User:H0riz0n/tasks/Ken Coar/Sent update email

Sup Ken,


 * Ok picking up where we left off. My wife just had her first baby. I just tried to call you, but imagine you are jet setting here and there.


 * Just wanted to update you on K12 Online. I had to get some key things out of the way-- my wife just gave birth to our son 2 weeks ago! I have pics up at mtrout.com.

K12 Online Project Update:

 * We have secured EDUIT.org (actually a 501c3 I founded in 2001) to lead the initiative--got tired of trying to find a home for it.
 * We have secured MITs Education Arcade and Fablevision to work with us as strategic development partners.
 * Established our Back-Office (be more than happy to give you access too)
 * We have been busy adding, technical team members, board members and strategic partners.
 * Marshall Island have asked us to put together a K-12 math and science solution for under $5m. We will probably use this as a vehicle to beta test K12 Online.

Project Elements: "Objective: flatten global learning"

 * 1) Wikitube open source platform ("The Skin")-- A multimedia wiki platform that will enable anyone to take existing educational multimedia AV and create short education modules. All the multimedia education materials for K-12 has been created and is currenlty sitting, for the most part, unused on hard drives and video cassettes in AV libraries all over the world (BBC, PBS, NPR, DISCOVERY, etc.). This material will be hosted online on EDUIT media Archive (Dev. partners petitioned).
 * 2) K12 Online ("The Skeleton")-- a play-learn system that will integrates wikitube edu modules in a fun format for the learners. Video games and prizes become the Pavlovian mechanism to motivate the user to watch, learn, compete and win prizes.  A key aspect is that K12 Online is primarily audio and visually driven, text is tertiary.  The goal: all a kid needs to be able to do is "point and touch." (Dev. partners secured)
 * 3) Point and touch Teaching Tablets (TT) -- 19" multi-touch teaching tablet. The goal is for K12 Online to run on any device that can access the net. However, we anticipate an education market (China and India among them) that would be interested in a device that "limits/controls" online access to kids and provides all the K-12+ education needs. In essence TTs becomes the lecturer and tester. Many are asking the question how will China and India (and others) build a 20th Century educational "bricks and mortar" infrastructure to meet demand? They can't and they wont need too... we will provide every kid with a TT and let the education start at home and allow schools to function more like labs where kids apply what they have learn. We want kids to be free to learn at their own pace, and as fast as they like, by eliminating the teacher and other students as barriers to their progress.


 * That's just a simplified version. But, I think it gives some idea of our progress and direction. I would love to have you more involved personally... maybe even to help align the team that will take on the development of Wikitube open-source software...? All you need to say "Mike, fetch!" and ill do the rest.


 * In the meantime, I would like to extend a board nomination out to you--very low time requirement ( max. 2hrs a quarter).


 * Appreciate the consideration,

Cheers,

Michael