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KaiPod Learning (YC S21) Is Hiring VP of Engineering
a year ago
- KaiPod Learning is a national network of microschools aiming to revolutionize education.
- They are seeking a VP of Engineering to lead the development of Newton, a microschool management platform.
- The VP of Engineering will be responsible for the technical vision, team leadership, and hands-on development.
- The role is strategic, with high visibility to the Board and investors, and requires experience in early-stage environments.
- KaiPod Learning is backed by top venture firms like YCombinator and Reach Capital.
- The company promotes a personalized, flexible education model, moving away from traditional one-size-fits-all approaches.
- The position is remote, allowing candidates to live anywhere in the US.
A Fifth of American Adults Can't Read
a year ago
- Marian, in her late 30s, sought help to improve her reading skills in 2007.
- She was at a first-grade reading level, despite having supported her three daughters through high school and college.
- 48 million adults in the U.S. read at or below a third-grade level, facing significant daily challenges.
- Low literacy correlates with poverty, crime, and costs an estimated $2.2 trillion annually in social services, healthcare, and lost wages.
- Addressing low literacy is a bipartisan issue, but the solution remains unclear.
Before Our Attention Was a Commodity: Memories of a Pre-Web Internet
a year ago
- The author reflects on their early experiences with the pre-web Internet, using public terminals and university computers in the late 1990s.
- They recall playing games like Tetris and Scorched Earth on public Macs and PCs, and learning the command line on VT100 terminals.
- The transition from text-based interfaces to graphical ones like Mosaic marked a significant shift in their computing experience.
- A programming class in high school introduced them to Turbo Pascal and structured programming, sparking a lifelong interest in coding.
- The author highlights the political implications of access to technology, contrasting private university resources with public school equipment.
- They express concern over the current lack of accessible, open learning spaces for underprivileged kids, who often only have locked-down devices.
- The author advocates for public investment in technology education, such as providing Linux computers to all kids and allowing easier sideloading on Apple hardware.
- They believe that expanding these opportunities will benefit society by fostering the next generation of tech innovators.
How to start a school with your friends
a year ago
- FractalU is a low-overhead, low-cost 'school' for adults, taught from living rooms in NYC.
- Classes meet weekly on evenings and weekends, catering to working professionals.
- Started as a group of friends taking an online AI course together, leading to higher completion rates.
- FractalU grew from 4 classes in the first semester to 18 classes in the second semester.
- Instructors are mostly non-professional teachers who teach out of passion and to share niche interests.
- FractalU operates as a coordination mechanism with minimal admin work, not a formal organization.
- Admin tasks include emailing instructors, advertising classes, and curating teachers and classes.
- Instructors handle applications, payments, and taxes independently.
- FractalU prefers instructors who are already part of the community for better vetting.
- Upcoming: A step-by-step guide on starting a similar school and an accelerator program.
Prolog's Eternal September (2017)
a year ago
- The author acknowledges violating Stack Overflow rules when answering Prolog questions, realizing it's counterproductive.
- There's a high volume of pre-beginner Prolog questions on Stack Overflow, often from students with unclear assignments and no intention to learn deeply.
- The root issue is that Prolog is taught by professors who may not understand it, leading to poor student experiences.
- The author wishes for a world where Prolog is taught effectively or at least introduced constructively.
- Proposed solutions include a solution database with annotations for all levels of questions and slide decks for professors to teach Prolog without deep knowledge.
- The author invites ideas and collaboration via email to address these challenges.
Math Machine – A notebook will show your kid how far they have travelled
a year ago
- Math problems require written steps as kids progress beyond elementary school.
- Using a dedicated math notebook preserves work, making it feel valuable and allowing for future reference.
- Notebook benefits include tracking progress, serving as a formula index, and acting as a personal growth diary.
- Naming the notebook gives kids a sense of ownership and power over their math work.
