A social networking website launched last week aims to connect college students around the world - not through wall posts and photos, but through uploaded class notes.
Knetwit, the creation of former Babson College fraternity brothers Ben Wald and Tyler Jenks, encourages college students to upload and share study materials for money. The idea garnered Wald and Jenks a finalist spot in the 2008 BusinessWeek list of America's Best Young Entrepreneurs.
According to the website, Knetwit allows college students and teachers around the world to share notes, ideas, issues and other content from their education.
UW-Madison senior Samantha Gould, who works as a marketing representative for the site, said Knetwit is similar to other networking databases students already use.
It is similar to Facebook, only it has an academic twist to it,"" she said. ""It has the whole networking aspect where people can contact one another.""
Gould said she thinks the website reinforces good study habits and helps teach new ways to take notes.
""I'm guilty of going to class, bringing my computer, surfing the web and not paying attention to the notes,"" she said. ""So I definitely think it'll encourage people to go to class, take notes and share what they're getting.""
Noah Simon, a member of Wald and Jenks' 22-employee business, said he thinks teachers should not worry about students relying on Knetwit to get by.
""[The website] is simply a supplement for students' work '¦ It in no way replaces going to class,"" Simon said.
The website encourages students to participate in note-taking by offering to pay those who post their notes.
Knetwit pays students based on the number of file downloads they receive. Each student's profile contains a User Statistics section, allowing other members to view the downloaded file levels.
According to Simon, producers use ""Koins"" as a form of currency to pay students. Every time a member views a downloaded file, the author receives a Koin. All Koins can be redeemed for cash via PayPal, a website students can use without exposing their credit card number.
In addition, students can also visit the company store online and purchase items like speakers, shirts, iPods and televisions using their Koins.
""It's kind of like a reward system where you're not only rewarded for going to class but you're rewarded for the quality of your notes,"" Gould said.
Knetwit stands apart from other networking websites because there is no cost for a membership.
""You're getting paid to do work that you already have to do,"" Gould said.
Simon said the main goal of the website is to create another learning environment where students can network and use each other as resources.
""Not only can you look up different notes from people at your college, but you can also look up notes from any college in the entire country,"" he said. ""Basically, we're there to help students and make studying a lot easier and faster.""
For more information and note-taking tips, visit www.knetwit.com.
