4 ms·

Show HN: Infinity School – Learning through making and discovery

94 points by calhat 10y ago

calhat 10y ago
I created Infinity School to try to educate children in a more personalised and creative way. Let me know what you think!
- weavie 10y ago
  Looks very interesting. I have been looking for good resources to help with my daughters education. It isn't clear if this site is for parents who home educate their children full time or if it is also suitable for parents whose children go to school but want to give extra support for their children at home?
  - calhat 10y ago
    I developed the curriculum by testing all the learning activities with home educated children so that's where I've seen the most value given. I would love for some people to use the product in addition to traditional schooling but I agree the website messaging is confusing around who it's primarily aimed towards. Thanks for the feedback!
- AlphaWeaver 10y ago
  I'd think about potentially expanding your audience not only to home educated children but also as a potential curriculum supplement in traditional schools.
- brudgers 10y ago
  Curious about any particular pedagogical research behind the curriculum.
- davidvaughan 10y ago
  I take issue with some of the statements on the front page. 1. "Children are motivated most when they discover the meaning behind a subject of their own accord." Not in my experience. The most motivated children are motivated for a big bag of complex reasons, including desire to please, desire to pass exams, and a general will to solve problems and answer questions. They may also be intrinsically motivated by the meaning behind a subject, but that understanding can also be provoked from outside (eg by a teacher). 2. "Children develop grit through a self-directed curriculum." Again, not in my experience. A rather harsh truth is that children develop some of their grit by not having all their natural inclinations indulged. Numerous are the tales of successful people who excelled because they overcame difficult circumstances.
  - calhat 10y ago
    Thanks for the feedback - I agree that 1 and 2 should be changed. Our philosophy behind the curriculum is to develop a motivation to learn without the use of gamification/desire to please others/pass exams and that isn't explained clearly enough.
    - heymijo 10y ago
      If you're not familiar with Lawrence Kohlberg and his stages of moral development you should take a look. They may help you frame how/why it's important to get beyond "please others/pass exams" as motivation in learning.
      - calhat 10y ago
        Really interesting stuff, thank you for pointing us his way
- noelwelsh 10y ago
  I'm a potential customer. Both my kids go to school. My oldest complains he's bored. I expect my youngest will do the same in a few years. Things I noted: There isn't much detail of what I get for the £s. What kind of materials? What does the curriculum cover? Do I need to purchase additional materials, or print stuff out, or what? There isn't much background on how the materials are developed, or about who has developed them. As someone with a mild interest in pedagogy I want to know what "the latest advancements in education" means. Also, say who you are. Give a nice background story about how you were frustrated with whatever it was that drove you to create this. A personal connection is a good thing for this sort of business at this stage. Be careful how much you emphasise the home schooled crowd. They're quite small and largely considered kooky by the mainstream. BTW, I love the photo on the home page.
  - calhat 10y ago
    Great comments. I agree, definitely need to add more context and detail around the curriculum and it's development. Thank you.
- rosiesherry 10y ago
  I'm a unschooler. I had a quick look. Not sure how it really differs from Khan Academy? (Apart from Khan Academy being much more developed).
  - calhat 10y ago
    We see Kahn academy as a great resource for explaining concepts or methods - they do it fantastically well! Within our curriculum we might ask a child to discover what Pi means and find out how it's used. The child may well use Kahn academy as a resource to understand how Pi is used (along with other resources) but the process of discovery is something we believe to be equally as important as simply having something explained to the child. We try to provide a structure for that discovery. I hope this explains how we see the difference. Compliments not substitutes :-)
bandrami 10y ago
I did Montessori through 5th grade; sounds a lot like that. You just kind of went from classroom to classroom as you wanted, and the teachers let you set the topic and the pace you learned at. And I still solve quadratics in my head by thinking of those blocks...
- calhat 10y ago
  I've spoken with 1 person who spoke very highly of Montessori and quite a few others who went through Steiner Schools over in the UK. I really believe that we can learn an awful lot from these schools - especially around child development
- wastedhours 10y ago
  I was unaware of them until a few years ago, but in my previous job I always came in as a kid (must've been 11/12) who clearly had some kind of disability or difficulty was getting onto a Montessori bus with the biggest smile on his face. Always dropped off as I was leaving work looking content - made me think whatever they did there was a positive.
- rosiesherry 10y ago
  It's nothing like Montessori! Montessori have clearly defined materials and approaches, the only similar idea is perhaps the point of choosing what to study/learn, but even that is questionable.
WeaselNo7 10y ago
Typo on the 'home education' page: "accross" I think you REALLY don't want typos on a site about education! :D
- calhat 10y ago
  Thank you!
  - timpark 10y ago
    Also 'recieve' -> 'receive' (front page)
    - calhat 10y ago
      Just spotted that one too, thank you
wilwade 10y ago
@calhat As someone who was homeschooled all but US 2nd grade and has homeschooled some so far with the kids, a few notes. 1. I know you are UK focused, but there is a large homeschool market in the states, and most of the states (each differs) do not have curriculum requirements. I suggest providing either a US site or US grades and USD option. 2. It was mentioned already, but please show an example lesson and even better some of the organization in the curriculum. 3. Video of kids interacting with the content would also be great. 4. Completeness? Is this a supplement or complete curriculum? Best of success to you!
invisible 10y ago
I recently came across an idea that involves group based[0] learning in students rather than the classical model. It's in a bunch of school districts but I'm curious how it works in practice. That we have many competing new forms of education is a great evolution in my opinion and I had one of these experiments winds up causing a big impact. 0: https://newtechnetwork.org/ https://newtechnetwork.org/

