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Social Goals of the Project
At the very least, support anyone unable to access academia (through restrictions on youth, or otherwise disadvantaged) to understand what each field does, and prepare for studies. We assume that anyone with tendencies toward academic-mindedness possesses a unique virtue for seriousness, and that seeking research is only practical when already understand its elements... due to the nature of publishing and limited resources of possible mentors, if able to find. It's of note that since people driven by self-direction aren't all that common or especially social, regularly-scheduled "courses" don't work. They assume the requisite time is available, and that a prospective student will discover and join the specific course before starting, so taking a course CANNOT be expected to synchronize. Thus, the socialization must happen with people that have already read or is in the process of the materials.
There isn't a lack of choice for materials... OpenCourseWare continues to expand, free textbooks are available that aim to match state standards and Common Core, and Wikipedia spans the gamut of meta-topics to the deeply specific. It's my (eva's) experience that curriculum standards were taught, at the expense of not deeply exploring the why's and how's of ex. math, and other subjects given textbooks, did not indicate where it would be leading to - the recurring theme of reducing complexities and sanitizing information, so much that "what else can I do?" is a non-specific question, expecting a non-specific answer.
- Want to go faster/further than curriculum standards, and
- Don't have anyone 'in person' to talk academically with. This project focuses online; "why can't I find people irl" is a separate problem.
- Assumes people (users) are ready to process data/information and just need guidance on where & how to get information.
Develops a way to determine what they should study next. Note: need to consider younger-than-thirteen as possible users. Elementary school goes on for quite some years, and the concepts are easily learned in a day if given the right kid at the right time. The nationwide 1:1 device policy increases this risk with privacy, since expecting many users to also be middle/high school age and above.
- Learning is self-directed, but in this case, most lack the benefits of socializing with learning. Hopefully their sources are trustworthy to keep terminology consistent with what they'll find in relaying these concepts to others, but shortcoming of self-direction is being able to stop when the student doesn't understand, or otherwise is disinterested.
Chance to bounce ideas with people and share learning path online, and help port direct communication with "fellow learners" online towards being able to socialize irl. (May involve directing towards trusted organisations with mentorship and social factors, like Scouting.) Maybe the kid is introspective for whatever reason. Maybe likes reading. But what about nonfiction? I preferred information, and was drawn to nonfiction at the library. For whatever reason (availability of peers to listen to ramblings? shyness? preferring to listen vs talk?) the interest in information hindered ability to talk.
- May want to "learn for the sake of learning". For some reason, it's enjoyable. In a specific case (or maybe case_s_ plural) it's not the pursuit of anything in particular. Maybe the need to "understand everything" is represented throughout the curriculum (psychology being an introductory, but offered, course in high schools). Maybe it's more enjoyable to think than to work, when "work" takes only up to the sufficient level of blocking introspection (versus washing dishes, taking trash, etc). Or that gaining Merit Badges doesn't make obvious possibilities for an Eagle Project. Not trying to get everyone into an Academic job, just allowing "them" (the subset of 'everyone' that thinks: ie 'thinkers' lol) to identify what fields interest them, and hopefully figure out how to join. (Woah, Grad School being the transition from consuming and processing knowledge to doing research!)
Basically, build a framework that users can meditate on the evolution, mutation, and transformations of their interests as guiding toward possible career interests.
- How best to organize the information we gather, and provide?
Privacy by default. Users can self-host (public-facing or private) if choose to, and then can choose who can access information, otherwise able to sync with server for built-in discoverability and pairings/groups. While storage is a concern (including cost of infrastructure), text-only to minimize file size.
Two options: Machine Learning to compare similar paths (by subject-areas and parity with shared elements) or mark entry in user's list and receive personalized recommendation (or at least facilitate conversation, also depends on community activity). If the latter, hopefully someone either that has already started/completed your entry, or if nobody, list of people with similar history. Should design the implementation such that the notes and descriptions facilitate discussion between users.
As time goes on and people read and figure out more, how can we move them to be productive with ideas? When is a good time to make their own journal/paper/blog, or get involved with the field in a way that doesn't seem wasteful to the time of whom they seek out, assuming the field exists, and users wait for understanding content at level expected of the field before trying to interact? It also needs to match with getting users to socialize in a useful way, so that they can reach that point in the most effective way for the speed they seek to achieve. Being able to socialize is crucial to success in life; critical for happiness when all interaction seems to be with people that can't possibly keep up with you, much less understand you. "What are you, stupid? Nobody can understand you. The only person that can understand you is.. you, yourself." It's crucial that the learning process is balanced with being able to socialize, and finding people to bounce ideas with as an acceptable trade-off with being able to read 100% of waking life. I don't want anyone to feel like they're a burden to me just because I need to take care of other responsibilities.
Somewhere in Zena Hitz's book "The Hidden Pleasures of An Intellectual Life" (or she cites Arnold Bennett's "How to Live on 24 Hours a Day"), there is a postulate that novels aren't for intellectual development, since 'readers' tend to consume in the same fashion as film/theater-goers, etc... that narratives aren't designed for much more than reflection. "Seriousness" is actually the second of two types of curiosities: the first is a love of spectacle, enjoying being removed from the action, even though one may be in a sports gymnasium, etc.... the second being that someone might enjoy watching it, as viewing turns towards introspection. I suppose that means the valid use of this platform is for introspection, and to promote the same in all activities.