UjjwalGupta

High schools today already have curriculum requirements for second languages. In my opinion, learning computer languages could and should become as a standard offering in high schools. We have already seen a lot more computer science offerings in high schools but I anticipate a many fold increase in the coming decade.

At BenchPrep we try to keep our users on their toes with our games and fresh UX/UI. Games and gamification are essential to this.

And I do think there is a growing realization in the education sector that we can’t ignore user-centered design philosophy when designing course materials. The competition out there for an average 12 year-old’s attention is staggering and will only grow more competitive. Rather than sticking with the old-fashioned textbooks or traditional classroom models, school should embrace the trend towards gamification.

Teacher’s aren’t likely to succeed unless they’re able to get and keep their students attention. I think that’s a stark point to make, but I think that teachers, in many respects, would agree. Many games can still reward students’ to maintain their attention span for long periods of time, and may require intense concentration, so it’s not like all of our games have to be like Angry Birds. To frame it from a more optimistic point of view: don’t we think that students deserve ‘the most engaging and beautiful design that we can provide them?

Just as an iPhone game or tech startup has to listen to the customer, in the area of student-centered design, we have to to listen to the student! The student will reveal his or her preference by their activity on learning platforms and in the classroom. It’s our job to measure and respond to these preferences in a way that strikes a balance between fun, engagement, and discipline.

I am a huge fan of what Sal Khan is doing at Khan Academy and what companies like Coursera and Udacity are trying to do. They have already made it possible for people in developing countries to gain access to the top professors from the top universities. At a more mundane level education technology is helping administrators and teachers manage and teach more effectively. Given the proliferation of smartphones, I can see a huge disruptive potential for personalized learning software to better the educational experience for millions of students around the world.

The biggest changes are affordability and accessibility of education. With online and mobile penetration, technology offers the potential for personalization on a massive scale. MOOCs and online learning platforms are already moving in that direction. Ten years ago you would have never been able to learn about the multitude of things that you can learn about online today for free or very cheap.

The first question I will ask myself if I start a new business is "Do I need to raise venture capital?" If yes, Why? If you have already figured these questions out, I am assuming that you are seeing good traction. At this point you need to network and look for introductions. Start with people you already know. Personal introductions are still the best way to get things started while raising money.