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On Screen with Eren Bali: Co-Founder of Udemy

By , 1/28/2011 at 12:30 pm

Eren Bali is the co-founder of Udemy, an online course authoring and sharing platform that aims to “democratize online education.”  Eren actually built the original prototype of this software while living in his home country of Turkey, before moving to Silicon Valley and partnering with Gagan Biyani to turn his idea into a real company and raise some funding.  Udemy differs from other sites like YouTube or Blip.tv in that it is solely focused on education – combining series of instructional videos into full courses that can be purchased, shared, and even certified.  Course creators can create lectures from videos, presentations, and articles, as well as doing live classes with video conferencing, presentations, white board etc.

I sat down with Eren today to discuss the future of Udemy and the field of education technology in general.  Check out his thoughts on video education below, and tell him what you think!

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How Kids/We Learn: Dinosaurs, Coins, Football, Music

By , 1/27/2011 at 4:27 pm

I have two young kids–Sophie, 5, and Jack, 3.  Obviously, they are what’s most important, which is probably how I rationalized writing about them for this blog post!

I’ve previously mentioned being impressed that the kids seem to learn some things in but one or two exposures, in other words, without repetition (or Brainscape’s Confidence-based Repetition).  I always attribute this to their youthful brains–in contrast to the brain of their aging Dad. And to their good genes, of course, ha! Simple and wonderful.

However, a myriad of recent experiences (and my job) had me contemplating my navel recently, so, of course, I have to share.  First I’ll share the raw experiences or thoughts, and then I’ll bring them together in the end. (more…)

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On Screen with Josephine Dorado – Professor of Virtual Learning & Director of KidzConnect

By , 1/26/2011 at 2:34 pm

Josephine Dorado is a professor of Virtual Learning at The New School, and a founder & director of KidzConnect, a program that connects young people in different countries via media art, performance and collaborative creation in virtual worlds.  Josephine was an early pioneer in using virtual worlds – such as Second Life – in education.  She sees these online communities as efficient media of exchange where the barriers to communication are low and the opportunities for integration with traditional face-to-face learning are high.  Josephine even teaches her entire course online-only, even though most of her students live within two miles of campus!

I sat down with Josephine this evening (in the middle of a Pixable launch party – hence the beers) to discuss these issues and more.  Check out her thoughts in the video below, and be sure to tell her what you think!

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What NOT To Do When Learning a Language

By , at 11:40 am


This is a repost of a Not To Do List from Language Mastery. It’s a great starting place for anyone just starting their language learning journey. There are ten points and I would like to highlight a few that really agree with.

First, I totally agree that if you try to study something that is beyond your level, or even if it’s just boring, you’re wasting your time. Second, be consistent with your studying. One of the reasons I love Brainscape, is that I can pick it up for a few minutes a couple times a day and it keeps track of where I left off. Lastly, even though I think all ten are great points, I am so glad that I did not wait too long until I started speaking my target language. You have to get used to words coming out of your mouth. You will Self Correct.

So, here is the list: (more…)

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NY Times Validates Brainscape’s Methods Yet Again

By , 1/25/2011 at 11:33 am

Several times in the past few years, the NY Times has written about the growing importance of the iPhone and iPad in education.  On January 20th, Pam Belluck has now given further support of Brainscape’s learning delivery methods, in her recent article entitled “To Really Learn, Quit Studying & Take a Test.”

Belluck and her psychology colleagues argue that the study methods traditionally pushed by educators – including repeatedly re-reading pages and even creating “concept maps” with novel eLearning technologies – fail to truly cement learning for the long haul.  What is really needed is a solid regimen of “retrieval practice” that is similar to taking a test.  Every time we retrieve something, our brain is not merely playing back information but is rather establishing stronger neuron connections that will allow a faster retrieval the next time the cue is encountered.

Brainscape takes this practice to a whole new level by breaking knowledge into its most fundamental, “testable” building blocks, and maximizing the convenience and precision of retrieval practice through its confidence-based repetition methodology.  The Brainscape portal is easily accessible via the web or mobile phone.   (more…)

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There’s nothing better than an employee who is also a client

By , at 11:23 am

OK, I just had to share this cool story with you guys.   This morning, our old Educational Content Manager, Haitham Jendoubi, emailed me from his new home in Japan to share his GRE scores, after having used Brainscape to cram on his vocabulary in just three weeks.  The man scored a perfect 800 on the Verbal section!  Not only am I ridiculously proud of our Brainscape team alumni, but I am flattered that after working with us for over a year, Haitham still felt that Brainscape was the most efficient way to study (and wasn’t sick of it)!

Haitham has given me permission to share his email below.  There is no better feeling than knowing that your team members continue to support and use your product even long after they have left your company. (more…)

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On Screen with Brian Hughes – Dir. of Social Media at EdLab

By , 1/24/2011 at 11:20 am

Brian Hughes is the Director of Social Media at Columbia University’s EdLab.  He and his colleagues see a coming shift toward online “learning networks” to fit diverse educational niches.  Two current EdLab projects, Vialogues and Pressible, are already gaining decent traction and paving the way for future innovations in the field.  I sat down with Brian this afternoon to discuss learning networks, the future of library services, and the evolution of education technology in general.

Check out more about Brian’s work and EdLab projects in the video below, and be sure to tell him what you think!

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Where Mobile Learning meets Emergency Earthquake Relief

By , 1/20/2011 at 3:11 pm

One non-profit helps aid workers improve care to thousands of Haitian earthquake victims, by helping them improve their language skills on their iPhones.

PORT AU PRINCE – When a massive earthquake strikes Haiti, one of your first instincts might not be to mobilize a team of iPhone app developers. But that’s exactly what Burn Advocates Network (BAN), a New Jersey-based non-profit focused on rehabilitating and reintegrating domestic and overseas burn survivors, has done. By partnering with mobile learning pioneer Brainscape to release a free French Creole for Aid Workers app on iTunes, BAN is dramatically improving the speed, quality, and efficiency of medical relief programs by facilitating improved communication between victims and caregivers, local staff and our volunteers. (more…)

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Steelers CRUSH the Patriots!

By , 1/18/2011 at 7:15 pm

Steelers Crash Course App

Being at a start-up with big ideas, we at Brainscape occasionally have rather, well, interesting thoughts as to how and where our learning platform should be used.  Therefore, it may not surprise you to learn that we decided to have some fun with the NFL Playoffs.  That’s right: Brainscape is the fastest way to learn more about your favorite football team–that is, if you love the Steelers, Patriots, or Jets!

That’s not why I’m writing this, however.  I’m writing because the Brainscape Steelers beat the Brainscape Patriots in iTunes.  And it was a blowout!  Huh?

I’ll admit: I’m a huge Steelers fan, having grown up in Western Pennsylvania.  So, of course, the first Brainscape football app published was for the Steelers.  Now, these apps take some work, so unfortunately we could not do all the teams this year.  However, we did pick one more team; (more…)

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The Naruto Effect (Why my roommates know about 100 Japanese words without cracking open a textbook)

By , at 1:43 pm

My roommates have never set foot inside a Japanese classroom, yet they each know about 100 Japanese words and use them productively (if ironically) in English conversation.  The question every language learner should be asking is: How can I get me some of THAT?

Many American adults believe they must be linguistically challenged, since they took four (or six, or eight) years of Spanish yet can’t speak a word of it.  However, this assumes that their mere presence in a classroom should have been enough for them to absorb the language through “osmosis”.  Their conclusion—that something must be wrong with them—is misguided for this reason. (more…)

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