When Caroline Farkas’14 transitioned from classroom teaching to entrepreneurship, it wasn’t because she planned to start a business — it was because she saw a need.
“Everything I found was either too dry, too fast, or not visually helpful for kids who were learning big concepts like fractions, large numbers, and decimals from their kitchen tables,” she said, describing her experience teaching math remotely during the pandemic.
That moment sparked the idea for Doodles and Digits, an educational media company that produces videos and resources for upper elementary students. Today, her content is used in classrooms across the world and featured on public television through a show called How It’s Math.
“As a classroom teacher, I’ve always been passionate about helping students see that math is not just something you do on paper — it’s something you use in the real world, every day,” Farkas said.
Farkas initially began learning video production and animation in her spare time. What started as a small project grew into a full media brand offering scaffolded video lessons, animated stories, and career-connected segments that show how math is used in fields from aviation to construction.
“I didn’t go to business school — I went to school to become a teacher,” she said. “So when I started Doodles and Digits, I had to quickly learn a wide range of new skills, from animation and video editing to licensing, marketing, and content distribution.”
She said seeing her videos broadcast on PBS was one of her proudest milestones: “I grew up watching PBS, so having something I created broadcast on that same platform — one that shaped my own love of learning — felt incredibly meaningful.”
Farkas also takes pride in the global reach of her work. “We’ve heard from teachers I’ve never met who say things like, ‘My students finally understood fractions because of this.’ That kind of real-world impact — helping kids build confidence in math and see its relevance — is what drives everything we do.”
She credits Miami University, and especially the College of Education, Health, and Society (EHS), with preparing her for this work. “One of the most formative experiences for me was participating in undergraduate research with Dr. Lee,” she said. “That experience taught me how to critically evaluate educational practices and instilled a habit of grounding my work in evidence.”
Farkas encourages current students to think beyond traditional roles. “So often, education majors are told that their path begins and ends in the classroom,” she said. “While classroom teaching is incredibly meaningful and important, it’s not the only way to make an impact.”
“If you see a gap in the resources available to your students, trust that instinct,” she added. “That’s often where the most innovative ideas begin.”
Farkas is featured in EHS Innovates: Founders and Builders, a spotlight series from Miami University’s College of Education, Health, and Society that highlights alumni who are launching mission-driven ventures in education, health, and society.
(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted in writing this article.)
EHS Innovates
Innovation thrives at the intersection of passion and purpose. EHS Innovates brings together students, alumni, faculty, and industry partners to explore how entrepreneurial thinking can drive meaningful change in education, health, and society. Through workshops, mentorship, and real-world challenges, we create opportunities to develop solutions that address pressing issues in our fields. Whether you're launching a venture, looking to collaborate, or simply curious about how innovation shapes your discipline, EHS Innovates is your gateway to making an impact.
