The origins of Smartass date back to the year 2020, as the world was rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic and social life increasingly shifted online. In the midst of this turbulent time, first-year business informatics student Marvin Asmen Arduç struggled with a tricky algebra problem.
Frustrated, he scoured through chat groups and stumbled upon a message from his fellow student, Raphael Dick, who was apparently facing a similar challenge. Determined not to struggle with his problem alone, Marvin decided to contact Raphael. Together they joined forces and finally solved the difficult problem.
But what began as a spontaneous collaboration would prove to be the start of something bigger. It quickly became clear that Marvin and Raphael not only had similar interests and goals, but also shared a deep frustration with the traditional teaching approach. Their enthusiasm for learning was dampened by many uninspiring and monotonous lectures during their studies. But instead of giving in to frustration, they decided to take action together.
In a moment of reflection, Marvin realized that there are countless people who possess vast knowledge and share it enthusiastically with others. He recognized that learning is much more effective and fulfilling when it is taught by someone who is passionate about it. However, many people are reluctant to turn their passion into a career because it is a complicated and cumbersome process. Marvin realized that it was time for change, that something needed to be done to make both teaching and learning accessible to everyone in the easiest and most effective way possible. With the aim of giving more room for joy in learning and teaching, the basic idea for Smartass was born.
Marvin and Raphael immediately got together online to develop the concept for Smartass. Despite the physical distance, they worked closely together to shape the vision of their project. This process also gave rise to the name Smartass, which emphasizes both the expertise of the knowledge mediators and the importance of humor and fun in the learning process. Some time later, they were joined by Doğukan Bozkurt, who supported the duo in their development and contributed his personal expertise in teaching.
Marvin and Raphael's central mission, to impart joy in learning, remains unchanged even today. Here at Smartass, we will continuously strive to promote enthusiasm for both learning and teaching, and commit ourselves to supporting everyone in experiencing and sharing this joy.