An edtech founder provides advice applicable to anyone working in education and technology. 

GUEST COLUMN | by Nick Gaehde

The pandemic exacerbated a problem that has long existed: many middle and high school students are struggling readers. With learning interruptions and instructional inconsistencies (among other COVID-related disruptions), students who were already struggling to read fell even further behind in their literacy skills—even as they advanced to the next grade.

‘With the right professional learning and supporting materials, including age-appropriate reading content and tools for tracking and monitoring student performance, teachers in the middle grades can help close reading gaps…’

The latest Nation’s Report Card continues to demonstrate just how much work still needs to be done in this area. The good news is that we know from the science of reading, which components are most effective for teaching reading and which of those components need to be emphasized, and the intensity of instruction needed for students in middle and high school. And although there is often a focus on teaching elementary school teachers about the science of reading, it is equally important that we provide teachers in middle school and high school the same opportunity to learn. It is estimated that about 85% of curriculum is taught through reading so although many subject area teachers don’t think of themselves as reading teachers, students’ reading abilities impact their ability to access the content. Therefore, all schools should explore, high-impact professional learning around literacy for all of their teachers.  

A large body of gold-standard research collected by cognitive scientists and other reading experts, the science of reading, tells us how we learn to read and the most effective way to teach reading. Understanding the science of reading is critical for educators to provide the best possible literacy support to their students, and this includes students in the middle grades who still struggle with their reading skills. 

Improving Understanding and Comprehension

Students who still struggle to read in the middle grades are less likely to understand increasingly complex texts as their education advances. As a result, they’re more likely to hit academic failures that, in turn, lead to fewer opportunities once they become adults. The problems don’t end there: according to the Lucy Project, more than 40% of adults with the lowest literacy levels live in poverty. Low literacy is also linked to a greater likelihood of health problems and prison time. On the positive side, being a proficient reader can also directly impact informed decision making, active civic participation, personal empowerment and improved self-esteem.  

‘…being a proficient reader can also directly impact informed decision making, active civic participation, personal empowerment and improved self-esteem.’

Teachers can have a substantial positive impact on their students’ reading ability, but not all teachers receive the same literacy education training. And teachers of older students rarely get such training. With the proper professional learning and support, teachers of adolescent students can weave literacy skills and strategies into their instruction to help students learn how to read, comprehend, and articulate their ideas across various grade levels and subject areas.

For example, school-wide professional learning that incorporates the science of reading into literacy instruction can help all teachers accelerate student literacy, regardless if they are a reading teacher or a content area teacher. This doesn’t mean all secondary teachers need to become literacy experts. Instead, subject-area teachers can learn some simple ways to weave a few strategies rooted in the science of reading into their instruction to support students throughout their day, not just in their ELA class.

3 Steps to Better Professional Learning 

Training late elementary and middle school teachers in the science of reading and helping them understand how to include explicit reading instruction into their classroom curriculum, even content area classes, helps improve the reading abilities of adolescent learners. 

Here are three ways to deliver effective professional learning to teachers of adolescent learners:

1. Create the right content. Ground teachers’ lessons in the science of reading by focusing on what the research says about how students learn best. Lessons should address what adolescent learners require to improve their literacy, which should be informed by assessment data as we know the needs of adolescent students can vary greatly.

If students are struggling to read proficiently, they will most likely need explicit instruction in foundational skills such as decoding and language skills, like the structure of a sentence and vocabulary skills or if their skills are more developed, they may benefit from instruction in higher-level skills such as inferencing and synthesizing information across text.

The instruction should also emphasize that adolescent learners who are struggling to learn to read need age-appropriate texts and materials with proper support/scaffolding —not just resources for early readers that are repurposed for older students—to help them learn how to read.

Because every student has unique learning needs, the professional learning teachers receive should help them apply proven, evidence-based strategies to a classroom of students who have varying levels of literacy competency. For best results, professional learning should help teachers understand the tools and strategies that are best for specific students.

2. Deliver the professional learning in a flexible, engaging way. Teachers don’t have much time for professional learning in reading instruction, especially upper-grade teachers who are focused on their own specific content areas. Professional learning delivered online in flexible, bite-sized chunks lets teachers learn at their convenience and acquire the skills and strategies they need to support literacy for all students in a manner that fits into their busy schedules. Short, online modules can also be revisited as many times as necessary to support teachers’ ongoing development.

Every teacher’s learning journey is different, similar to how each student’s needs are different, and the professional learning they receive should reflect these differences by offering choices in what they learn through highly targeted, personalized, and scaffolded instruction. This will help instructors develop the skills needed to support students’ literacy in a relevant and engaging manner (i.e.., highlighting how some explicit strategies can be easily woven into content area classes to help more students access the content).