- Medium-sized, lined notebooks with a moderate number of pages work best for kids.
- Parents should have their own notebook to avoid interfering with the child's work.
- Leaving the first few pages blank for an index helps organize concepts and formulas.
- Revisiting old notebooks shows progress and reinforces learning.
- Using a math notebook helps establish a routine for doing math.
- Historical examples of mathematicians' notebooks can inspire kids.
Teaching Coding with JavaScript and P5.js
a year ago
- JavaScript is recommended as the first programming language to learn, especially for kids, due to its immediate visual feedback.
- p5.js is highlighted as an educational library that simplifies learning programming by allowing kids to create animations and games without complex setups.
- A simple p5.js demo is provided, showcasing moving circles that bounce off walls and can be added with mouse clicks, illustrating basic game development concepts.
- p5.js offers conveniences like automatic canvas creation, magic functions (setup, draw, mousePressed), and helper functions for drawing, eliminating the need to deal with HTML or canvas APIs directly.
- The history of p5.js is traced back to Processing, a Java library, and Processing.js, its JavaScript clone, with p5.js emerging in 2013 as a web-focused interpretation.
- Educational resources for learning with p5.js include Khan Academy's Computer Programming course and The Coding Train, alongside p5.js's own online editor.
- While p5.js is excellent for beginners, it's generally not recommended for professional programming due to its wide but shallow API, which may limit experienced developers.
- The benefits of JavaScript for beginners are emphasized, noting its accessibility without installation and the ease of creating interactive projects quickly.
How “The Great Gatsby” took over high school
a year ago
- F. Scott Fitzgerald was concerned about the lack of success of 'The Great Gatsby' during his lifetime, fearing it was unpopular.
- After Fitzgerald's death in 1940, 'Gatsby' gained popularity, especially during World War II, when it was distributed to American soldiers as part of a morale-boosting campaign.
- The novel became a staple in high school English curricula, aided by study guides like CliffsNotes and its inclusion in Advanced Placement exams.
- The New Criticism approach to literature in mid-20th century education helped cement 'Gatsby' as a key text due to its rich symbolism and themes.
- Teachers have used 'Gatsby' to explore the American Dream, materialism, and societal issues, often drawing parallels between the 1920s and contemporary times.
- Despite shifts in educational standards favoring nonfiction, 'Gatsby' remains a widely taught novel, with creative classroom activities keeping it relevant.
- Fitzgerald's hope that his work would endure through schoolmasters has been realized, as 'Gatsby' continues to be a cultural and educational touchstone.
MinorMiner: We turn your kid's maths homework into Bitcoin
a year ago
- MinorMiner is a platform that converts children's math homework into Bitcoin mining operations.
- The platform breaks down complex Bitcoin mining algorithms (SHA-256) into simple arithmetic problems for children to solve.
- Children (referred to as 'computation partners') complete math quizzes, which are then used to perform hash calculations for Bitcoin mining.
- The system uses a Python library called CUDAAAAGH to distribute computations across children globally.
- MinorMiner plans to expand into AI training by leveraging children's math skills for matrix algebra computations.
- The company aims to optimize speed through parallelization, curriculum changes (teaching XOR operations), and teacher incentives.
- Future goals include creating a 'human computer' where children act as hardware components like CPUs and memory.
Math (2022)
a year ago
- The author shares a guide to studying mathematics, emphasizing its beauty and accessibility to anyone willing to put in the effort.
- Mathematics is described as a universal language, challenging but deeply rewarding, with no inherent 'math person' or 'language person' dichotomy.
- The guide provides a structured undergraduate-level curriculum covering calculus, proofs, linear algebra, algebra, real and complex analysis, differential equations, and electives.
- Key textbooks and resources are recommended for each subject, including popular math books for beginners and supplementary materials like online lectures.
- The importance of problem-solving, patience, and understanding one's learning style is highlighted for effective self-study.
- Additional resources such as Project Euler, Math Stack Exchange, and free online courses are suggested to enhance learning and engagement.
Quoting Neal Stephenson
a year ago
