Our platform is more than a suite of discrete, bolted-together functions. We use an integrated approach: Connect learners with quality content, a social community, and an environment that encourages and enhances collaboration, all in one place.
CONTENT TO INSPIRE
Content can be anything: text, video, audio, animations, interactive exercises, quizzes, illustrations, diagrams, and much more. It’s material that authors publish, instructors choose, or users recommend.
And content evolves. It isn’t limited to what comes from a textbook or a slide lecture. Content can come from the community or through collaboration—ideas that people share, questions they ask, problems they solve. We believe that everyone is sometimes an author, sometimes a reader, sometimes a teacher, and always a learner.
Content starts as a spark, but it quickly becomes a flame.
COLLABORATION TO CREATE
Collaboration requires conversation. It means exchanging ideas, sharing insights, offering opinions, asking questions, and solving problems.
The platform provides opportunities for these exchanges to occur both synchronously and asynchronously. Virtual classrooms enable active learning and offer an engaging and personal experience. Whiteboards and video-conferencing can simulate instructional lessons, study groups, and tutorial sessions. The line can even blur from a formal classroom to an informal study group or brainstorming session, as the educational experience takes place.
COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE
Through the online community, students stay connected and develop their own social network for learning. Being part of a community helps students to engage more actively in what they learn, thereby gaining more value and enjoyment in the process.
Through the platform’s social features, students can discuss projects in real time, share their notes or highlights, open discussions, or get help. By interacting with their community, they can acquire a wider range of perspectives, share useful resources with each other, and in turn, develop a deeper understanding of topics at hand.
WE ARE AN AMBITIOUS UPSTART
NextThought is an ambitious upstart springing from the soil of Oklahoma’s Silicon Prairie. We’re a small company built by people with proven track records and new dreams.
In 1998 Ken Parker co-founded a software firm devoted to building world-class technology for the financial industry. It was there that many of us honed our skills in software and platform development. We built the enterprise-scale architecture that made the company into the flagship provider of risk management software for global financial institutions.
We loved our work and we loved our culture, but the time came to devote our talents and passions to another area. In 2011 Mr. Parker and others founded NextThought. Today we are a team of committed “technicators”—people working together on technology that empowers educators.
GET TO KNOW OUR TALENTED TEAM
At NextThought we are creating an integrated learning experience for educators and students alike. Some of the most passionate and intelligent people we know are working to bring that vision to life.
Grey Allman
Product Manager
Nancy Cunningham
Implementations
Aaron Eskam
UX Designer
Jonathan Grimes
Software EngineerThings We Like To Do
- “Travel the world”
- “Scuba diving”
- “Playing the piano”
- “Running”
- “Rowing crew”
- “Photography”
- “Salsa dancing”
Greg Higgins
Head of Operations
Sean Jones
Software Engineer
Nathalie Kaligirwa
Software Engineer
Michael Linville
Business AnalystThings We Wish We Could Do
- “Be invisible”
- “Speak multiple languages fluently”
- “Control gravity”
- “Teleport”
- “Give myself an extra hour every day”
Jason Madden
Chief Architect
Pacifique Mahoro
Software Engineer
Jeff Muehring
CTO
Nic Stockdale
Product SupportThings We Do To Mix It Up
- “Read comics”
- “Drawing”
- “Play the tuba”
- “Watch sci-fi movies”
- “Knife throwing”
- “Juggling”
- “Ambidextrous pen twirling”
Tom Stockdale
COO
Ken Parker
CEO
Leo Parker
Graphic Designer
Carlos Sanchez
Software EngineerThings We'd Never Do Again
- “Take a cruise”
- “Dating”
- “Plan a wedding”
- “I vowed never to run another marathon after the first one, then I vowed never to run another marathon after the second one.”
Logan Testi
Software Engineer — Intern
Chris Utz
Software Engineer
Kaley White
Product SupportThings We Love About NextThought
- “Every day I learn something new.”
- “Working with a group that is close like a family”
- “Everyone is willing to help each other.”
- “The lack of constraints”
- “Getting to work on hard problems with smart, passionate people”