From f6694cf236aa7ac234132830a815110eaad2909b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Bradley Miller Date: Thu, 7 May 2026 09:17:37 -0500 Subject: [PATCH 1/2] Add principles section --- README.rst | 66 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 66 insertions(+) diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst index 27c02b8cb..106ab6fcd 100644 --- a/README.rst +++ b/README.rst @@ -56,6 +56,72 @@ Navigate to the directory where you want Runestone configuration files created: * Log in with username: ``testuser1``, password: ``xxx`` * See the `Running a Server guide `_ for complete documentation + +Why Runestone Exists +==================== + +Runestone exists to improve how students learn by making learning *active, observable, and improvable*. We believe students learn best when they engage directly—writing code, solving problems, answering questions, making mistakes, and receiving immediate feedback. Passive reading is not enough. Runestone is built to support that cycle at scale. + +What We Believe +=============== + +Active Learning First +--------------------- +Runestone is designed around interaction, feedback, and engagement. Every feature must support students doing—not just consuming. + +Students Are the Primary Beneficiary +------------------------------------ +Instructors adopt Runestone and institutions support it, but students are who we build for. When priorities conflict, we ask: *does this help students learn?* + +Open by Default +--------------- +Runestone is free and open source. Anyone can run it, modify it, and extend it. Our hosted platform, Runestone Academy, exists to make adoption easy—not to create dependence. + +Student Privacy is Non-Negotiable +--------------------------------- +We collect only the data necessary to support learning. Personally identifiable student data is never sold, shared, or used for purposes unrelated to education. + +Accessibility is a Requirement +------------------------------ +All students must be able to use Runestone. Accessibility is not an enhancement—it is a baseline requirement. If something is not accessible, it is not finished. + +Data Serves Learning +-------------------- +Runestone collects fine-grained interaction data to improve learning outcomes. We are not in the business of surveillance. Every piece of data we collect must have a clear pedagogical purpose. + +Insight Over Data +----------------- +Raw data is not the goal. Runestone provides instructors with actionable insights—tools that help them understand student progress and intervene effectively. + +Interoperability Over Lock-In +----------------------------- +Runestone integrates with other systems using open standards whenever possible. We avoid proprietary approaches that trap users or create unnecessary complexity. + +Pedagogy Drives Technology +-------------------------- +New capabilities should have a clear rationale in learning science. Runestone is a platform for pedagogical research, and that research tradition should inform what we build and why. New features must be justified by their impact on teaching and learning, not by technical novelty. + +Empower Instructors +------------------- +Runestone amplifies the effectiveness of instructors. It does not attempt to replace them, automate them away, or reduce teaching to a dashboard. + +Simplicity Enables Sustainability +--------------------------------- +Every feature carries a long-term cost. We favor simple, maintainable solutions and resist unnecessary complexity—even when it is tempting. + +Focus is a Feature +------------------ +We deliberately choose what not to build. Protecting the core mission matters more than expanding scope. + +Built for Research +------------------ +Runestone supports pedagogical research through transparency, reproducibility, and ethically collected data. + +Community Over Institution +-------------------------- +Runestone's long-term sustainability depends on a broad community of contributors, adopters, and advocates — not on any single maintainer, organization, or funder. We make decisions that strengthen collective ownership. + + Runestone MonoRepo ================== From 20e52fd29128e8923cbe15dde676ba6453f1757f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Bradley Miller Date: Tue, 12 May 2026 11:41:07 -0500 Subject: [PATCH 2/2] Fix wording about dependence MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit This is not about runestone academy going away (it won’t) but more about making it more available for people/institutions that dont have the expertise or desire to run servers. --- README.rst | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst index 106ab6fcd..c8340591d 100644 --- a/README.rst +++ b/README.rst @@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Instructors adopt Runestone and institutions support it, but students are who we Open by Default --------------- -Runestone is free and open source. Anyone can run it, modify it, and extend it. Our hosted platform, Runestone Academy, exists to make adoption easy—not to create dependence. +Runestone is free and open source. Anyone can run it, modify it, and extend it. Our hosted platform, Runestone Academy, exists to make adoption easy for instructors who cannot or do not want to run their own server. Student Privacy is Non-Negotiable ---------------------------------