3. Online learning.
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JakeCarpenter
Dec 28, 2011, 2:12:41 AM12/28/11
to Startup or Shut Up
US schools are often bad. A lot of parents realize it, and would be
interested in ways for their kids to learn more. Till recently,
schools, like newspapers, had geographical monopolies. But the web
changes that. How can you teach kids now that you can reach them
through the web? The possible answers are a lot more interesting than
just putting books online. One route would be to start with test prep
services, for which there's already demand, and then expand into
teaching kids more than just how to score high on tests. Another would
be to start with games and gradually make them more thoughtful.
Another, particularly for younger kids, would be to let them learn by
watching one another (anonymously) solve problems.+1 +1 - like the
idea of designing a simple educational game. there've been a lot of
coding-as-games ideas on HN recently, haven't there? (codecademy,
rubyforkids) Yeah, having watched kids use iPads/iPhones there is
definitely something here.
Khan Academy is opensource
Instructure is also opensource
Apps are interesting. I'd like to ignore the tutoring/test prep
parts of the above, because there are many currently out there which
seem to be doing reasonably well, even if theven if there are some
failings.
There's also tutorspree, udemy, and skillshare, which are about
connecting students with teachers. But probably not what we're
thinking.
I want to connect tech-freelancers with officeworkers. A manager
who is klutz at Powerpoint and needs a 20 min tutorial on how to whip
up a solid powerpoint, or use Google Earth. Or arrange a series of 5 1-
hr lessons on mastering Photoshop to make websites. chrise
What about something akin to Justin.tv for ed? Anyone with a
Webcam can host a real class, post quizzes, and interact with
students. Free class and paid classes, student/teacher karma scores.
Possibly charge for "pro" courses (CEs, enterprise software training,
etc...)
What about an application that crawls a Wikipedia page and then
quizzes you on the information in it?
interested in ways for their kids to learn more. Till recently,
schools, like newspapers, had geographical monopolies. But the web
changes that. How can you teach kids now that you can reach them
through the web? The possible answers are a lot more interesting than
just putting books online. One route would be to start with test prep
services, for which there's already demand, and then expand into
teaching kids more than just how to score high on tests. Another would
be to start with games and gradually make them more thoughtful.
Another, particularly for younger kids, would be to let them learn by
watching one another (anonymously) solve problems.+1 +1 - like the
idea of designing a simple educational game. there've been a lot of
coding-as-games ideas on HN recently, haven't there? (codecademy,
rubyforkids) Yeah, having watched kids use iPads/iPhones there is
definitely something here.
Khan Academy is opensource
Instructure is also opensource
Apps are interesting. I'd like to ignore the tutoring/test prep
parts of the above, because there are many currently out there which
seem to be doing reasonably well, even if theven if there are some
failings.
There's also tutorspree, udemy, and skillshare, which are about
connecting students with teachers. But probably not what we're
thinking.
I want to connect tech-freelancers with officeworkers. A manager
who is klutz at Powerpoint and needs a 20 min tutorial on how to whip
up a solid powerpoint, or use Google Earth. Or arrange a series of 5 1-
hr lessons on mastering Photoshop to make websites. chrise
What about something akin to Justin.tv for ed? Anyone with a
Webcam can host a real class, post quizzes, and interact with
students. Free class and paid classes, student/teacher karma scores.
Possibly charge for "pro" courses (CEs, enterprise software training,
etc...)
What about an application that crawls a Wikipedia page and then
quizzes you on the information in it?
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