3. Give teachers the right tools and resources. Teachers don’t have time to hunt for specific resources to put their professional learning into practice. They need easy-to-access resources to ensure practical and transferable learning (i.e., ready-to-use materials they can implement immediately in their classrooms). They also need low-lift data tracking tools to measure their students’ growth in reading skills and adjust the instruction accordingly.

‘They also need low-lift data tracking tools to measure their students’ growth in reading skills and adjust the instruction accordingly.’

The professional learning teachers receive should be accompanied by powerful data that school and district leaders can use to monitor their teachers’ progress, provide guidance and direction, and celebrate teachers’ accomplishments. This information should help K–12 leaders visualize and understand the impact that professional learning is having on their district, schools, individual educators and ultimately the students.

Closing the Reading Gaps

Adolescent learners have unique requirements when it comes to literacy learning with needs ranging from reading at a level more consistent with first or second grade all the way through advanced reading abilities similar to a college level student.

With the right professional learning and supporting materials, including age-appropriate reading content and tools for tracking and monitoring student performance, teachers in the middle grades can help close reading gaps and ensure that their students have the foundational reading skills required for life-long success.

—

Nick Gaehde is President of Lexia and a lifelong literacy advocate. His compassionate and respectful approach to customers, employees, and partners makes him an effective leader and mentor. Known for his ability to apply those leadership skills with a focus on growth, Nick has guided companies through successful transactions and launched numerous product lines and distribution channels. Nick holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus on early childhood development from Pitzer College and a master’s from Boston University’s School of Management. Connect with Nick on LinkedIn. 

The post Strong Literacy Foundations are Built on Actionable, High-Impact Professional Learning and Effective Instructional Materials appeared first on EdTech Digest.

MIND Education, a leader in neuroscience-driven math education solutions, has released transformative upgrades to the ST Math experience for students and teachers. The flagship curriculum now offers: 

• 34 brand new games; 
• An engaging island-themed student journey; 
• An improved educator dashboard: Enhanced Puzzle Talks to foster mathematical discourse; and
• Comprehensive teacher workshops and professional learning.

Drawing on more than 25 years of neuroscience research, MIND’s approach in ST Math emphasizes learning by doing. These enhancements are designed to deliver learning experiences that are both engaging and effective at impacting positive outcomes.

“ST Math’s new enhancements will accelerate math learning and conceptual understanding in less time,” said Jason Mendenhall, chief product officer at MIND Education. “Students will make remarkable progress with less ‘unproductive struggle,’ resulting in significantly improved math learning outcomes. Games that actively engage students help them avoid the passive learning trap of merely seeking the right answers, instead equipping students with the skills they need to tackle real-world problems.”

New educator professional learning packages seamlessly integrate ST Math into educators’ core instruction. The Curriculum Integration Package features dynamic, collaborative sessions to empower curriculum writers, enabling them to easily embed ST Math into their district’s core curriculum. The Math Discourse with Puzzle Talks package invites educators to participate in a multi-session workshop using a modeling package designed to empower educators in facilitating rich mathematical discourse. 

The newly updated Facilitating Math Discourse with Puzzle Talks Workshop focuses on engaging students in meaningful mathematical discourse and problem-solving using ST Math’s completely redesigned Puzzle Talks. The Curriculum Integration & Targeting Standards Workshop allows educators to explore and experience the flexibility of ST Math within their core math program, while also building a deep understanding of how to target specific standards.

Learn more. 

The post ST Math appeared first on EdTech Digest.

An edtech founder shares some of his purposes and motivation for helping others. 

GUEST COLUMN | by Adrián Ridner

Among the approximately 41 million Americans with some college credit but no degree, about 40% are estimated to be first-generation students. As a first-generation college student myself and an immigrant from Latin America, I understand the unique struggles first-generation students face. Like many, I experienced economic hardship while earning my degree. Plus, the challenges associated with acclimating to a new culture, overcoming language barriers and simply navigating the higher education system made my college experience dramatically different than it was for my peers.

‘…the challenges associated with acclimating to a new culture, overcoming language barriers and simply navigating the higher education system made my college experience dramatically different…’

Unique Challenges

According to the Center for First-Generation Student Success, a first-generation student is one whose parents did not complete a four-year college or university degree — even if other family members have. As first-generation students, we face unique challenges, including financial constraints, lack of academic support, and other barriers that impede our ability to complete a degree. With such an enormous population dropping out of college, whether struggling from self-doubt, poor grades or being the first in the family to pursue higher education, the need for targeted educational pathways and support systems for all students to obtain a degree is critical to ensure economic mobility for our country.

Many who started down the path of higher education without completing their degrees are left with the burden of debt without the benefit of a credential. I recognize the challenges first-generation students face, having experienced the struggles of navigating an educational system that wasn’t built with students like us in mind.

Creating Opportunities 

This personal experience has fueled my commitment to democratize education and create opportunities for learners who, like I once did, find themselves outside the traditional system. Today, my company is a platform dedicated to providing accessible, affordable and flexible education for all—especially those who need it most. Our goal is to help learners open the door to the life-changing impact of education.

