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Steve Wozniak announces tech education platform Woz U

techcrunch.com

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Re: Steve Wozniak announces tech education platform Woz U

#41

Post by kpwagner »

robotfactory wrote: post #16
vikp wrote: post #6

Although it would be unfortunate if this was the case, this paragraph from the about page ( https://woz-u.com/about/ ) leads me to think that this is just using Steve Wozniak's name for branding: Inspired by Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, we specialize in technology and career-based programs designed to get people into the workforce quickly and affordably...Led by higher education experts, Exeter Educat…

I can't imagine a guy like The Woz allowing his name to be associated with something sub-par which he has no control over. He understands the importance and weight of his personal brand.

He has a big heart. A few years ago Steve gave an interview with Patrick Bet-David, which was simply a marketing piece for Patrick's company, PHP Agency. PHP Agency is a financial firm founded on the power of "network marketing". The idea behind network marketing is to turn your social network into pyramid, positioning yourself at the top of the pyramid. I don't like network marketing companies, and I believe they are all sub-par. In this interview, which you can find on YouTube, Steve Wozniak described PHP Agency as a hit.

Re: Steve Wozniak announces tech education platform Woz U

#42

Post by larrydag »

vikp wrote: post #6

Although it would be unfortunate if this was the case, this paragraph from the about page ( https://woz-u.com/about/ ) leads me to think that this is just using Steve Wozniak's name for branding: Inspired by Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, we specialize in technology and career-based programs designed to get people into the workforce quickly and affordably...Led by higher education experts, Exeter Educat…

After reading his autobiography, iWoz, Wozniak has a real passion for education. He especially has a passion for K-12. I believe he is genuine in his desire to improve tech and STEM education.

Re: Steve Wozniak announces tech education platform Woz U

#43

Post by komali2 »

jczhang wrote: post #18
vikp wrote: post #6

Although it would be unfortunate if this was the case, this paragraph from the about page ( https://woz-u.com/about/ ) leads me to think that this is just using Steve Wozniak's name for branding: Inspired by Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, we specialize in technology and career-based programs designed to get people into the workforce quickly and affordably...Led by higher education experts, Exeter Educat…

If you read the article in your azcentral link, you'll see that Woz did announce Woz U himself.

As johnwacho said, that doesn't indicate actual involvement.

Re: Steve Wozniak announces tech education platform Woz U

#44

Post by IBM »

sjroot wrote: post #21

Honestly this seems very "meh." Like others have said, I am getting the vibe that Steve (or some other company) is using the name to attract attention to a very unremarkable product. > Woz U will offer an app to help people understand which field of tech they’re best suited for, so they can set up their curriculum accordingly. If you follow that link, you can see a very (very) poorly-designed application that is buil…

That's exactly what's happening here [1]. John Sculley stays in the press in the same way. In fact he got another hit just today [2].

[1] https://www.techinasia.com/talk/steve-wozniak-walking-billbo...

[2] http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-best-recruiter-app...

Re: Steve Wozniak announces tech education platform Woz U

#45

Post by exogeny »

It's a shame that his 1981 plane crash robbed both Steve and the world of the full use of one of the greatest engineering minds that has ever lived.

A lot of people who know him personally - and I know of them personally, so it's second-hand corroboration to be clear - say he was never anywhere close to the same after the accident.

Re: Steve Wozniak announces tech education platform Woz U

#46

Post by orb_yt »

jonwachob91 wrote: post #23
vthallam wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean at this point, it's hard to differentiate when you are launching a training school. I think they are like completely banking up on the Woz name to get students and companies use their services.

We are only saying that b/c everyone is now doing the codecadmy/treehouse/codeschool style of training, with a slight twist. I'd expect if a guy like Woz is jumping behind it, it should be INNOVATIVE. A new method of training that is better than what we have today. Similar to how code school/treehouse/codecademy were innovative 5 years ago.

Any thoughts on what that would look like? I'm very much a fan of bite sized lessons (think Duolingo style), but am curious to how well that would translate to other subjects.

Re: Steve Wozniak announces tech education platform Woz U

#47

Post by jonsen »

mosselman wrote: post #36
sjroot wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I'm sure Woz would make a fantastic teacher, I don't think experience teaching kids elementary math would really give anyone insight into teaching CS/data science topics.

Why not? How is teaching kids math different from teaching older kids CS and data science? I am curious, not trolling.

You can't teach children proper mathematics. That's what's different. Children are not in general ready for math before 8'th or 9'th grade. That's why they are just pestered with arithmetic until the majority becomes numberfobes. And then have difficulties with real mathematics later.

Re: Steve Wozniak announces tech education platform Woz U

#49

Post by arsalanb »

Okay, there are a lot of comments here about various things but what struck out to me was that on the website it says Woz U will help students "get into the workforce quicker" but their curriculum doesn't really cover any CS. It covers things that help you build stuff using "hip" tools and languages, but not things like algorithms, data structures, etc.

My question is, is this really all it takes to get a job in a startup/tech company? Would YOU hire somebody who just knew these things?

Re: Steve Wozniak announces tech education platform Woz U

#50

Post by craftyguy »

peter303 wrote: post #2

Some people dont know Woz spent some years as an elementary school math teacher after leaving his full time Apple job. So he as insight as a teacher.

there's a huge difference between developing and teaching curriculum for elementary school math, and developing and presenting curriculum for an online education system that extends beyond elementary school age and elementary school math.
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