“It’s about who you are, where you want to go, and we’ll give you a pathway,” says Dr. Prasad Ram, Founder and CEO of education research and technology nonprofit Gooru.

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But the journey about which he is speaking is more important than any geographical one.

With his team, Pram, as he prefers to be called, has developed Gooru Navigator–a GPS for learning!

As a thought leader in educational technology, Pram is passionate about using his expertise to ensure equitable access to education. Gooru, which he created in 2011, focuses on providing technology that helps students (in school and lifelong) achieve their goals. Consequently, Gooru Navigator is available, free, to students and educators.

Unlike traditional school systems, the Gooru Navigator begins with an assessment of the individual student’s circumstances. Where is that person, in relation to what they want to accomplish, on their learning journey?

Then, Pram explains, the Navigator maps out a path. And students can choose what they explore, on the way to their learning “destination”.

Gooru’s name, derived from the Hindi word for “teacher”, guru, also pays homage to Google, at which Pram worked both as Director of Research for Google Books for Education, in Mountain View, and Director of Engineering in Bangalore. While his career included working as a research scientist at Xerox, serving as Chief Technology Officer at Yahoo! India and receiving the Founders’ Award during his time at Google, he wanted to apply his understanding of complex systems to one that had made a difference for him: education.

Beginning as a “20% project”, Gooru grew from there.

Pram shared the story of Gooru, explained how the Navigator works, and talked about his own “GPS” for where he’d like to grow Gooru in the future.

On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

• Pram’s thoughts on customizing the complex concept of learning to individuals;

• The fundamental element of his own educational experience which gave him the confidence to pursue computer science and engineering;

• How Pram came to create his nonprofit, Gooru, while working at Google;

• His recollections of the early days of Gooru;

• How a teacher’s input prompted him to change his “GPS for Learning” model in the early days;

• How the system works;

• What students experience, when they log into the Navigator;

• How the system shows student progress;

• The “fun” and exploration elements included!;

• What education professionals see as students learn with the Navigator;

• How to get the “Learning GPS” and start using it!:

• How the Navigator works in teaching employees soft skills;

• What Pram has learned from his experiences with Gooru;

• Where his nonprofit is currently, and a “GPS” to where they’re heading!;

• How to support Gooru, if you’d like to help;

• Pram’s perspective on the “loss of learning” which has concerned educators since the pandemic.