Not only can traditional educational pathways often leave students of color and those from historically underserved populations behind, but they also can reinforce systemic inequities and limit opportunities for upward mobility. First-generation students often live in rural areas, where there may be fewer community and school resources than in urban areas which tend to receive more funding. It also may come as a surprise that more than 40% of full-time students and more than 74% of part-time college students need to work while pursuing their education. 

In addition to work, they also may be juggling childcare responsibilities; one in four undergraduate students have children. Even with financial aid to help offset the cost of tuition, those who most need the support often fall short, especially among students with more family responsibilities or those from historically underserved populations. The need for non-traditional educational options has never been more urgent, and within this context, we must create innovative solutions to provide alternative pathways to success.

Making Education Accessible 

One example is the Keys to College initiative, which offers flexible on-ramps and pathways for students to earn an affordable degree at a fraction of the cost of traditional tuition. This initiative is built on the College Saver program, which offers low-cost college credits that transfer to more than 1,200 universities. By offering multiple pathways to degree completion – including full and partial – this approach has made education accessible to diverse learners, breaking down barriers that have long prevented them from achieving academic success.

The College Saver program includes the most extensive American Council on Education (ACE) online library, featuring more than 220 college or graduate level courses. Backed by decades of learning science research, the curriculum is designed to be engaging, supportive and personalized, helping learners build the confidence they need to succeed.

‘Backed by decades of learning science research, the curriculum is designed to be engaging, supportive and personalized, helping learners build the confidence they need to succeed.’

The impact of the College Saver program has been profound. To date, the program has saved students more than $270 million in tuition costs and empowered thousands of learners to earn over 400,000 college credits. These are not just numbers—they represent breakthrough moments for individuals who may have struggled academically or financially to further their education.

Take, for instance, Tiaka Hyatt-Geter, a San Francisco Bay Area single mom of three kids and an HR analyst, who completed her college degree while balancing work and family responsibilities. Her success is a testament to the life-changing potential of affordable and flexible education. Or, the son of migrant workers who spent his youth in Stockton, California balancing school with working in the fields. Like me, he is the first in his family to complete a college degree and has plans to continue his education by earning a master’s degree. Because of his determination and with the support of my company’s flexible online College Saver course library, he could continue his education while working and caring for his four-year-old son.

Transformative for Many

This program has been transformative for many, particularly women and people of color. Among a subset of College Saver students surveyed that received additional coaching support from Study.com tutors, 68% of graduates are women, and 77% identify as non-white. The findings underscore that technology can serve as a bridge to further education, but it can’t replace the importance of personal connection with a coach to provide motivation, accountability and support. Moreover, 67% of graduates report income growth, and 87% report increased confidence and skills in the job market. One such graduate, a working mother from the San Francisco Bay area, said the program helped her achieve her dreams without sacrificing her family’s well-being.

My company has always been guided by a mission to ensure that all learners, especially first-generation and non-traditional students, have access to the life-changing impact of education. As we look to the future, our vision is to continue innovating and scaling our efforts to provide alternative educational pathways that build a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

Together with community-based organizations and higher education institutions, we can fuel initiatives like Keys to College that offer on-ramps to success for all learners, regardless of where they start, to ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

—

Adrián Ridner is CEO and Co-Founder of Study.com, a leading online learning platform helping over 30 million learners and educators monthly, on a mission to open the door to the life-changing impact of education for all. Connect with Adrián on LinkedIn. 

The post How to Level the Playing Field for Non-Traditional Learners appeared first on EdTech Digest.

Here’s a cool tool that confronts the problem posed by this question: Are you sure who is picking up your kids at leaving time? It’s a necessity, and as far as schools go, it’s a bit of an historical problem. The challenge: To respond to all the factors involved in this process in the simplest, most workable way possible.

• Families: Parents’ time tables may not be the same as their kids, therefore they have to ask third parties.
• Teachers: If they want to be agile, they must remember last minute changes, whatsapps, mails, calls, familiy circumstancies, and on and on.
• Schools: While well-intentioned, they are not registering these kinds of transactions.

The goal of Qualla is to simplify this process in a way that is as workable, practical, and as efficient as possible, making the school pickup process more effective, easier and safer.

Therefore, they created an app that addresses all of these factors in just a click. Testing this with the market, the people behind Qualla realized that this method was valid for several other functionalities, and today they solve such complex processes as: canteens, school bus, authorizations, arrivals, pickups and more, and with an extended road map.

With an agile one-click solution providing an easy user interface with no learning needed— and a secure interface where each transaction is automatically registered — has allowed Qualla Kids Pickup System to differentiate themselves and establish relationships with other trusted partners. From September of 2022, they’ve recorded more than 1.3 Million transactions, over 20,000 users and a satisfaction rate of 98%. For these reasons and more, Qualla earned a Cool Tool Award for Best Communication Solution (Finalist) as part of The EdTech Awards 2024. Learn more. 

