Holding fast to the ideal that "knowledge should be created together and shared," a bunch of National Taiwan University students led by Kao Chih-hao (left, holding guitar) founded FunLearn, a website that provides free educational videos. FunLearn aims to make learning math and science a little easier for junior and senior high school students. (Lan Chun-hsiao)

Kao Chih-kao, who earned a graduate de-gree in physics from National Taiwan University in August, is only 28 years old. His name, quite fittingly, means "high in ambition." Despite his young age, he has set his sights high, not wanting to be a small cog in a big machine. Those sentiments became even more acute when he learned, not long ago, that one of his college classmates had committed suicide. Apart from engendering feelings of shock and grief, the news firmed his resolve: "Everyone must search for their own unique interests and ambitions and then find the courage to pursue them."

FunLearn is the result of Kao and several NTU students under his leadership finding the courage to pursue their interests and ambitions. A great lover of music, Kao Chih-hao put his own music on www.wretch.cc to share with people for many years. The reputation of Pianoboy, his username, spread fast, and he acquired some measure of fame there. The Funlearn educational website is likewise based on the selfless concept of "sharing with others."

Serving as tutors has long been one of the most convenient ways for NTU students to earn money. So it was for Kao, who worked as a tutor and also taught at cram schools. One day he suddenly had an epiphany: Since he loved teaching and was good at it, why not, via a website modeled after the American TeacherTube.com, contribute his talents to those children who want to learn and need help but may lack financial resources?

Beginning in April of last year, Kao Chih-hao left the world of one-on-one instruction. He and three friends bought a DV camera, and began filming short instructional videos that they directed themselves. They chose topics from junior and senior high school math and science that students find particularly vexing, such as probability, inequality, arithmetic series, simultaneous linear equations with two unknowns, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics.... More and more units have been gradually added. Each is ten to 20 minutes long, and the teaching is conducted in a lively and easy-to-understand manner, allowing students to cast off their fears and their mental blocks to understanding math and science.