TED Talks Daily How to make learning as addictive as social media | Luis von Ahn
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Oct 26, 2023 
Luis von Ahn, educational technologist and founder of Duolingo, tackles the challenge of making learning as addictive as social media. He shares insights on how Duolingo employs techniques from mobile games to hook learners, discussing the importance of accessibility in education. Listeners discover how gamification and visual storytelling can revolutionize learning, making it engaging and effective. Von Ahn's mission is clear: democratize education globally while ensuring that the thrill of learning rivals the captivating nature of platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
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Education and Inequality
- Luis von Ahn, from Guatemala, saw education as increasing inequality.
- Rich people buy good education, perpetuating wealth, while poor people struggle.
Languages First
- Luis von Ahn and Severin chose to teach languages first, prioritizing it over math or computer science.
- This was due to high demand, English's transformative potential, and direct income improvement.
Freemium Model and Wealth Redistribution
- Duolingo uses a freemium model for accessibility, with ads supporting free learning.
- Subscribers, mostly from wealthy countries, fund learners in poorer countries, creating wealth redistribution.