The post Qualla Kids Pickup System appeared first on EdTech Digest.

A technology trendsetter in search of the next way he can help students succeed. 

INTERVIEW | by Victor Rivero

Kyle Berger is an accomplished Chief Technology Officer with over 23 years of K-12 technology leadership experience in Texas’ public education system. He has served various districts of diverse sizes and demographics, successfully leading one-to-one deployment, district revitalization, and bond programs.

Kyle is a recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Technology Director of the Year for Texas, 2020 National Edtech Leadership Winner, Institutional Leadership Award for Interoperability, and Top 100 Influencers in Edtech by EdTech Digest. In 2023, Kyle was named one of 16 nationwide by the COSN Impact 30 Award as a leader impacting educational technology and leading change into the future. Kyle also has been invited to the White House to discuss K-12 cyber security at the national level.

Kyle’s transformative work has been recognized in educational technology magazines, industry case studies, and published books on Educational Technology. He is a highly respected and sought-after speaker, frequently presenting on educational technology transformation to corporations and school systems around the country. Kyle currently serves as a member of several corporate advisory boards and as Chief Technology Officer for Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, a school district of 14,000 students located in North Texas. Under his leadership, the district has overseen the top virtual school in Texas and ranked fifth in the country for the past decade, while also developing State Championship Esports programs for high school competitions.

For these reasons and more, Kyle Berger is The EdTech Trendsetter Awards Winner for School Leader Setting a Trend as part of The EdTech Awards 2024 from EdTech Digest. 

As part of his quest to expand his horizons and continually learn and challenge himself to bring back innovative applications into his schools, Kyle is headed to Japan this fall to visit schools there to collaborate on how they are integrating technology and finding the balance that continues their educational success. He’ll meet with, among others, executives from Japan-based Epson to review growing trends in education in Japan and the US. Before he heads out, he sat down with EdTech Digest to talk about purpose in education, AI in education, thoughtful integration of technology—and what’s just ahead. 

What does it mean to be honored as part of The EdTech Awards 2024 in the context of now even further acceleration of technology with AI in education? 

As an educational technology leader with over two decades of experience, I am both humbled and energized to be recognized among the visionaries in The EdTech Awards 2024. This honor comes at a pivotal moment in education, as we navigate the transformative integration of AI into our learning ecosystems. The rapid advancements in AI are not just changing how we teach and learn; they’re revolutionizing our ability to understand and support student growth on an unprecedented scale.

‘The rapid advancements in AI are not just changing how we teach and learn; they’re revolutionizing our ability to understand and support student growth on an unprecedented scale.’

From your unique vantage point as someone with a long record of bringing innovation with technology for learning into your school district, what really is the transformative potential of AI in education?

The post Kyle Berger: Driving Innovation in Our Field appeared first on EdTech Digest.

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Here’s a cool tool you can use to help you find inspiration and enjoyment: The Schoolyard Podcast is a new show from School Specialty and teacher Nancy Chung. Twice each month, host Chung, also known as @FancyNancyin5th on Instagram and TikTok, will be joined by industry experts, fellow educators, and subject matter experts from School Specialty to dive into educational trends, seasonally relevant topics, and emerging and proven solutions to create an entertaining and educational listening experience.

Chung is a fun-loving 5th-grade teacher, former robotics coach, and content creator from Orange County, California, in her 26th year of teaching. She is passionate about sharing her ideas on creative projects, designing intentional learning spaces, teaching highly engaging lessons, building meaningful relationships, and cultivating a community that sparks discovery and inclusion.

Each episode will begin with a thought-provoking introduction by Chung, followed by a conversation between Chung and the episode’s guest. In the final segment, launching in episode 5 and dubbed “Tag, You’re It!,” Chung and the featured guest will answer a question submitted by a listener by tagging @SchoolSpecialty with #schoolyardtagyoureit and their question on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter. Listeners who have their question answered on the air will receive a free Schoolyard Podcast t-shirt. 

The first five episodes explore:

1. “How to Make Space for Wellness and Social-emotional Learning” with Sue Ann Highland, PhD, national education strategist with School Specialty;
2. “Esports is Like a Magnet!” with Claire LaBeaux from the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF);
3. “Extended Learning for Every Student” with Nicole Hill, a former educator, principal, and current subject matter expert with School Specialty;
4. “Setting the tone for Back to School” with Instagram influencers Stephanie Osmundson and Loreal Hemenway, collectively known as @happilyeverelementary; and
5. “Surprising Benefits of Robotics in Schools & Where to Start” with Naomi Hartl, science and STEM subject matter expert with School Specialty.

The first five episodes are available now on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Samsung Podcasts, Podcast Index, and Listen Notes. Learn more.

The post The Schoolyard Podcast from School Specialty and Nancy Chung appeared first on EdTech Digest.

