Casual learning startups such as Skillshare and ClassFill potentially have game-changing strategies for connecting people with instructional courses, and as Coursera showed the education world this week, students are looking for new ways to find classes.
Formal schooling stops after grad school, but the learning process is never ending. Whether adults are looking to learn new skills or sharpen old ones, online learning platforms offer the opportunity to delve into a variety of topics, whether the instructors are professionals or just experienced enthusiasts.
Education Dive found these 5 online learning startups that find students for classes in everything from exploring the art of insect pinning and moss graffiti to optimizing LinkedIn profiles.
1. DABBLE
Dubbed the “Craigslist for casual learning” by GigaOM writer Kevin Fitchard, Dabble is a cheap online-offline learning resource giving people the opportunity to teach, learn, and host classes on a variety of topics. Chicago-based founders Jessica Lybeck and Erin Hopmann launched the site March 2011, targeting busy people with little time for commitment and a love of learning. From “Beginner’s Beer Brewing” to “Business Writing 101,” potential pupils can browse through classes offered in their city, pay a $20 fee and meet their instructor and fellow classmates for lessons at a hosting business. People can acquire new skills or sharpen old ones under the direction of someone with reasonable knowledge on a subject on a class-by-class basies—all without tuition fees.
Dabblers need at least 30 class submissions, which all undergo review and approval by management, to launch the program in a new city to keep people dabblers learning, dilettante/buffs/aficionados/enthusiast teaching, and businesses hosting.
2. SKILLSHARE
For CEO and founder of Michael Karnjanaprakorn, his New York based learning site Skillshare, must build a community of teachers and students to grow. In a GigaOM interview with Ryan Kim, Karnjanaprakorn commented, “Our vision is we want to convert every city into a campus, every address into a classroom and every single inhabitant into a teacher and student. The VCU graduate’s own bumpy education journey shaped his opinion on limited school systems, and for just $15-$25 a class, anyone can “learn anything from anyone, anywhere,” according to the site’s homepage. While Skillshare does bear similarities to the online-offline learning service Dabble, its focus is building an online P2P community marketplace that matches students with teachers. Karnjanaprakorn hopes for Skillshare to offer both offline and online classes in the future and perhaps expand to a physical school.
3. CLASSFILL
ClassFill, which offers alternatives to both Craigslist and Groupon, allows users to search for and attend a variety of classes. The site instructs its users to follow three simples’ steps: 1. Find your class, 2. Name your Price, 3. Enjoy your class. Unlike some other e-learning sites, ClassFill only allows established businesses to post courses.
In a recent interview with Education Dive, founder Michael Conway outlined the benefits of his e-learning site. “With other sites like Groupon and things like that, they have to worry about making contact with a sales person and signing your life away—all that stuff. We’ve found that our methods are a lot more seamless.” The Chicago-based service hopes to extend its reach past the windy city so that people across the nation can enjoy pilates, dance, and cooking classes. Though it’s still early, Conway hopes that ClassFill will eventually serve institutions such as community colleges and park districts.
4. UDEMY
Udemy, was launched in May 2010 by Eren Bali Gagan Biyani. The site allows qualified instructors to create online courses on subjects of their choosing. Strictly online, the site groups classes both by topic (business, design, math and science, languages) and popularity. Although most classes are free, Udemy does not regulate prices—fees are set by course instructors and can range from $5-$250. Instructors upload video, PDF files and PowerPoint presentations to teach their classes and use discussion boards to communicate with their students. Rivaling the physical classroom, Udemy recruits top educators to lead the virtual classroom from New York Times best-selling authors and celebrities to CEOs and Ivy League professors.
5. POWHOW
New York tech entrepreneur Viva Chu launched Powhow in September 2011 to give anyone with a webcam the opportunity to learn something from a credentialed instructor. Live webcam classes allow students and teachers to communicate in real-time, and with Powhow, instructors can schedule classes, send reminders, and arrange pre- or post-class sessions for reinforcement. Powhow offers a scholarly and fun alternative to business-minded multi-person video chat services such as Skype and Google with its teacher-friendly tools. Most of the video-based classes are priced around $50.
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