OpenStudiers,
First, thank you for making 2012 such a successful year for OpenStudy. Our shared dream of making the world one big study group is happening:
- 2,000,000 learners have come to OpenStudy in 2012.
- In September we had 400,000 learners use OpenStudy. That’s double the number from August.
- You’ve helped each other on 400,000 questions and answers.
However, what I’m most excited is that you all embody a genuine culture shift for learning. You’ve created a universe that helps itself, where students teach and motivate each other and need only a “thank you” in return. You’ve redefined “smart” in a grassroots movement that values teamwork, collaborative problem solving, and engagement over traditional grades or assessments.
This leads directly to the next phase of OpenStudy. We believe that the very skills valued on OpenStudy should be equally valued outside of it.
We’re not the only ones that think so. Starting this month on OpenStudy, you will be able to earn certificates for your participation in massively open online courses. These MOOCs are offered by the OpenCourseWare Consortium, The Twenty Million Minds Foundation, University of Notre Dame, George Mason, TU Delft, and UC Irvine. Our collective goal is a platform where collaboration is king, learning transcends classroom walls, and the most meaningful credentials are demonstrated rather than tested.
This is an exciting vision for the world – and we have the right person to lead it. I’d like to announce that effective immediately, my cofounder Dr. Preetha Ram will be leading the company as CEO. I’ve been working with Preetha for over a decade, and I know that her vision and experience has not only been instrumental in our success to date, but are the exact right combination to lead us forward. I’m thrilled that she has accepted this role and could not be more excited about where she will take us. Please join me in congratulating Preetha.
I will be continuing as CTO of OpenStudy, a role that I’m similarly excited to embrace. We need your help as much as ever as we embark on this new frontier. Let’s build something great.
See you online,
Chris Sprague
CTO, OpenStudy
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