Learning a STEM subject is hard enough. Learning one online can feel impossible. Even for smart, motivated learners, a lot is conspiring against those hearty individuals who sink their teeth into a distance math or science course.
At 10 or 110, STEM is intimidating. While that sends many running, the fear factor coupled with the challenge is more of a feature than a bug for those turned on by the prospect of learning.
Brilliant understands those people very well, offering a learning platform that makes math and science coursework less intimidating and much more relatable without ever compromising on the depth and breadth of knowledge to be learned.
BACKGROUND: BRILLIANT TAKES A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO STEM LEARNING.
Brilliant makes math and science learning engaging by eliminating the part of all learning that people universally hate the most: the crushing, crushing boredom. Too often, training can turn into an irritating drip-drip-drip of memorization, reading, tired lectures, and grinding tedium.
To be clear, mathematics and hard sciences will almost never be a walk in the park for any new student. But with Brilliant coursework, it won’t feel nearly so much like learning, with a roster of more than 60 math, science, and computer science courses, all designed by award-winning teachers and professionals from MIT, Caltech, Microsoft, Google, and more.
The material itself may not feel different. But as presented by Brilliant, the learning definitely will. With their approach, Brilliant helps build up new concepts not through memorization and repetition, but with context. Subjects are addressed visually and intuitively, through puzzles, games, and exercises that frames each field of knowledge in its real-world application.
Through the coursework, learners dive into solving challenging interactive problems, strengthening their own quantitative and analytical skills as they progress. Layers of the subject peel back one by one, revealing concepts bit by bit as they build up new ways of thinking, and unlock truths in unexpected places.
ANALYSIS: LEARNING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SO DARN BORING.
Just like mnemonic devices before them, students are often surprised by how much smart storytelling, visual exercises, and engaging brain-teasers not only help the knowledge sink in faster, but also make it a lot more fun.
The physics of motion can be an incredibly dry subject. But when Brilliant coursework introduces the swing of virtual pendulum clocks to highlight the point, the contextual understanding snaps boring theorems into place. Rather than writing down algebraic functions and trying to memorize them, framing the training around rockets gives the lesson a real-world peg so the algebra flows more naturally. And there may be no more practical example of probability and statistics than when those principles are used in relation to casino games like blackjack.
This is fun, engaging, lively, and hands-on examinations of math and science ideas in a way that almost doesn’t even feel like you’re learning math and science.
The training is also sneaking in some casual brain rewiring along the way as well. All the coursework focuses on critical thinking and problem solving at its heart, so while it could be a discussion of cryptocurrency or the Pythagorean theorem, it’s also imparting sound analytical advice that extends beyond its primary subject.
By understanding the methodology shown and keeping an open mind to apply that system elsewhere, each course also prepares students to take that process-based thinking into their daily life. You’ll learn how to better order your thoughts, better organize your approach to problems, and ultimately, find better solutions for professional and even personal questions.
OUTLOOK: BRILLIANT WORKS LIKE BRAIN FUEL FOR MOTIVATED LEARNERS.
To start consuming the heaping helping of knowledge available under the Brilliant banner, onlookers can head over to the Brilliant website and take a look at all the courses available with membership. Right now, a plan starts as low as $12.50 a month. And, the first 200 to sign up will receive a discount of 20% on an annual subscription.
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