How do you plan on having Zoonk actually work?

[ceolinwill]

Question I got on Reddit:

I'm reading through some Kevin Carson right now, and just yesterday actually highlighted a passage of his talking about the possibility of a project like yours! I'd love to see it come true, and sincerely hope you knock this shit out the park!

That being said, I'm a little curious how you plan on having Zoonk actually work.

• What subjects would you initially prioritise? Something like synthetic biology or welding needs physical, hands-on work. Caveman Chemistry is an example of a superb resource that demands hands-on learning, for example.
• Would subject matter experts be designing the courses? If so, do you have any plans on how to get them on board? What fields would you contact first?
• Is the plan to have AI develop some courses? If so, do you see any ethical issues arising from using potentially more advanced, but closed source AI? Do you have plans on incorporating existing curricula (say, Hooft or Rigetti for physics, Collins for biology, MIT open courseware for things like engineering, etc.) into the training for AI if you go that route?
• What would the final product look like? Sort of a blend between the Kerbal Space Program, Project Euler, Duolingo, Brilliant, and more?

My bad if I'm asking dumb questions - I'm new to the more active side of free software stuff, and the maker/hacker/tinkerer/skookum scene in general! I hope to hear from you, and again - best of luck!

[ceolinwill]

Overview
Zoonk's long-term goal is to make learning complex subjects like Einstein's Theory of Relativity as easy as playing a video game. Eventually, I want to develop a game like No Man's Sky but focused on learning by solving real-world problems.

Sustainable Development
To achieve this, I plan to build a business around the open-source project that powers it. The first step is developing a platform for creating interactive courses like Duolingo and Brilliant. A paid cloud version will provide revenue to fund further development. You can track progress on the Zoonk Cloud project on GitHub and see the roadmap.

Roadmap

1. Launch a paid cloud product for schools and enterprises.
2. Use funds to develop the open-source project.
3. Create a content library for existing curricula (e.g., Common Core Standards, AP, etc.).
4. Create a free online STEAM school.
5. Develop a hands-on game like No Man's Sky for learning.
6. Establish physical STEAM schools in low-income neighborhoods globally.

Specific Questions

1. Subject Prioritization: Initially, I'll focus on subjects defined in standard/mandatory curricula to maximize impact and adoption by schools.
2. Course Design: Yes, I plan to hire subject matter experts and creative writers to design engaging courses once I have sufficient funds.
3. AI Integration: AI will be integrated with human supervision. I prefer open-source AI models but may consider closed ones for reliability. Existing curricula will be incorporated into AI training.
4. Final Product: The first product will be a mix of Duolingo and Brilliant. Long-term, it will evolve into a game like No Man's Sky.

I hope this answers your questions! Feel free to ask more, and thank you for your support!