In close with a dedicated force in our field who believes in the power of education to shape lives. 

INTERVIEW | by Victor Rivero

As CEO of Savvas Learning Company, Bethlam Forsa leads up a global next-generation K-12 learning solutions provider that recently acquired Outlier, an edtech startup that has created a portfolio of high-quality online college-level courses enabling high school students to earn dual credit while never having to leave their school building. A leader whose career in education and publishing spans over two decades, Bethlam has guided Savvas to deliver award-winning product lines. The Savvas Realize digital platform won the 2024 EdTech Digest Cool Tool Award for Learning Management System Solution. The company’s enVision Mathematics and SuccessMaker: Foundations of High School Math were named EdTech Cool Tool Award finalists in the Math Solution and the Personalized Learning Solution categories, respectively. Bethlam was also recently named the Most Influential Thought Leader in EdTech by the 2024 CODiE Awards. In this EdTech Digest exclusive, hear why she first became drawn to the work of education, how she defines an oft-used phrase, and her thoughts on technology’s role in—and what the future of—learning might look like.  

What prompted you to first become involved with technology and learning?

I was drawn to this work because I fundamentally believe in the power of education to shape lives. The best way to make a difference in the world is through a quality education. To do this, all of us at Savvas have dedicated ourselves to supporting educators by developing innovative, high-quality learning solutions that enable all students to succeed. Early in my career, I realized that education technology, when leveraged effectively, could revolutionize the way students learn, just as it has empowered us in our everyday lives. We’ve long been a leader in the digital transformation of K-12 education, including our pioneering use of adaptive technology to provide personalized learning solutions that help educators meet the needs of all learners. Our learning management system, Savvas Realize, — it’s earned more than a dozen edtech innovation awards, including one from EdTech Digest — has been widely recognized as a game-changing platform known for driving innovation and exemplifying the best in edtech solutions. It’s an exciting time to be in the edtech industry. Technology will continue to significantly impact education, especially with the advent of generative AI and the possibility of it taking personalized learning to new heights.

‘It’s an exciting time to be in the edtech industry. Technology will continue to significantly impact education, especially with the advent of generative AI and the possibility of it taking personalized learning to new heights.’

How do you define “next-generation learning,” and why?

There is a simple truth in education that student engagement leads to student achievement. For us, next-generation learning is about combining the power of advanced technology with research-based pedagogy and compelling content to deliver interactive, real-world learning experiences that spark student engagement and drive student achievement. Another important aspect of next-generation learning is enabling differentiated instruction to meet the needs, skills, and interests of individual learners, making education personalized, relevant and engaging to each student. We know that the traditional, one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for all learners. That is why at Savvas we make it our mission to design flexible learning solutions that enable teachers to tailor instruction to each student’s distinct learning style and pace, ensuring that they receive personalized support and challenges that align with their abilities and goals. The educators and students who use our learning solutions deserve nothing less.

What does “proven pedagogy” mean to you and the team behind Savvas?

We take great pride in developing the highest-quality instructional materials available in today’s educational marketplace. Proven pedagogy is the very foundation of this. What it means to me, and all of us at Savvas, is that we develop research-based, standards-aligned learning solutions that incorporate the most current educational best practices coupled with compelling, relevant, and accurate content — all developed by dedicated teams of authors who are experts in their fields, working in conjunction with top editors, academic consultants, and teacher reviewers. In order to create our high-quality, evidence-based curriculum, we adhere to strict editorial standards and a rigorous product development process.

‘In order to create our high-quality, evidence-based curriculum, we adhere to strict editorial standards and a rigorous product development process.’

In the end, the gold standard for us is ensuring that the educational solutions we provide our customers prove to be efficacious and improve the educational outcomes and opportunities for all learners. As such, we believe that rigorous research should include multiple studies, creating a large body of research supporting an educational solution. For us, this involves continuously conducting research to measure the effectiveness of a product, as well as gain insights into educators’ experiences in the classroom. We partner with educators and school districts nationwide to constantly evaluate and test our instructional materials and drive development of evidence-based learning solutions. Our extensive research, combined with the feedback we receive from educators and teachers who use our programs, helps inform every step of our product development process, from pedagogy and instructional design to usability and efficacy in the classroom. Our goal is to ensure we deliver the most effective learning solutions that make a positive impact so that every student — no matter where they come from or which school they are in — has an opportunity to achieve their full potential.

What are some important guiding elements involved in helping students become productive contributing adults?

I believe it is important that we impart in young students the skills to help them thrive not just in the classroom but in life. Critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, teamwork, and other soft skills are essential for preparing students to navigate the complexities of adulthood. Likewise, encouraging curiosity and a love for lifelong learning can equip students with the mindset they’ll need to continuously adapt and grow.

