Pandemic Pods, KaiPods, and iPods

💡 THOUGHT

Curiosity > Curriculum

Humans will and must learn. It can’t be stopped. From the youngest age, toddlers constantly observe their surroundings, watch what others do, and experiment themselves.

They push, pull, and test things, always asking: “What happens if I do this?”

They’ve seen people use footstools and they’ve seen people reach for things on high shelves. In a moment of inspiration, they combine these ideas: move the footstool to the shelf and use it as a step to reach what they want. This is learning in action—the perfect blend of theory and practice.

But there’s also complex reasoning at play. When a child uses an object in a new way (like standing on a footstool they’ve only seen used for sitting) they’re making analogies and understanding systems. They connect dots in ways that demonstrate a deep, intuitive grasp of the world.

When you let children explore their interests, they can’t help but learn.

– Isaac

📊 TREND

The Rapid Rise of Pandemic Pods

The word “revolution” gets thrown around a lot. In a recent interview with Bill Gates, Sal Khan (yes, that Khan from Khan Remember when “pod” was just something you listened to on your morning commute? Well, times have changed, and now it might just be your kid’s new classroom. Since the pandemic of 2020-2021, these DIY learning groups have been popping up faster than sourdough starters. But unlike that bread you abandoned, these pods are proving they’re here to stay. EducationNext reports that this trend has gone hand-in-hand with soaring enrollment in online learning platforms. (Outschool, for example, saw a 275% increase.)

What does this tell us? Parents are eager to take charge of their children’s education, but they’re not going it alone. Pods provide the perfect mix: the flexibility of customized learning, the support of like-minded families, and a blend of online resources with good old-fashioned face-to-face interaction. For parents working part- or full-time, pods allow them to share their time commitment and create a sustainable learning environment that fits their schedules.

⚒️ TOOL

Edupreneur Spotlight: KaiPod

Speaking of pods, let’s talk about a tool that’s turning pandemic pivots into permanent possibilities: KaiPod Learning, the brainchild of edupreneur Amar Kumar, helps passionate educators and parents launch their own personalized learning spaces, embracing a “choose your own adventure” approach to education.

Whether you’re a teacher dreaming of your own school or a parent seeking alternatives, KaiPod might just be your ticket to building the education system of the future. Their Catalyst program supports aspiring founders in turning educational visions into reality, without dictating the details. Meanwhile, for existing microschools, KaiPod offers software, services, and a community to help you thrive.

It’s like the “Airbnb of education,” but instead of renting rooms, you create learning environments that work for you.

Check out Amar’s full interview with Hannah Frankman on the Rebel Educator podcast. Or explore KaiPod’s resources at kaipodlearning.com.

(meme) OF THE DAY

All of this pod-talk is making us nostalgic.

Meanwhile, Gen A kids are like, “What’s an iPod?”

That’s all for today!

– Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)