The Multiverse School: Student Handbook

Learn to code. Build cool stuff. Do it together.

Quick Start: New Student

Ready to learn? Here’s what to do:

Sign up on your dashboard - Add your contact info & social media so Liz can follow you
Introduce yourself in Matrix (our chat platform) - Just say hi and what you want to build
Start the Interactive AI Tutors - Your main learning tool. Free, self-paced, available 24/7 to help you understand code as you build
Come to “Learn to Code” stand-up - 9am daily, where we start projects together and get questions answered
After 6+ weeks → switch to “Job Search” stand-up - Only after completing the curriculum. (Already a professional? You can jump right to job search)

How Learning Works Here

No grades. No bullshit. Learning by doing.

Becoming an engineer means doing lots of little projects. You decide you want to build something, then sit down and chip away at it. That’s it.

Here’s how it works:

Start projects in class - We give you several projects to get started with together
Use Interactive AI Tutors to rapidly prototype - The tutors help you understand what you’re building as you build it
There are scaffolding exercises for any tools or code you need to learn - the AI tutors walk you through them
Come to class to motivate each other, connect as humans, and get questions answered - That’s what class time is for
Share what you discover - Everyone’s experiments help everyone learn

We use flipped classroom:

Watch videos, lectures, and other passive learning on your own time at your own pace
The curriculum has videos on most pages - watch them before class
Come to class ready to do the exercises from the videos and ask questions
Try to start the exercises before class if you can
Use Interactive AI Tutors to help you understand the code as you work through exercises
Class time is for tech demos, working together, getting unstuck, and human connection
We do tech demos (these can take a while, but they’re hands-on and interactive)
You always have time in class to work on your projects

We don’t do:

Traditional lectures where you sit and take notes
Assignments with deadlines (there are exercises, but you choose what to explore)
Grades or performance tracking
Punishment for “not getting it”

You learn by building lots of little projects with AI tutor support. Class is for starting together, staying motivated, and connecting as humans.

Read more: Building & Sharing: How We Learn

Learning Resources

Interactive AI Tutors - Start here! AI tutors help you understand code as you build. Free, self-paced, available 24/7
themultiverse.school - Sign up for classes, memberships, specialized topics
Daily stand-up (9am) - Your office hours for getting unstuck and starting projects together
Matrix chat - Ask questions, share what you’re building, help others

The Interactive AI Tutors are your main learning tool. Use them to work through exercises, prototype projects, and build the skills you need.

What Makes This Different

This is a liberatory learning community - education as the practice of freedom, not compliance.

What that means:

Horizontal relationships - Facilitators have expertise, you have questions. Both matter. We learn from each other.
Mutual aid - We help each other because we’re interconnected, not because some people are “helpers” and others are “helpless”
No saviors or gurus - No one here is enlightened. We’re all figuring it out together.
Transparent about power - Facilitators can enforce agreements and remove harmful people. We’re honest about that.
Neurodivergent-affirming - Direct communication, no masking required, accommodations offered

This works for: Unconventional learners, neurodivergent people, folks recovering from traditional education trauma, anyone who learns better by building than by listening to lectures.

Read more: Liberatory Pedagogy Framework

Community Agreements

We have a Code of Conduct that boils down to:

Be excellent to each other
Be kind and helpful
Learn cool stuff, share cool stuff, build cool stuff
Ask questions, dig deep
Don’t be a dick (full details in the CoC)

Confused about terms? Common Misunderstandings explains what we mean by “horizontal relationships,” “mutual aid,” “boundaries,” etc.

Need Help?

Struggling with learning?

When You’re Struggling - Overwhelmed, falling behind, can’t focus
Asking for Help & Offering Help - How to ask for help sustainably
Setting Boundaries - Yours and others’

Mental health & resources:

FindHelp.org - Find local resources for food, housing, healthcare, mental health
Therapy Resources - Finding affordable therapy
Neurodivergent Resources - ADHD, autism support
LGBTQ+ Resources Disability Resources

In crisis?

988 - Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text) 741741 - Crisis Text Line (text HOME)
When You’re in Crisis Full Crisis Resources
Housing & Survival Resources

November 2025: If you need to flee

GTFO Meeting - Fridays 5pm (FREE): luma.com/MultiverseSchool - Visas, emigration, getting out
Emigration Resources: How to Leave
We’re online - you can take classes from anywhere in the world

In This Handbook

Learning & Participation

Understanding This Space

Community Health & Safety

Recognizing Unhealthy Patterns

Crisis & Mental Health

Resources

About The Multiverse School

Founded by Liz Howard (they/them). An experimental adult education community for unconventional learners.

We practice liberatory pedagogy, build through mutual aid, and dare to love deeply—which includes fierce boundaries when needed.

Links:

Classes: themultiverse.school
Liz’s site: lizthe.dev

This handbook is a living document. If something is confusing, missing, or could be better, let us know.

Version 1.0

Last Updated: November 2025