“We have a very unique business model compared to all of the other platforms,” says Mr Hayes. In addition to being owned and run by teachers themselves, MyCoolClass will provide products that no other platform currently offers.
Around 1,600 teachers from more than 60 countries have pre-registered to join the co-op, which began accepting members in May, with the platform going live in June. So far, running costs have not been high since the co-op was able to bring a range of professionals on board, including a graphic and web designer, an IT technician and teachers with admin experience.
The group has launched a crowdfunding campaign with a US$20,000 target to help pay some of the other start-up costs, including legal fees. It is also purchasing a subscription white-label Learning Management System, which will allow it to deliver online courses, but aims to develop its own platform in the future.
Mr Hayes thinks that while the idea of joining such a co-op would appeal to many teachers, explaining to them what a co-operative is can be a challenge.
Read the rest at Co-operative News
Watch our interview with co-founder John Hayes
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