We know.

You’ve been wanting to learn to code forever; but you keep finding excuses to put it off.

You’re already got development experience; but you’ve been looking for a way to brush up on a new language.

Procrastinate no longer!

OpenStudy has just announced a new way to get started with Python programming. Partnering with MIT OCW, Codecademy, & P2PU, together we’re announcing the Mechanical MOOC presenting: A Gentle Introduction to Python.

Details:

• It’s 100% free, just like all OpenCourseWare. Anyone can join, and you’re welcome to share your work.
• Pick up Python from leading innovators in online learning. MIT’s chops. Codecademy’s exercises. OpenStudy’s study groups. P2PU’s community.
• Make friends and start programming from Week 1.
• We’ll be offering a certificate of participation connected to the course
• Open for signup today, course starts October 15.

Andrew James of PandoDaily:

…So this week they launched Catapult, the initiative is an incentive-based program that lets students inside OpenStudy raise cash from friends and family to spur them on into achieving their learning goals. It’s like a Kickstarter for education goals.

Financially incentivizing education has been recognized as an important – albeit controversial – catalyst for achieving academic success.

From Seth Weinstein of Tinywork:

OpenStudy’s newest update, Catapult, is an effort to incentivize learning by giving students the opportunity to get paid for it. Through the website, students can set up simple learning goals like “get an A on this essay” or “finish my science fair project”. Friends and family can then pledge money towards those goals, and the student collects if the goal is reached.

OpenStudy has always been about polish, and it shows in how put-together this service is…

All things considered, I’m excited for this update. My parents gave me money when I was a kid if I made the grades, and I distinctly remember being ecstatic. OpenStudy has once again broke the mold with a feature that makes learning more fun and less of a hassle. If you’re a student, check it out, set up some goals, get knowledge, and get paid.

 

“How do I get started?” you ask.

Well, it’s easy. Begin by clicking the “Invite” button in the top navigator bar.
(While you’re there, be sure to give us a Facebook Like.)

Once you click invite, you’ll be taken to a page with new and improved ways to tell people about OpenStudy. The best part about this page is the “Invite Facebook Friends” button. You can send a direct invitation to your friends using direct Facebook messages. We’ve also provided a custom link that you can copy into emails, tumblr posts, or tattoo to your forehead (kidding- seriously, no tattoos unless it’s Owlfred.)

I know what you’re thinking: “Why should I invite my friends to OpenStudy?”

Here’s but a short list of reasons:

1. Friends need study help too, and might remember you hooked them up when it’s your birthday.
2. You’ve made some friends on OpenStudy, and want to introduce them to others you know.
3. Your SmartScore is quite high and it’s time to show off to new people.
4. Teamwork score lagging behind? Invite some friends to move it a few points higher.
5. It’s summer, you’re bored, and you need an IPAD!

To sweeten the deal, we said we were giving away an iPod touch. We’re here today to announce our winner. Congratulations to Emily “Wondermath” for being our lucky winner. She’s a great member of our community and is very excited to be selected.

Did you miss out on your chance? Would you like another shot? Well you’re in luck friends.

We’re running another very important 12 question survey that will automatically enter you again for a chance to win another iPod touch from OpenStudy. Click here to get started and enter.

We’re excited to announce the release of a mobile compatible version of OpenStudy. We’ve taken the social learning experience from the web and optimized it for smartphones and tablets. You’ll now be able to get help in Math, Physics, Writing, Computer Science, and your other favorite subjects from anywhere, anytime.

Our goal is to bring the best parts of OpenStudy; access to the community of 200,000 learners from 170 countries, answers to 75% of questions in 5 minutes, and assessment of soft skills through SmartScore to the millions of people who use a mobile device as their primary method to access the web.

OpenStudy is committed to providing accessible learning opportunities to students no matter where they live or how they get to the internet. Bringing a peer-to-peer learning experience to the hundreds of millions of smartphone users worldwide is a challenge we’re thrilled to undertake. We believe adding personal interaction to an often lonely mobile learning experience adds tremendous value to the education experience.

Visit OpenStudy from your mobile device to try it for yourself.

Austin – Our latest addition to the team.

I’m Austin Walne and I’ve just joined the fantastic OpenStudy team 2 days ago. They’ve put together an incredible learning platform; and I’m very humbled and excited to be able to contribute to the great work here.

Learning has been a passion of mine since I was young. I also grew up with a passion for computers and technology. I was lucky enough to use my first Mac (a Performa 637CD) in the third grade and immediately began learning as much as I could about it and this new thing called the world wide web.

Inter-connected networks have shown their immense power for collaboration to create amazing things. It’s revolutionized the way we communicate (Facebook, Twitter); find a place to stay while traveling (AirBnB); drive cars (ZipCar, Getaround); and the list goes on and on.

I’ve witnessed first hand how networks have changed the way politicians run for office and elected officials interact with their constituents. In 2007, I led digital campaign efforts for Fmr. Senator Fred Thompson’s Presidential Campaign. We were the first to allow volunteers to call potential voters anywhere they had an internet connection. That same election, then Senator Obama’s organizing platform my.barackobama.com, led by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, set the standard for future campaigns to follow.

These same network effects have the potential to change education in ways we’re only beginning to imagine. Many people are talking about the challenges facing education. OpenStudy is committed to helping solve some of these big issues. I believe OpenStudy is a trailblazer in education technology and I am very enthusiastic about helping to share our story and spread our message to students the world over. It’s quite the adventure we’re all embarking on together.

If you’d like to connect, you can find me on the Twitter @austinwalne.