Transforming Reluctant Readers with Bookji: Insights from Will Peters on Engaging Students through Technology

In this conversation, Will Peters, the founder of Bookji, discusses his journey in creating a platform aimed at making reading more engaging for students, particularly those who are reluctant readers. He shares insights into the integration of social media elements into the platform, the challenges of navigating the educational landscape, and the importance of student safety and compliance with privacy laws. Will also reflects on the feedback he has received from educators and outlines future developments for Bookji, emphasizing the goal of building a connected community around reading. If you are a new listener to TeacherCast, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

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Conversation Takeaways

• Bookji aims to make reading more interesting for students.
• The platform was inspired by Will's own experience as a reluctant reader.
• Social media elements are integrated into Bookji to engage students.
• The platform is moderated by AI to ensure safe discussions about books.
• Will's journey involved a lot of trial and error and late nights coding.
• Feedback from teachers has been crucial in shaping the platform.
• Navigating the educational landscape involves multiple layers of administration.
• Student privacy and compliance with laws like COPPA and FERPA are top priorities.
• Future developments include integrating assessment features and building a connected community.
• Will is excited about the potential impact of Bookji on students' reading habits.

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Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Book G and Its Mission
• 04:21 The Journey of Building Book G
• 07:24 Navigating the Educational Landscape
• 09:16 Ensuring Student Safety and Compliance
• 10:37 Teachable Moments and Feedback
• 12:20 Future Developments and Community Building
• 14:30 Conferences and Closing Thoughts

About our Guest:

Will Peters is the founder of Bookji, a platform making reading more exciting for grade school students by combining social media, interactive maps, and other innovative technology tools. He graduated from Princeton University in 2023 with a degree in Computer Science and completed his master’s at UNC Chapel Hill in 2024. With a background in both tech and education—and experience as a Division I college athlete—Will brings a unique perspective to building tools that inspire the next generation of readers.

Links of Interest

• Website: https://www.gobookji.com/.
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wrpeters/
• X: https://x.com/wrpeters
• X (Bookji): https://x.com/gobookji

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