Brilliant Review:Who is Brilliant.org For?
Brilliant Review
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Want to develop your problem solving, critical thinking, logical reasoning or STEM skills?Then Brilliant.org could be the platform you're looking for.Brilliant.org is an online learning platform which aims to radically change how people learn, and feel, about STEM subjects. It has over 60 fully interactive courses which you access through a range of subscription options.
I've completed three of their most popular courses and in this Brilliant.org review I'll be sharing with you all the information you need to know to help you decide if it's right for you. But first, here’s the highlights:
Quick summary Features
10 million users
Active learning through one-of-a-kind interactive visualizations and problem solving
Provides instant feedback
Promotes mastery over memorizing
60+ courses in Math, Science and Computer Science
Pros
Helps you think laterally and solve problems creatively
Provides a frameworks for seeing the world differently
Key takeaways highlighted and revisited in an array of real life contexts
Helps you excel in math, logic and science
Builds skills incrementally and provides stretch and challenge
Clear hints and explanations that make it easy to learn
Fun and engaging user experience
Cons
Could do with some downloadable crib sheets of key terms, ideas, etc. to save on note taking
One or two typos or omissions in the three courses I took
Could be more predictive in terms of suggesting alternative pathways if users are making fast progress or struggling with new ideas
What is Brilliant.org?
Brilliant.org is an online learning platform providing courses in subjects like math and science, among other things, to talented students looking to enrich their minds.
The platform was founded in 2008 with the goal of creating an online community to help bright students fortify their academic prowess. Although it’s lacking a bit on the humanities side of things in terms of course content, Brilliant.org is a great online education option for students seeking to build their skills in STEM disciplines.
They offer a subscription-based service and a free trial that gives you access to their online education. Further along into our review of Brilliant.org, we will dive into their course content and what every user can expect from the platform.
Who is Brilliant.org For?
Who is Brilliant.org For
Something Brilliant.org does well is to modify its course content to suit a target audience, whatever that may be. While the website claimed the online courses are made for anyone – people “aged 10 to 110” – to help them sharpen their minds, it is best suited for students working through primary or high school.
There are some advanced courses covering topics like engineering and computer science. However, this kind of content does not have the focus you would see in a college-level course and it often leaves out much of the high-end concepts.
School-age children on the lower end of skill levels may also struggle with the content as there is more of a focus on practice than there is the actual theory of the subjects. Because of this, it is best you have a grasp on the topics before you get into them, it is more suited to sharpen your skills than develop them.
How Does Brilliant.org Work?
Brilliant.org can be used via the website or the Brilliant.org app. Once you pick which platform to use, you can begin browsing their course catalog to see what you might be interested in.
To get access to the content, you must make an account. At this point, it will ask you to start a free trial to test drive the product. But you may continue with a free account for now if you do not wish to do that.
The site will ask you what kind of student you are and what topics you might be interested in. This allows the platform to tailor its experience to fit your needs and not show you topics that would be of no benefit (or interest) to you.
You will then be supplied with courses that their algorithms determine will be useful for you and you can begin the class. You will work through different problems to practice your skills and learn some theory on your chosen topic.
The problems are designed to challenge your abilities in the subject matter and gain a greater understanding of the task at hand. This is one of the reasons that Brilliant.org is not recommended for struggling students. The platform is built to provide driven students a further stepping stone in their educational journeys.
What subjects can you learn at Brilliant.org?
Roughly speaking, Brilliant.org is about teaching mathematical and scientific concepts for a wide array of audiences in different age groups and expertise levels.
For new Brilliant users, the platform offers an algorithm that selects the best pathways of learning for the new user. You select whether you are a student, a professional, a hobbyist, or a parent/teacher. After this, Brilliant chooses the best courses and challenges for your specific needs.