Soon, we’ll be launching Kufikia, a better way to learn tech online. Here’s why:
Online education–especially in technical subjects–is getting better by the week. There are endless combinations of curriculum and delivery methods, many of them absolutely top notch and improving continuously. With no bureaucracy holding them back, alternatives like Udacity, Codecademy, Treehouse, and tons of other independent efforts have the freedom to innovate and evolve. We recommend giving each of them a try.
There are problems though. A recent New York Times article points out that some larger online courses have a 90% attrition rate. Curriculum isn’t the problem, but there are problems nonetheless.
Problem No. 1 – The Effort/Results Ratio is Off
Every January, millions of people join gyms that they won’t go to more than a few times before other things get in the way. The problem? “Getting fit” or “losing weight” aren’t things that happen immediately. Those gym visits require a lot of effort–we lose at least an hour of our day, we wake up with new aches and pains, and we face the embarrassment of public struggle–all for what usually amounts to very small visible results. So, despite our logic telling us that being fit is a long-term win, we quit not long after we start.
The same is true for learning tech (or anything else) online. Logic tells us that expanding our knowledge via that machine learning course is a long-term win, but the lack of immediate results against the weight of “all the other stuff that’s going on” oftentimes causes us to drop out before we really get started.
Problem No. 2 – We’re All Alone
Studies have proven that individuals who agree to work out or lose weight as a group tend to stick with it longer and have greater success. It makes sense. Our partners can help motivate us when we’re feeling down, and can share in our successes when they happen. “Not letting down my friends” is a powerful motivator.
Same is true for education and most anything else that requires some effort. Real, genuine group interaction is a big deal, but it’s absent from many online courses. Individual achievement via group motivation is extremely powerful.
Problem No. 3 – We Don’t Have Help
Trainers are awesome. They help us with technique and help us overcome obstacles along the way. They can sometimes quickly help us find a solution that may have taken us hours of frustration to find on our own. They don’t need to be around every day, but they need to be there.
The lack of mentors are a big reason why so few students actually finish online courses. Students reach a point of frustration, can’t find a way out, and then quit. Learning technology is hard, and we all make mistakes. Sometimes they’re small, and sometimes they’re huge. Mentors help us get past them. They’re sorely needed.
Problem No. 4 – We (Sometimes) Bite Off More Than We Can Chew
Sometimes we get in too deep. Just as a couch potato rarely has any business training for an ultra-marathon (at least in the beginning), someone who has never written a line of html rarely has any business diving right into Ruby on Rails or Node.js. Baby steps and a logical understanding of our capabilities is a key to success.
Our Solution: Don’t Change the Content. Change the Structure.
Our solution is called Kufikia. We think you’ll like it.
We teach Ruby on Rails and/or Django (more courses coming soon) to experienced developers who want to learn in order to improve their employment prospects and/or their skill set. We don’t create our own curriculum–there are too many absolutely wonderful resources out there for us to attempt it. Instead, at Kufikia, we focus on the way the learning is structured.
First, we tackle problem no. 4. Students who sign up for Kufikia go through an application process that determines whether or not they’re likely to be successful graduates. If they’re not quite there, then they don’t get in.
Next, we take on problem no. 2. Students who make it through the application process get assigned to a learning cohort of only ten total students. These students will work together over the next nine weeks, sometimes competing with one another, and sometimes spurring each other on.
Then, we tackle problem no. 3. Each cohort is sponsored by a great company that in turn provides mentors for program participants. The student to mentor ratio is 2:1, and the group agrees on a set time each day to ask questions and talk about issues they might be having. Having the opportunity to work alongside experts is a huge part of what Kufikia is all about.
And finally, we take on problem no. 1. Sponsor companies provide mentors, but they also provide a cash incentive ($1,000 to be split between successful graduates) to those who successfully complete the program. It’s not much in the grand scheme of things, but it’s enough immediate gratification to keep most people motivated.
Our improved structure is a win-win for both students and companies. Companies will no doubt hire some of the job-seeking program grads (at a fraction of the cost and overhead), and students will have the opportunity to make a little money, work alongside experts, and improve their skills.
We’re excited about the program, and we’d love to know what you think! Reach out to us at hi@kufikia.com with feedback, follow us on twitter, and don’t forget to sign up as a student or a sponsor!