3 ms·

The blog post listed on the site is wonderful. https://eltonlin.substack.com/p/a-story-about-802-teal https://eltonlin.substack.com/p/a-story-about-802-teal I

The blog post listed on the site is wonderful. https://eltonlin.substack.com/p/a-story-about-802-teal https://eltonlin.substack.com/p/a-story-about-802-teal I feel like it barely connects to the rest of the story, though. The founder basically says small group work interspersed through the learning process was a major factor in their success. I believe it. The professor says the TEAL system worked because it forced students to regularly invest time in the class, so they realized early on they needed to do more - rather than putting it off. I believe it. What I do NOT understand is how Explanation.app is offering either of these crucial ingredients. It seems clear this site will attract the usual desperate, last-minute-cramming crowd. The problem of college students undervaluing their education seems to be a major obstacle to the success of this venture. MIT estimated yearly cost: $85k. Somehow $100/hour for tutoring isn't worth it, though? I agree the valuation is more complicated than I want to write here, but in the end it still does not look good to me.

eltonlin 3y ago
You're right, the blog talks about one thing, the product does another thing. The reason I conducted those interviews was that I wanted to understand the good intentions behind instructors who I disagreed with, especially instructors who put an extraordinary effort to change things(even when it was unpopular). That's how I started to understand the strongest arguments for mandatory attendance, and a synchronous learning experience. That's also how I learnt first-hand that the key incentives problem "what's the reward for teaching well at a research university?" Having said that, through talking to other students, especailly the busy ones, who live off campus, have a part-time job, and via my experience, I understand first-hand the need of efficient options that don't require commuting and waiting. explanations.app is async. and remote for that reason. There are lots of existing async remote options, but they are textbased. I hope providing a visual async remote option, means that it can attract students who genuinely wants to learn things properly but also efficiently.

eltonlin 3y ago

You're right, the blog talks about one thing, the product does another thing. The reason I conducted those interviews was that I wanted to understand the good intentions behind instructors who I disagreed with, especially instructors who put an extraordinary effort to change things(even when it was unpopular). That's how I started to understand the strongest arguments for mandatory attendance, and a synchronous learning experience. That's also how I learnt first-hand that the key incentives problem "what's the reward for teaching well at a research university?" Having said that, through talking to other students, especailly the busy ones, who live off campus, have a part-time job, and via my experience, I understand first-hand the need of efficient options that don't require commuting and waiting. explanations.app is async. and remote for that reason. There are lots of existing async remote options, but they are textbased. I hope providing a visual async remote option, means that it can attract students who genuinely wants to learn things properly but also efficiently.