As a next-generation K-12 education leader, Savvas develops instructional materials that make learning relevant to students’ lives and prepare them for college and career. Our programs challenge students to think more deeply and analytically about what they’ve read, giving them the tools to become critical thinkers and effective communicators, which is especially important in today’s fast-paced digital world. I think it’s important to also provide educators solutions that build upon the strong foundation of knowledge and life skills that they’ve taught their students by delivering personalized pathways to support college and career readiness for their high schoolers. Giving students the ability to “try on” college and earn valuable credit through dual-enrollment courses or take career technical education (CTE) classes to launch their careers is a critical next step to helping high school students become productive adults.

‘Giving students the ability to “try on” college and earn valuable credit through dual-enrollment courses or take career technical education (CTE) classes to launch their careers is a critical next step to helping high school students become productive adults.’

What trends are you looking at (AI, others) with the ‘future of learning’ in mind? And what does that look like to you—what do you see in the next couple of years for Savvas, for learning generally?

We are actively developing ways to use generative AI to create time-saving tools for teachers to reduce their burdensome administrative tasks, such as grading assignments and lesson planning. This will help make their jobs easier and alleviate some of the causes that have led to teacher burnout, allowing them to do what they love most: instructing students.

We are also leveraging AI to generate even more robust data-driven insights to differentiate instruction and enhance the adaptivity of our learning solutions. Another major focus of ours is using AI-powered tools to develop highly sophisticated and, most importantly, reliable “tutorbots” or “coaches” that can provide real-time feedback to students to improve their writing and math skills. The idea is that we want students to get better at literacy and math, and with machine-learning capabilities we can now give them in-the-moment, constructive critiques of their work that can guide them to become stronger at writing and math.

These are just some of the ways we are incorporating AI into our learning solutions. The use of generative AI in K-12 education is going to grow rapidly as more use cases are identified. Looking ahead, I think generative AI offers the potential to provide a deeply personalized learning experience like we’ve never seen before. It will bring to market new solutions to solve real world problems for teachers and learners in ways that were not previously possible. However, like with any new technology, the use of AI’s capabilities as a classroom tool must be pedagogically sound and implemented responsibly, with clear guardrails for its use that prioritize safety, integrity, and efficacy, above all else. Lastly, we must ensure that we keep teachers and students at the center of whatever learning solutions we create. AI may help revolutionize learning but it will never replace the teacher.

Anything you care to add or emphasize concerning edtech, the future of learning, or anything else regarding tech’s role in learning?

Edtech will continue to have a significant role in the future of learning. There’s no doubt about that. However, what I think is really important to point out is that edtech is also now reimagining learning for the future.

‘Edtech will continue to have a significant role in the future of learning. There’s no doubt about that. However, what I think is really important to point out is that edtech is also now reimagining learning for the future.’

We all know it’s vitally important that we prepare today’s students with the skills they will need to be successful in college and the workforce. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 70 percent of jobs will soon require education or training beyond high school. Yet only two in 10 high school students believe they are career-ready, according to a 2021 survey by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

Dual-enrollment courses can help fill the gap in college and career readiness by allowing students to simultaneously earn course credit for both high school and college while also exploring career pathways and learning skills needed in the job market. However, logistical challenges in the way these courses have been traditionally offered have often posed barriers to students. For example, in many cases students have long needed to travel to a nearby college — if one even exists in their community — to take a college-level dual-enrollment course. 

By utilizing technology, we can eliminate those barriers. Through our acquisition of Outlier, we are now able to offer the millions of students we serve the opportunity to experience the rigor of college courses through high-quality, online dual enrollment courses. Credit for these courses come from the University of Pittsburgh, a top 50 school, and are highly transferable. Since Outlier’s cinematically produced courses are offered asynchronously, students can take them virtually — in the comfort of their own school, at a time that fits conveniently into their high school schedule. What’s really exciting about these state-of-the-art Outlier offerings is that students, no matter where they live, can experience college-level courses taught by professors from Harvard, MIT, NYU and other first-rate institutions without the hassle of leaving their building or missing other classes. There’s nothing else like it on the market that makes earning college credit while in high school so accessible for students, jump-starting learning for their future. Outlier technology is the future of learning, happening now.

—

Victor Rivero is the Editor-in-Chief of EdTech Digest. Write to: victor@edtechdigest.com

The post Defining ‘Next-Gen’, ‘Proven Pedagogy’ and ‘Future of Learning’    appeared first on EdTech Digest.

This is a comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS) that enhances the educational experience. The digital platform connects educators, students, and parents to facilitate interactive and engaging learning. It provides an app and webpage user-friendly interface for educators to efficiently create, manage, and deliver educational content. Administrators can effortlessly set up classes and curriculums, add users, and assign content, whether it is custom or pre-existing. Students can access this content, complete assignments, and track their progress. Students and teachers can use a stylus on the app to write directly on the assignment. It also has a helpful writing feature to display work. Part of its real value is actually quite basic: it allows efficient communication between teachers, students, and parents.