- Marshall McLuhan's idea that every technological augmentation comes with an amputation is highlighted.
- The rapid access to AI systems today brings more significant augmentations and amputations than McLuhan could have imagined.
- Concerns are raised about students over-relying on ChatGPT, potentially leading to a generation that learns nothing.
- This dependency is compared to the Eloi in H.G. Wells’s 'The Time Machine', who are mentally weak and overly reliant on technology they don’t understand.
- The fear is that future generations may lack the ability to rebuild essential technologies if they fail.
Python for Mathematics
a year ago
- Book titled 'Python for Mathematics' covering various mathematical topics.
- Structured with tutorials, exercises, solutions, and further information sections.
- Topics include Algebra, Calculus, Matrices, Combinatorics, Probability, Statistics, Differential Equations.
- Includes building tools like Variables, Functions, OOP, Command Line usage, Modularisation, Documentation, Testing.
- Further information on Numpy, Matplotlib, Kernels, Installing libraries, Linear Programming, Working with files.
- Additional resources: Bibliography, About the book, Contributing, Citation, Software packages used.
The Future of Junior Software Engineering Roles
a year ago
- The role of junior software engineers is disappearing, with various theories attributing this to AI coding assistants, the decline of computer science degrees, or temporary market fluctuations.
- Junior engineers traditionally learn by observing senior engineers break down and solve problems, a process less effective in remote environments.
- AI coding assistants can perform tasks previously assigned to junior engineers, making their roles less necessary due to the cost and time involved in training them.
- Problem-solving skills, more than coding, are crucial for junior engineers in the age of AI, requiring a refocus in computer science education towards abstract problem-solving.
- Computer science degrees should incorporate more math courses to enhance problem-solving skills, moving away from just coding proficiency.
- Exams should rigorously test problem-solving skills to ensure students develop critical thinking abilities, as assignments can be outsourced to AI.
- The shift towards remote work and AI assistance raises concerns about the future of mentorship and knowledge transfer in the engineering field.
My Favorite Liar (2008)
a year ago
- A professor admitted to lying in each lecture to engage students.
- Students were tasked with identifying the 'Lie of the Day' to encourage critical thinking.
- Initially, lies were obvious, but became subtler as the course progressed.
- If no one caught the lie, students had to discuss and figure it out by the next class.
- In the most difficult lecture, the professor revealed there was no lie, tricking students into studying thoroughly.
- The technique left a lasting impact, teaching skepticism and attention to detail beyond the subject matter.
America is in danger of experiencing an academic brain drain
a year ago
- America risks an academic brain drain, potentially benefiting other countries but harming science.
- The Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students.
- The Enhanced Games in Las Vegas will set records and attract controversy.
- Cuts to science funding will negatively impact ordinary Americans.
- Federal agencies are struggling with weather prediction and disease monitoring.
- Trump’s attack on science is expanding beyond DEI to cancel various types of research.
- Contact sports can cause brain injuries; modifying rules and grouping players by size can reduce risks.
- A CRISPR drug has treated a child’s unique mutation for the first time, with hopes for broader benefits.
- Future fighter planes will feature more fuel capacity, weaponry, and computing power.
College English majors can't read
a year ago
- Only 12% of US adults score at literacy level 4 or higher, which is necessary for college-level reading and comprehension.
- A study found that 58% of English majors could not understand the opening paragraphs of 'Bleak House' by Dickens, despite having access to dictionaries and phones for reference.
- 38% of the students could understand about half of the sentences, while only 5% had a detailed, literal understanding of the text.
- Many students struggled with figurative language, often misinterpreting metaphors and unfamiliar vocabulary.
- The study highlights a significant gap between students' actual reading levels and the literacy skills required for complex texts in higher education.
- The authors of the study express concern that universities are awarding diplomas to students who lack the necessary literacy skills for their professional and personal goals.
Trump admin revokes Harvard's ability to enroll all international students
a year ago
