Braid: An Open Source Platform for Social Learning and Storytelling

11/27/2024

MOSS is a pilot initiative that supports research teams through education, promotion and community development, with the goal of better positioning their open source projects for sustainable outcomes.  

The MOSS Source Code Series features interviews with University of Michigan open source project creators and managers. These conversations provide an opportunity to share their projects’ goals and philosophies with the broader open source community. Please visit the MOSS website for more information. 

In our first feature, Raymar Hampshire, the product lead of Braid, an open source and open access educational platform discusses his project. Fill out this form to use Braid or stay updated.

Can you introduce yourself and summarize your research background and interests? 

My name is Raymar Hampshire and I’m a public interest technologist and product lead for Braid. I believe in creating inclusive spaces where diverse perspectives drive social learning, and storytelling transforms education into a lifestyle of discovery and critical thinking. My research focuses on the study and design of sociotechnical systems and storytelling as a tool for inclusive learning.

Can you describe the Braid platform and the need that it addresses? 

Braid is a platform that fosters social learning by connecting a global community of students, educators and practitioners. Educators use Braid to promote shared learning, perspectives and deeper knowledge via issue-specific prompts and a storytelling curriculum (Braid Camp). Stories are organized in Braid’s Book Mode, creating a living anthology of community knowledge.

Braid addresses two needs:

• Limited access to diverse perspectives in education: Braid provides an open platform connecting students, educators and practitioners globally, enriching classroom learning through broader viewpoints.
• Limited avenues for civil public discourse: Braid fosters meaningful dialogue anchored in knowledge and experience, thus avoiding the pitfalls of hot takes and “cancel culture” that are typically associated with social media platforms.

What inspired you to address this need?

As a lifelong learner, I believe that education happens everywhere. Social learning (the learning that occurs during interactions between people) that Braid helps foster offers valuable insights and wisdom, which should be openly accessible for the public good.

When did you release Braid open access? 

Braid has been open access since April 2024. We plan to release the code open source in the near future as well.

Why did you choose to release Braid open access and open source? Who do you hope will use or contribute to it? 

As a public interest technology project and startup, open source lets us build and better align with a community of students, researchers and practitioners passionate about sociotechnical systems and open access learning.

What is the next major project or community update for Braid? 

This fall, we partnered with Tech for Social Good (T4SG), a student club in the University of Michigan College of Engineering. T4SG is using Braid as a knowledge sharing platform for club activities, including a reading group and an upcoming civic tech hackathon on December 7, 2024 (Hack for Social Good). Braid will be used for a “storython” during the event, where participants will share stories about civic tech issues and their problem-solving process.

We are very excited to collaborate with student groups to further Braid’s foundation as an open source and open access project by fostering a culture of curiosity, practice and flexibility.