simplicity - complexity and Content Types

Without activating any content related modules Drupal 8 beta 4 is pretty stark. That's not a criticism. There are just two content types listed: article and basic page as per the screen dump below. The fact is Drupal is providing an easel and that's exactly what you need even before we get to the palette and canvas. As for other content types, there is a Book, Comment and Forum in core as additional options a checkbox away. There are many other contributed content types that could be added depending on your purpose.

Drupal 8 add content: Article and Basic Page

That's the challenge; using existing resources, stretching them as far as possible. In a book like Drupal for Education and E-Learning you can see even without dedicated learning resources, even with generic content types it is possible to create complex learning environments. Add this to experience of  distance learning - e-learning in the raw - that includes library access, databases, reading, discussion, peer review ... (and for our cohort another residential) and there's plenty to learn from.

In reality content is brittle, usually you can't just stretch it. Imagination and control in the form of flow and rules can work wonders. What is glued together - can be broken apart. It's educational chemistry: learning.

Reuse when possible. Be, active-reactive: responsive.

Is this a desktop I see before me, or is it a smartphone? 

So the screen image above is quite an invitation. I'm sure I've posted about his before: what else should be listed?