EdQuill was developed by a team with Ushapriya Ravilla to address the evolving needs of modern education. EdQuill aims to improve the teaching and learning experience, reduce administrative burdens on educators, and foster greater parent involvement in students’ education. It is available to educational institutions, learning centers, tutors, and educators. Access EdQuill by signing up for a free trial or scheduling a demo with EdQuill’s expert representatives.

In two short years, EdQuill has helped over 100 educators impact more than 2,000 students nationwide. Using the platform led to a 40% decrease in printing costs and increased productivity in administrative tasks for 100% of teachers. For these reasons and more, EdQuill earned a Cool Tool Award (finalist) for “Best Classroom Management Solution” as part of The EdTech Awards 2024 from EdTech Digest. Learn more. 

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SETDA

State Education Technology Directors Association (SETDA) just released The 2024 State EdTech Trends. The survey and report tracks insights on the top edtech priorities as identified in SETDA’s survey of state policy-makers including state edtech directors, state superintendents and commissioners of education and CIOs. “With every new report, it’s more evident that state education agencies are evolving to meet the demands of a digital, modern world while navigating the uncertainty created by emerging technologies like artificial intelligence,” says Julia Fallon, Executive Director of SETDA. Like its predecessors, the report catalogs ways state education agencies are adjusting to a world where technology is ubiquitous and where new and emerging innovations create never-before-seen opportunities and risks. Conducted in collaboration with Whiteboard Advisors, the report includes responses from 46 states and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). The report complements the survey data with state spotlights that showcase the work states are leading to support cybersecurity efforts, the effective and equitable use of edtech tools, and the development of policy to guide the use of AI in K-12 classrooms. Learn more.

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How to scale to new markets using pilots with international school operators.

GUEST COLUMN | by Michael Spencer

MAKSYM MAMCHUROV

It’s hard to ignore the ongoing macro market challenges in edtech right now: venture investing is at just 10% of peak 2021 levels, while K-12 budgets in the U.S. are facing a $65B revenue decline due to the ESSR funding cliff, declining enrollment and increasing labor costs.

At the same time, sales to schools has become ‘noisier’ as there are more and more K-12 startups selling products, while US school districts have cracked down after being inundated with sales offers and phishing scams that lead to ransomware attacks.

Global from the Get-Go

In this climate, the only viable route to success for edtech companies is adopting a global sales strategy from the get-go. 

‘In this climate, the only viable route to success for edtech companies is adopting a global sales strategy from the get-go.’

Over the years, I’ve spoken with many edtech founders about go-to-market and many of them have expressed a reluctance to expand and sell into international markets. They cite long sales cycles, high costs and low success rates among the reasons they don’t want to do it. After all, selling to U.S. schools and districts is challenging in the best of circumstances, so why extend that effort to geographical markets you know even less about? 

To Take Your Startup to the Next Level

However, the reality for many K-12 B2B founders, especially if they sell to U.S. school districts and/or organic growth has reached a saturation point, is that to take your startup to the next level, you need proactive early growth into international markets. As a long-time edtech executive turned early- to mid-stage investor, I believe that using channel partners to facilitate growth into thousands of untapped international school operators can be a highly successful way to scale your sales. Expanding into international markets while you’re trying to establish your company may sound daunting, but it’s often the simplest and fastest way to generate scalable, sustainable recurring revenue growth.

The Key is Pilots

So how do you put this into practice? The key is pilots. 

What are pilots?

Pilot programs aren’t the same as product demonstrations, or even beta tests. Conducted effectively, pilot programs can help schools and companies together weigh the potential value and impact of new education tools in ways that tests alone typically can’t.

This makes pilots a critical part of the K-12 sales process. They are also a common fail-point for vendors, something I call ‘pilot purgatory’ – prolonged pilots with no clearly defined expectations, measure of success or decision points that don’t then convert to paid customers. The majority of schools lack the resources, know-how, tools and processes to conduct effective edtech pilots, so to make this the cornerstone of a successful global growth strategy, you need to be prepared to take the lead.

What does a successful edtech pilot program look like? What pitfalls should you avoid?

Advantages of pilots

‘Fail fast’ is a famous philosophy among startup entrepreneurs. For product developers, this means rapid testing and re-development to find what solves your users’ pain points most effectively. When testing and evaluating edtech solutions, it is most valuable to do it in the classroom with real teachers and students. This enables:

• Feedback loops → the developer gets the most relevant feedback to support feature development by improving their understanding of how schools actually use technology and what the real needs of teachers, students and parents/carers are, as well as identifying potential challenges ahead of technology implementation. (For this reason, the famous accelerator Y-Combinator lists pilots as criteria in their guidelines for edtech products.)
• Educator buy-in → pilot programs increase communication between schools and companies, as teachers can see the tool in action and founders develop a deep understanding of the way schools really work, their challenges and roles. Enhanced communication and collaboration among stakeholders creates a more connected learning community.
• Evidence of efficacy → pilots are best practice to find product-market fit and pave the way to get VC funding. The biggest edtech-focused VCs, such as Reach Capital, guide companies to build their own efficacy portfolio.

