Getting Started
Learning Hub works as a plugin for OpenClaw — an open-source AI assistant that lives on your own server. OpenClaw is the "brain", Learning Hub is the "skill" that teaches this brain to be a tutor for your child.
To get the system running, you'll need two things:
A server — a physical computer at home or a virtual server in the cloud
An AI model — a subscription to Anthropic or OpenAI (the tutor's "intelligence")
Step 1: Choose and prepare a server
You need a computer that will run 24/7 — your child might message the tutor at any moment.
Home server
recommended- Raspberry Pi 4/5 (from $45) — the most budget-friendly option. Pi 5 with 4GB RAM is optimal. Even Pi 4 with 2GB will work. Minimal power consumption.
- Mac mini — great if you already have one or need iMessage integration.
- Any old laptop/desktop — if you have a spare computer with Linux, it'll work too.
Minimum: 1GB RAM, 1 CPU core, 500MB disk. Recommended: 2GB+ RAM, 64-bit OS.
Pays for itself vs. cloud hosting in 6–12 months.
Cloud server (VPS)
- Hetzner (~€4.5/mo, ~$50/year) — reliable European hosting, recommended by OpenClaw. Servers in Germany and Finland. The cheapest plan (CX22) is more than enough.
- Any other VPS provider with Ubuntu/Debian will also work.
Server requirements
Step 2: Install OpenClaw
This is the most technically challenging part of the whole process. After this — everything gets easier.
Step 3: Choose an AI model
The AI model is the tutor's "intelligence". It determines how well the tutor checks homework, asks questions, and communicates with your child.
Anthropic Claude
recommended- Claude Opus — best quality, the smartest tutor. More expensive, but checks work at the level of a strong human tutor.
- Claude Sonnet — great price/quality balance. The optimal choice for most families.
OpenAI
OpenAI's flagship models also work well. If you have a ChatGPT Plus/Pro subscription — you can use it. Setup is a bit more involved, but can save money.
The model is configured in OpenClaw settings. You'll need an API key from your chosen provider.
Step 4: Install Learning Hub
Both options below are installation methods. The system itself always works through a messenger. We've tested and recommend Telegram — but OpenClaw supports other messengers too (WhatsApp, Discord, etc.).
No additional OpenClaw configuration needed — works with default settings.
Connecting Telegram or another messenger is not needed at this stage — the bot will guide you through messenger setup at the end of installation.
Stage 1: Installation
Open the OpenClaw web interface in your browser. Click the button below — the instruction will be copied to your clipboard. Paste it into the chat with the bot.
The bot will autonomously execute 9 steps: check prerequisites, clone the repository, create the environment, run migrations, verify the server, install the bridge plugin, add configuration, configure OpenClaw settings, and ask for a restart.
After restart: wait 5 minutes (important — otherwise you'll hit API rate limits). Then message the bot: "Continue Learning Hub setup".
Stage 2: Configuration
The bot will ask questions and configure the system based on your answers: school and country, family members, communication language, messenger accounts, school system integration (EduPage, PRONOTE), and schedule setup.
After configuration: wait 5 minutes again before verification (API rate limits).
Stage 3: Verification
Click the button below — the verification instruction will be copied. Paste it into the chat with the bot.
The bot will check ~30 items and show a PASS/FAIL table. If something's wrong — it will offer to fix it.
Each stage takes ~5 minutes. But you need to wait 5 minutes between stages due to API limits. Total: about 30 minutes, mostly waiting.
Step 5: Give the bot to your child
After setup — give your child the Telegram bot contact (or another messenger). The child starts chatting with the tutor. The system is live.