Making Learning Fun, Accessible, and Life-Changing
Thinkering Minds with Vinod Lobo of Learning Upgrade
🎙️ Thinkering Minds — featuring Vinod Lobo / CEO of Learning Upgrade
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Imagine a learning experience so fun, so personalized, so effective… that learners stay up late just to keep going. That’s not just wishful thinking — it’s happening every day on Learning Upgrade, a global edtech platform founded by Vinod Lobo, who joined us on this week’s episode of Thinkering Minds.
Vinod’s mission is clear: make education binge-worthy — and bring it to the people who need it most.
In this episode, we explore how Learning Upgrade uses gamification, music, and storytelling to turn academic challenges into joyful journeys — and why accessibility, dignity, and real-world relevance are the keys to its global success.
What We Talked About
How a blend of music, tech, and education shaped Learning Upgrade’s origin story
Why winning the XPRIZE for adult literacy was the game-changer
How “binge learning” works — and why it matters for underserved communities
The surprising power of WhatsApp learning circles and micro-certificates
What’s next: health literacy, AI, and a bold plan to reach 100 million learners
Top 3 Q&A Takeaways
1. What makes gamified learning stick?
“It’s about time on task. If we can make learning as engaging as TikTok or Netflix, students will spend hours on it — and that’s where real growth happens.”
2. What does accessibility really mean?
“It’s not just tech. It’s about privacy. Dignity. Letting people learn on their own terms — especially in refugee camps, or when learning differences are involved.”
3. What role should teachers play in gamified education?
“Teachers are facilitators of breakthrough moments — we just give them the tools to make that possible.”
Embedded Insights
Gamified platforms work because they make hard work feel rewarding
Students — especially adults — thrive when given privacy, flexibility, and clear goals
Micro-certifications and shareable wins keep learners moving forward
True educational equity starts with asking: “Who’s being left out — and why?”
Socratic Thought Exercises
What if your lesson plan had a “next episode” feature — would students click play?
How does your school or program address dignity in learning?
If someone in your community had just 15 minutes a day to learn — what would you recommend?
Get Involved + Go Deeper
Want to pilot Learning Upgrade at your school or org? Visit learningupgrade.com and click “Pilot Request”
Questions? Partnerships? Say hello: Hello@thinkeringcollective.org
