balcony of the Development Studies Block at 4:30pm. Some of our members could not make it due to ongoing lectures and other engagements.

Our main aim of meeting yesterday was to practically create an advertising campaign using Google AdWords. The Procedure is as easy as follows;

1. Go to the Google AdWords site
2. Login or signup or simply create a new Google account
3. Create a new campaign
4. Make it as descriptive as possible for your business
5. Create an Ad Group and create ads in it

We did create a sample campaign about a Boutique and created different Ad Groups about Fancy Tops, Ladies' shoes. 

We used the Google AdWords: Keyword Planner to help us on a few suggestions on keywords (words or phrases that trigger your ad to show).

We also formed two groups to participate in the Google Online Marketing Challenge. We have briefed them and i know this morning they will talk to the professors to sign them up. They are also going to talk to some local business to get their approval in order to advertise them.

I just can't wait to see what will come out of the current AdClass at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Only God can tell. As of now i am hoping for great results.

As always here at Mbarara, we will continue to "Do Cool Things That Matter"

Google AdClass Session 3

On the 25, February 2015, Wednesday evening, we had our third AdClass session. I am personally grateful to all the students who showed up. They inspire me.

The event yesterday ended on time, just about 5 minutes after the ending time because we kicked off a little bit late.

The challenge of poor Internet connection got to us again. We were however able to cover how to structure one's account for success. We looked at why it is important to have ads as specific as possible because it helps the business to offer ads that are relevant to the user.

We looked at a few examples of bad ads (that are too general) as well as good ads (that are as specific as possible).

We also looked at the structure of your AdWords account and broke it down it into its' components ie the account, campaign, ad group as well as the different ads and their keywords.

By the end of the class, students were able to know how to structure their account for success as well the strategies that help to ensure success.

We also gave them information on why improving the ad quality as much as possible is the ultimate winning goal of any advertiser.

Of course this can be improved by ensuring you have a good landing page that your potential customers arrive on after clicking on your ad as well as ensuring that you create relevant ads that are as specific as possible targeting your potential customers.

We will have our fourth session on Monday 2 March 2015 hopefully in S210, Science Block, Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Incase of changes in location due to Internet connectivity, we will shift to the Development studies block and we will make sure everyone is informed.

Hopefully we will continue to "Do Cool Things That Matter" here at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. - Harry Ford

Google AdClass Session 2

We had our second Google AdClass session here in Mbarara on Tuesday 24 February 2015. The location was Room S103, Science Block from 5:00 pm to 5:45 pm.

The turn up was about 15 students. The remainder seems to have been caught up in ongoing lectures as well as other engagements. We covered how to setup a new campaign on Google AdWords.

Our main challenge however still was the limited Internet connectivity that denied us access to the Google AdWords site. We however were able to cover all this in the session.

Google AdClass Session 2

We did have to review the previous session in order to better understand the second. Our next session is on today from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm in room S210, Science Block.

I have great hope in the current Google AdClass at Mbarara University of Science. These are some of the most brilliant students i have met. They do have the ability and potential to make it in life. They can achieve good results in the 2015 Google Online Marketing Challenge.

During the session

Only time will tell. We will still continue to "Do Cool Things That Matter" here at Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Google AdClass Session 1

It marks the dawn of a new era at the University here in Western Uganda. We are busy preparing the next marketers to send a shock wave throughout the world. We are preparing them for the prestigious Google Online Marketing Challenge.

We will be killing two birds with one stone; we will be getting more local businesses online as well learning how marketing is done using the most widely used search engine in the world.

We are kicking off a marathon of training sessions this week. We had a session on Monday 23 February 2015 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm (ideal) Ugandan Time. However, we actually finished some minutes later. We hope to improve on this with time. The students were on time ready to learn. I was impressed by their zeal and desire to learn.

We learnt about an introduction to online marketing. We got to talk about the history of the World Wide Web, online adverts, why advertise on Google and the benefits of Online Marketing compared to the traditional forms of advertising.

Our next session is this Tuesday February 24 2015 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm in Room S103, Science Block at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Nobody can stop us now. We are destined for greatness. So help us God.

#mbrAdclass15 #adclass #gomc #gomc15 #docoolthingsthatmatter