Our approach to education is based on 8 pillars. They are our guiding principles in designing every aspect of the learning experience for our students:

1. Deep trust

Learning cannot happen without trust. Community cannot happen without trust. Growth cannot happen without trust. Our students demand an environment of deep trust, and we will do everything we can to protect and promote it. This includes safeguarding student privacy, fair refund policies, transparency around our decisions, and complete honesty in our marketing.

2. Accountability

Our courses are not about the content. Students already have access to an infinite stream of content on every conceivable subject. We give them the accountability they need to make use of what they’ve learned. They trust us to help them achieve their most important goals. We set clear expectations, hold students to high standards of performance, and give them direct feedback on how to improve.

3. True community

Learning is a social experience. Great schools give people friends and mentors, so students can collaborate on projects and help each other succeed. Our role is to bring together a like-minded group of highly committed learners in a structured learning environment. Our goal is to guide them through a process of shared discovery where they can teach each other. 

4. Commitment

Our job as instructors is not to provide the “right answers,” but to coach students in structuring their own learning. We take responsibility for asking questions, surfacing examples, and providing feedback based on what we’ve seen in the past. But learning is a process of wrestling with and applying knowledge, and students must ultimately be responsible for doing that for themselves.

5. Peer teaching

Our perspective as instructors is inherently limited. We can provide guidance and ask questions, but fellow learners are an even greater source of insight. We will not assume students know how to teach and learn from each other. As part of our instruction, we’ll train them to collaborate and give them opportunities to practice. Teaching is one of the best ways to learn, and we won’t deprive our students of that opportunity. 

6. Growth experiences

We know that learning isn’t comfortable. It inherently involves pushing past one’s comfort zone, challenging perspectives and mental models, and tackling projects with the possibility of failure.  We will provide as much support in this process as we can, without protecting students from the growth they need. Learning is a process of personal growth, and we won’t shy away from addressing that in our programs. 

7. Practical application

We are not teaching for a test, certification, or diploma. Our measure for success is real-world action. We teach practical effectiveness instead of academic knowledge and theoretical insights. That is why we will use hands-on projects and realistic exercises whenever possible. We know we have succeeded when our graduates secure raises or promotions, excel in work that is rewarding or fulfilling, or make an impact on their organizations or industries.

8. Service

Our fundamental attitude is one of service. Service to our work, our customers, our collaborators, our communities, and the world. We are in business to help people fulfill their potential, and ultimately to contribute to a better future. We know that we are part of a movement that is much bigger than ourselves, and will take any opportunity to inspire our students to play their own role in it.

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