Online Learning

Strategies and insights for remote and hybrid science education

An empty university seminar room with a large monitor showing a paused recorded lecture and a single notebook open on the table.
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Asynchronous vs. Synchronous: What the Research Says

What the post-2020 research actually says about async versus sync learning, from Barbara Means's meta-analyses to the ordinary trade-offs deans now face.

• 6 min read
A laptop on a home-office desk late at night showing a grid of Zoom participants mid-discussion, coffee cup and open notebook beside it.

The Rise of Cohort-Based Courses: A Skeptical Look

Maven, Wes Kao, and a two-thousand-dollar Tuesday night Zoom: where cohort-based courses actually earn their price, and where the signal runs thin.

• 6 min read
A phone on a small cafe table in Paris showing a language-learning lesson, half-empty espresso cup beside it.

Duolingo’s Methodology, Honestly Assessed

Why a 1,247-day Duolingo streak rarely produces a speaker, what the app is genuinely good at, and what serious learners add to…

• 6 min read
A middle-school student watches a math video on a laptop at a kitchen table while a younger sibling works on paper next to her.

Khan Academy at 15: What Worked, What Didn’t

From Nadia's unit conversions to 160 million learners: what Khan Academy actually changed about math tutoring, and what the evidence still leaves…

• 6 min read
A laptop screen shows a university lecture paused mid-slide on a kitchen table beside a half-finished cup of coffee and a notebook.

MOOCs After the Pandemic: What the Technology Turned Out to Be Good At

The MOOC revolution didn't replace universities. After COVID, the format quietly grew up. Here's what online courses are now genuinely useful for.

• 5 min read
A laptop open to a code editor on a small desk beside a mug, with a closed textbook and a printed schedule taped to the wall.

Are Coding Bootcamps Still Worth It in 2026?

The coding bootcamp golden era ended a few years ago. The math is harder in 2026, but bootcamps still work for specific…

• 6 min read