94 points by calhat 10y ago

I created Infinity School to try to educate children in a more personalised and creative way. Let me know what you think!

weavie 10y ago
Looks very interesting. I have been looking for good resources to help with my daughters education. It isn't clear if this site is for parents who home educate their children full time or if it is also suitable for parents whose children go to school but want to give extra support for their children at home?
- calhat 10y ago
  I developed the curriculum by testing all the learning activities with home educated children so that's where I've seen the most value given. I would love for some people to use the product in addition to traditional schooling but I agree the website messaging is confusing around who it's primarily aimed towards. Thanks for the feedback!
AlphaWeaver 10y ago
I'd think about potentially expanding your audience not only to home educated children but also as a potential curriculum supplement in traditional schools.
brudgers 10y ago
Curious about any particular pedagogical research behind the curriculum.
davidvaughan 10y ago
I take issue with some of the statements on the front page. 1. "Children are motivated most when they discover the meaning behind a subject of their own accord." Not in my experience. The most motivated children are motivated for a big bag of complex reasons, including desire to please, desire to pass exams, and a general will to solve problems and answer questions. They may also be intrinsically motivated by the meaning behind a subject, but that understanding can also be provoked from outside (eg by a teacher). 2. "Children develop grit through a self-directed curriculum." Again, not in my experience. A rather harsh truth is that children develop some of their grit by not having all their natural inclinations indulged. Numerous are the tales of successful people who excelled because they overcame difficult circumstances.
- calhat 10y ago
  Thanks for the feedback - I agree that 1 and 2 should be changed. Our philosophy behind the curriculum is to develop a motivation to learn without the use of gamification/desire to please others/pass exams and that isn't explained clearly enough.
  - heymijo 10y ago
    If you're not familiar with Lawrence Kohlberg and his stages of moral development you should take a look. They may help you frame how/why it's important to get beyond "please others/pass exams" as motivation in learning.
    - calhat 10y ago
      Really interesting stuff, thank you for pointing us his way
noelwelsh 10y ago
I'm a potential customer. Both my kids go to school. My oldest complains he's bored. I expect my youngest will do the same in a few years. Things I noted: There isn't much detail of what I get for the £s. What kind of materials? What does the curriculum cover? Do I need to purchase additional materials, or print stuff out, or what? There isn't much background on how the materials are developed, or about who has developed them. As someone with a mild interest in pedagogy I want to know what "the latest advancements in education" means. Also, say who you are. Give a nice background story about how you were frustrated with whatever it was that drove you to create this. A personal connection is a good thing for this sort of business at this stage. Be careful how much you emphasise the home schooled crowd. They're quite small and largely considered kooky by the mainstream. BTW, I love the photo on the home page.
- calhat 10y ago
  Great comments. I agree, definitely need to add more context and detail around the curriculum and it's development. Thank you.
rosiesherry 10y ago
I'm a unschooler. I had a quick look. Not sure how it really differs from Khan Academy? (Apart from Khan Academy being much more developed).
- calhat 10y ago
  We see Kahn academy as a great resource for explaining concepts or methods - they do it fantastically well! Within our curriculum we might ask a child to discover what Pi means and find out how it's used. The child may well use Kahn academy as a resource to understand how Pi is used (along with other resources) but the process of discovery is something we believe to be equally as important as simply having something explained to the child. We try to provide a structure for that discovery. I hope this explains how we see the difference. Compliments not substitutes :-)

bandrami 10y ago

I did Montessori through 5th grade; sounds a lot like that. You just kind of went from classroom to classroom as you wanted, and the teachers let you set the topic and the pace you learned at. And I still solve quadratics in my head by thinking of those blocks...

calhat 10y ago
I've spoken with 1 person who spoke very highly of Montessori and quite a few others who went through Steiner Schools over in the UK. I really believe that we can learn an awful lot from these schools - especially around child development
wastedhours 10y ago
I was unaware of them until a few years ago, but in my previous job I always came in as a kid (must've been 11/12) who clearly had some kind of disability or difficulty was getting onto a Montessori bus with the biggest smile on his face. Always dropped off as I was leaving work looking content - made me think whatever they did there was a positive.
rosiesherry 10y ago
It's nothing like Montessori! Montessori have clearly defined materials and approaches, the only similar idea is perhaps the point of choosing what to study/learn, but even that is questionable.

WeaselNo7 10y ago

Typo on the 'home education' page: "accross" I think you REALLY don't want typos on a site about education! :D

calhat 10y ago
Thank you!
- timpark 10y ago
  Also 'recieve' -> 'receive' (front page)
  - calhat 10y ago
    Just spotted that one too, thank you

wilwade 10y ago

@calhat As someone who was homeschooled all but US 2nd grade and has homeschooled some so far with the kids, a few notes. 1. I know you are UK focused, but there is a large homeschool market in the states, and most of the states (each differs) do not have curriculum requirements. I suggest providing either a US site or US grades and USD option. 2. It was mentioned already, but please show an example lesson and even better some of the organization in the curriculum. 3. Video of kids interacting with the content would also be great. 4. Completeness? Is this a supplement or complete curriculum? Best of success to you!

invisible 10y ago

I recently came across an idea that involves group based[0] learning in students rather than the classical model. It's in a bunch of school districts but I'm curious how it works in practice. That we have many competing new forms of education is a great evolution in my opinion and I had one of these experiments winds up causing a big impact. 0: https://newtechnetwork.org/ https://newtechnetwork.org/