- The Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students.
- The decision impacts currently enrolled international students, with nearly 7,000 affected.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem cited concerns over violence, antisemitism, and coordination with the Chinese Communist Party.
- Harvard called the action 'unlawful' and stated it undermines their academic mission.
- International students contribute significantly to Harvard's diversity, research, and finances.
- Affected students express fear over their education, internships, and future work opportunities.
- Over 1.1 million international students in the U.S. contributed more than $43 billion to the economy last year.
It Is Time to Stop Teaching Frequentism to Non-Statisticians (2024)
a year ago
- The article argues for replacing frequentist statistics with Bayesian statistics in undergraduate education.
- The author believes this change will reduce confusion and over-certainty among statistics users.
- The article was submitted on 12 Jan 2012 and discusses the pedagogical approach to statistics.
Estonia eschews phone bans in schools and takes leap into AI
a year ago
- Estonia leads Europe in education, topping Pisa rankings in maths, science, and creative thinking.
- Unlike England, Estonia encourages smartphone use in classrooms as part of its digital education policy.
- Estonia is launching 'AI Leap', providing AI tools to students and teachers by 2027.
- Teachers will receive training in AI, focusing on self-directed learning and digital ethics.
- Estonia's education minister emphasizes openness to digital tools, contrasting with European skepticism.
- Smartphones are integrated into learning, with guidelines for younger students but no outright bans.
- Estonia's digital education policy includes using smartphones for civic duties like online voting.
- The country's success stems from early investment in digital infrastructure, like the Tiger Leap program.
- AI is seen as transforming education, shifting from memorization to developing higher cognitive skills.
- The education minister warns of the urgency to adapt to AI or risk technology overtaking human cognition.
Reactions and follow up to College English Majors Can't Read
a year ago
- The article 'College English majors can't read' went viral with 120,000 views and 535 comments, sparking widespread discussion across platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and Hacker News.
- The author reflects on the addictive nature of viral attention and its impact on productivity, noting the overwhelming response and the challenge of managing notifications.
- Key objections to the article included claims that the title was sensational, the study methodology was flawed, and that students might not have been motivated to perform well.
- The study's participants had an average ACT Reading score of 22.4, slightly above the national average, but were still found to have poor reading comprehension, described as 'low-intermediate level.'
- Critics argued that the passages used in the study were unfair or too difficult, while others blamed modern distractions like phones and TikTok for declining literacy, though the data predates TikTok's popularity.
- The author acknowledges the possibility of selection bias in the study but emphasizes the ethnographic value of documenting such cases of poor reading comprehension.
- A comparison to a 1920s study by Richards suggests that past students exhibited higher levels of engagement and erudition than contemporary students, challenging the notion that each generation simply laments the next's decline.
- The article concludes with a call to reconsider the purpose of university education, questioning whether it should serve as remedial high school given the current standards and student abilities.

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#education

KaiPod Learning (YC S21) Is Hiring VP of Engineering

A Fifth of American Adults Can't Read

Before Our Attention Was a Commodity: Memories of a Pre-Web Internet

How to start a school with your friends

Prolog's Eternal September (2017)

Math Machine – A notebook will show your kid how far they have travelled

Teaching Coding with JavaScript and P5.js

How “The Great Gatsby” took over high school

MinorMiner: We turn your kid's maths homework into Bitcoin

Math (2022)

Quoting Neal Stephenson

Python for Mathematics

The Future of Junior Software Engineering Roles

My Favorite Liar (2008)

America is in danger of experiencing an academic brain drain

College English majors can't read

Trump admin revokes Harvard's ability to enroll all international students

It Is Time to Stop Teaching Frequentism to Non-Statisticians (2024)

Estonia eschews phone bans in schools and takes leap into AI

Reactions and follow up to College English Majors Can't Read