Brilliant Review | It's at least adequate

Summary

In this video, the Afro Hamurai discusses the educational platform Brilliant, which offers courses in math, computer science, and general science. He shares his experience using Brilliant to learn statistics and praises its user-friendly interface across various devices. However, he points out limitations in Brilliant's computer science offerings and issues with the mobile app's coding experience. The video compares Brilliant with Codecademy, suggesting Brilliant is great for quick learning bursts in math and science but less ideal for in-depth computer science studies.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The speaker, Afro Hamurai, is a music producer who is taking a break from music to discuss Brilliant.
• 📚 Brilliant is an educational platform offering courses in math, computer science, and general science.
• 📈 The platform is particularly strong in math, with a wide range of math-related courses, including statistics, logic, algebra, and geometry.
• 💻 There is a limited number of computer science courses available, and the speaker feels they are not as comprehensive as the math offerings.
• 📱 Brilliant is accessible on various platforms, including computers, tablets, and phones, with both web browser access and dedicated apps.
• 💷 The platform offers a free trial, a premium subscription costing around £100/year in the UK, and a lifetime subscription option.
• 🔒 The free version of Brilliant provides a limited preview of the content, while the premium version unlocks full access to all courses.
• 📈 The structure of the courses is designed to be quick and digestible, with lessons typically taking around 10 minutes to complete.
• 🏆 Brilliant includes features like streaks and leagues to encourage user engagement and a sense of competition.
• 📉 The mobile experience for computer science courses is not as smooth as on a computer, with issues like text selection and editing being problematic.
• 🤔 The speaker suggests that Brilliant is best for learning math and science, but for those specifically interested in coding, other platforms like Codecademy or LeetCode might be more suitable.
• 🌟 Despite some shortcomings, the speaker finds Brilliant rewarding and plans to continue using it, with the possibility of revisiting the platform if its offerings expand.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video script?

The speaker in the video script is the Afro Hamurai.

What is Brilliant and what does it offer?

Brilliant is a platform where users can sign up and access courses in math, computer science, and general science. It includes topics like physics, logic, algebra, geometry, and statistics.

What is the speaker's primary reason for using Brilliant?

The speaker primarily uses Brilliant to improve their understanding of statistics, which they admit they are not very good at.

How does Brilliant compare to Codecademy in terms of course offerings?

Brilliant focuses more on math and has fewer computer science offerings compared to Codecademy. Brilliant's premium access provides full content access, while Codecademy offers some free foundational courses.

What is the pricing structure for Brilliant's premium subscription?

Brilliant offers a premium subscription for about £100 per year in the UK, which is roughly equivalent to $140 per year in the US. There is also an option for a lifetime subscription.

How does the speaker describe the learning experience on Brilliant?

The speaker describes the learning experience on Brilliant as rewarding and enjoyable, with courses designed for quick learning sessions that can be completed in short bursts of time.

What are the platform availability options for Brilliant?

Brilliant is available on multiple platforms including computers, tablets, and phones. Users can access it through a web browser or via dedicated apps.

What is the issue the speaker has with Brilliant's computer science offerings on mobile?

The speaker finds that Brilliant's computer science courses, particularly the 'Next Steps in Python' course, have a poor user experience on mobile. Text selection and editing are problematic, making it difficult to complete coding exercises.

How does Brilliant's learning structure compare to Codecademy's?

Brilliant's courses are structured into short lessons, typically taking about 10 minutes each, which is different from Codecademy's approach. Brilliant also has a concept of streaks and leagues, adding a competitive element to the learning experience.

What is the speaker's recommendation for someone interested in learning computer science?

The speaker suggests that for computer science learning, especially coding, it might be better to look at platforms like Codecademy or LeetCode instead of Brilliant, due to Brilliant's limited and more conceptual computer science offerings.

What does the speaker appreciate about Brilliant's approach to learning?

The speaker appreciates Brilliant's ability to make learning fun and rewarding, especially in subjects like math and science, by gamifying the learning process and allowing users to learn in short, manageable sessions.