Enhancing Education: Digital Tools and the Return of Physical Books

In this episode, the Who Smarted team highlights two distinct avenues for educational enrichment: the integration of digital platforms for consistent learning and the upcoming launch of a tangible, immersive book series designed for families.

Streamlining Homeschooling with IXL

Trusty addresses the challenges faced by the "homeschool parents in the Whosmarted community," particularly as the academic year transitions into the summer months. To maintain educational momentum, the podcast promotes IXL, an "award-winning online learning platform."

Key features of IXL include:

• Comprehensive Coverage: It provides "interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies" for students from "pre-K through 12th grade."
• Data-Driven Insights: Parents benefit from "clear progress reports," while students receive "instant explanations" to help bridge knowledge gaps.
• Proven Efficacy: With over "15 million students" utilizing the platform, it is described as a tool "proven to improve achievement in all 50 states."

Introducing the Encyclopedia of Smarting

Moving away from screens, the episode unveils a "secret project" that the team has been developing for months: the Encyclopedia of Smarting. This deluxe series aims to provide a "deepest dive" into topics that capture the curiosity of "Smarty Pants" (the podcast's audience).

A Journey Through Diverse Topics

The series is designed to be a "treasured resource" for families, blending "fun facts" with "incredible illustrations." The first three volumes explore:

1. Explosions: This volume tackles high-energy questions, such as comparing the temperature of a volcano's interior to the surface of the sun.
2. Dinosaurs: A deep dive into prehistoric life, covering curious topics like the utility of T-Rex arms, the reality of dinosaur waste, and the mechanics of the asteroid event that ended "75% of life on Earth."
3. Foods: This volume investigates the science of eating, from the biological reason why "spicy food hurt[s]" to the historical and scientific debates surrounding the classification of fruits and vegetables, and even the origins of cheese as "rotten milk."

Engaging with the Kickstarter Campaign

The Who Smarted team is launching these books through a Kickstarter campaign. Trusty emphasizes that this project is a "modern day fun family encyclopedia" that cannot be "streamed" or found in stores.

To ensure listeners have the best opportunity to secure "special editions and early bird discounted books," the team encourages parents to:

• Visit whosmarted.com and click on the "books" section.
• Join the "Please Notify Me" list to receive alerts when the campaign goes live on Sunday, May 24th.

By leveraging both the digital accessibility of IXL and the tactile, long-form learning offered by the Encyclopedia of Smarting, the podcast aims to provide families with a holistic approach to education that spans from the classroom to the home library.