Future of Education platforms

In the latest Dru Rileys report, the subject of Education platforms came up and oh boy he delivered!

Anyone who has ever tried learning online knows how challenging and frustrating it can become. From choosing the right platform and course to actually finding time and motivation to reach the finish line (high emphasis on the last one, as most completion stats are in single digits).

However, this time let's focus on the business side itself: teaching online requires you to sell, distribute, operate and teach. And this generally makes or breaks projects in EdTech.

To make a difference and Dru points out some good predictions:

• The Superstar Effect will lead to asymmetric rewards for the best teachers.
• More educators will become EDUpreneurs.
• Gamification will become a common strategy in education.
• Edu-tainment platforms will become more common.
• Companies will launch education institutions and certification programs.
• Education platforms will help students land skilled positions without degrees.
• Income sharing agreements will help people find high-paying jobs.
• Platforms will recruit superstar instructors.
• Professionals will help students upskill for free.

And also opportunities:

1. Presell to validate demand and frontload market risk. Janelle Allen shows you how to do this.
2. Build expertise in a vertical.
3. Build tight feedback loops to help students learn faster.
4. Collaborate with other educators to share audiences and lessons.
5. Use embedded education (or just-in-time learning) to teach what is needed, when necessary.
6. Offer freemium lessons to attract future students.

Hot Takes:

• Being the best teacher in your school, town, city or state will become less valuable as rewards flow to the best teachers in the world.
• Theory will be learned through practice. See applied education institutions such as the Bloom Institute of Technology.
  -University education will not be the gold standard. Students are pursuing alternative education.
• Independent instructors can provide as much value as tenured professors.