034: Chris Rawlinson on education

In this episode I talk with Chris Rawlinson about his online education company 42 Courses and how behavioural science has influenced its formation and growth.

Show notes

What is 42 Courses and the BS principles behind itChris’s unusual background: vineyard owner, commercial pilot, then at Ogilvy revamping digital training programmesWeaknesses of most e-learning platformsChris’s dyslexia & love of learningMatt Mullenweg and other random connectionsInfluence of Sir Ken Robinson, his TED talk – need for an education revolution & the benefit of not being an academicCreating the feel of an internship at 42 CoursesSupport of Rory Sutherland and Dan Bennett at OgilvyBS principles informing 42 Courses: storytelling, make learning more accessible (regular praise), chunking lessons, gamification, social norms, curating without overloading Why is traditional education behind the BS curve? Measuring engagement and success at 42 Courses Course personalisation, choice architecture around new coursesWhat online learning looks like today: from Coursera to MasterclassNon-education inspirations for 42 CoursesGradeless teaching and the value of conventional certificationsVirtual Reality in education

Chris is massively dyslexic, runs an education company and is a qualified pilot. He is also a cancer survivor, former vineyard owner and (to his wife’s chagrin) a massive LEGO enthusiast having reached the rarefied air of completing the 1m long Saturn 5 rocket, a space shuttle, a mini Yoda and the Porsche 911. He is a joy to listen to.

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