Open edX for K12

Owned by Andrés González
Jul 01, 2022
2 min read

Open edX has been designed by universities, with higher education in mind. However, and specially after the pandemics, we know that kids could also benefit from an e-learning platform. Some systems are dedicated to this public segment. But Open edX is not far from offering a good option for this public.

Contributions are welcome!

Personas

  • Learners: In K12, learners are kids under 18 which have a different concept of technology than adults. They probably don’t have an email account, and their learning path is directed by parents, tutors and teachers. They also need to feel that there is an adult there, taking care and attending to their demand.

  • Parents: They need to control and supervise the learning path of the kids. They also need a channel to communicate with the teachers and institution authorities beside the learner experience.

  • Teachers: They should have means to interact directly with students, individually and by groups

Features

These are some of the features that we have identified as required from K12 institutions, and missing in the current Open edX implementation:

  • User role for parent or tutor, supervising one or more learners. They may have read only access to the activities, and access to learner progress information. Also act as “forum moderation” for the students under their scope

  • More interactive units

  • Space for storing and sharing documents

  • Teamwork. Learners should be able to see their partners public profiles and communicate internally with them.

  • Direct, individual or group communication channels between learners and teachers

  • Gradebook for the student and parents, consolidating all courses completed and in progress

  • Gamification

  • Mobile app with push notifications

  • A redesigned UI, simpler and more attractive to small kids and teenagers