Scone-baking class, by Skillshare HQ
The Internet has become a powerful platform for sharing educational content and for finding information about almost every topic imaginable. But even with all the opportunities for teaching and learning online, the value of face-to-face instruction from a knowledgeable teacher can’t be discounted.
That’s the premise behind the New York City peer-to-peer learning company Skillshare. Skillshare builds on a basic premise proven by the immeasurable amount of content on the Internet: there are a lot of smart people with valuable skills to teach — and leverages the Internet’s grassroots community-building function. The result is a wide selection of person-to-person classes on any number of topics — from wire jewelry, to scone-baking, to Web development, to Bayesian statistics.
It’s a cross between Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade goods, and Kickstarter, an online fundraising tool. If enough people show an interest in what you have to offer, your class is a go. Classes run an average of $20 per student, and the startup takes a 15% cut. Skillshare doesn’t Continue reading