5 Kickstarter education projects currently seeking funding

The world of education startups is a rich and innovative space right now, but not everyone needs corporate backing and a catalog of MOOCs to launch a business. Kickstarter is filled with individuals and small teams trying to make new approaches work, and it turns out that a handful of them have education-related missions in mind.

Education Dive is always on the lookout for new ideas and creative solutions, and these five project examples caught our attention with their visions and cashflow:

1. "ON THE THRESHOLD"
What it is: 11-year-old filmmaker Winch Eagleton wants to document the experiences of six kids applying to public middle schools in Houston, Texas. The project is already well on its way to a $1,500 goal with almost two weeks left to raise funds. Winch plans to conduct interviews with parents, students and teachers to explore the pressures and plans that go into the application process.

2. BRAINWORTH
What it is: The Brainworth team wants to deliver online education through video games, and they have raised almost $18,000 on their way to a $100,000 target. They hope to launch a game that fills the needs of a 13-week college course and teaches users to make games for the Web.

3. THE FREEDOM IN EDUCATION PROJECT
What it is: This project's creator, Joe Alessio, wants to create an "online magazine, with academic, quality content on education and home education in particular, including practical details on home educated and post-home educated life," according to the pitch page. Among the services he hopes to provide are advice on post-graduation careers, shared learning experiences and other resources.

4. "FIRST GENERATION" 50-STATE EDUCATIONAL SCREENING TOUR
What it is: Adam and Jaye Fenderson's documentary "First Generation" looks at the challenges faced by first-generation and low-income college students in order to stimulate discourse about higher education access. They are looking for $50,000 to support a tour across the country and get the film in front of audience members who otherwise might not have access to it.

5. COLERAINE FARM EDUCATIONAL HOMESTEAD
What it is: Andrew Weeks wants to turn his family's farm in Brookfield, N.H., into an education facility for arts and sustainable living instruction. His $20.000 goal may be lofty, with the bulk of the funding tagged for restoration and rewiring costs, but with a week left he is more than halfway there.