Overcoming challenges for a successful pilot

1. Identify need – Clearly articulate the specific challenge your solution is trying to address so you can clearly communicate the value you will add to a school’s day-to-day operations. Exploring international markets doesn’t require a shift in mission, values, or approach. Students globally all face the same challenges – all that’s required to succeed in the international market is a strategic channel partner or school operator who knows what works and what they need to maximize your impact, to do your due diligence, and to ensure solutions are presented in a manner that the local market needs.

2. Plan – Agree with the school upon specific pilot objectives to ensure a shared vision and identify data that will be used to determine success. Set agreements with the school that outline roles and responsibilities, timelines and how results will be used.

3. Train and implement – Ensure teachers have training and tech support to enable strong implementation of your solution. Take a high-touch approach to onboarding students.

4. Collect data – Collect quantitative and qualitative data so you can determine whether the pilot objectives are being met. Create formal opportunities (such as surveys, focus groups and post-pilot debriefs) for teachers and students to give feedback. Send usage updates to the school regularly throughout the pilot.

5. Analyze and decide – Analyze collected data to evaluate whether the edtech tool met the pilot objectives.You can pilot something, but without a benchmark and post-pilot review, it is useless. Work with the school to understand and negotiate the total cost of implementing the edtech tool. (Consider ongoing costs for licensing, installation, training and tech support.)

—

Michael E. Spencer is founder and CEO of Global Expansion Strategies supporting founders and schools with all aspects of the pilot process. To date, 100% of GES pilots have gone on to full implementation, with significant impacts on student outcomes. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn. 

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The choices we make today will have lasting impacts. 

GUEST COLUMN | by Jeff Faust and Melissa Loble

AI is dominating conversations in public education and is all but certain to be a key theme at education conferences for the foreseeable future. The choices we make today will have lasting impacts on our profession, our institutions, our leaders, our teachers, and most importantly, our students. While it’s important to avoid hype and futurism, doing nothing is risky. The rapid development of AI requires action, as we are already experiencing economic and professional impacts across industries with a rate of change almost certain to further accelerate.

‘The rapid development of AI requires action, as we are already experiencing economic and professional impacts across industries with a rate of change almost certain to further accelerate.’

‘We’ve Opened Up the Gate’

In a recent Instructure-hosted webinar focused on the role of AI schools, high school teacher Paul Satchwill explained the changing technological landscape succinctly: “We’ve opened up this gate…and there’s not a lot of direction.” While the potential of AI is immense, the lack of clear guidance and understanding poses significant challenges. As with any edtech, districts are worried about data privacy protections for both their teachers and students. The information provided by AI can’t always be trusted. Algorithms can perpetuate the biases of the humans who created them. Faulty models can also lead to data hallucinations –  incorrect or misleading results generated by the AI. But as the saying goes, “knowledge is power”, and with the increase in knowledge, comes the ability to overcome these issues.

Vendors need to be open with administrators regarding many data privacy concerns. Instructure, for example, is providing its clients with “nutrition fact sheets” that highlight the imperative information about its products. Districts can also use products, such as LearnPlatform by Instructure, to assess whether these AI products meet evidence-backed standards. With increased AI literacy, users will also know the best use cases for AI and how it applies to their classroom experience. 

Crucial Role of Schools 

Schools play a crucial role in addressing this by providing comprehensive education and training around AI for both teachers and students. This includes developing AI literacy programs, establishing clear expectations for AI use, and fostering open communication about its implications. Schools are uniquely equipped to foster open communication and collaboration with their communities through community conversations focused on AI. 

Schools can highlight the steps they are taking to responsibly incorporate AI, including the development of AI literacy programs, the establishment of clear guidelines for AI use, and ongoing professional development for staff. 

By proactively engaging parents, educators, and community members in these conversations, schools can build trust, address concerns, and ensure that AI integration aligns with the values and goals of the community. This collaborative approach not only promotes transparency but also empowers stakeholders to actively participate in shaping the future of AI in education.

Immense Promise 

The integration of AI in education holds immense promise for transforming teaching and learning experiences. AI has the potential to revolutionize education by offering personalized learning journeys, optimizing efficiency, and sparking creativity. By leveraging AI’s capabilities, schools can create a dynamic environment where each student receives tailored support, teachers can dedicate more time to inspiring students, and learning becomes an engaging and immersive adventure. AI-powered feedback enables educators to provide real-time insights, nurturing students’ abilities to think critically and become self-directed learners. 

AI has the potential to be a valuable tool for overcoming writer’s block and creativity challenges, enabling users to quickly generate ideas and content, save time, and “visually bring things to life” even without prior graphical expertise. However, it should be used as an aid rather than a replacement for human creativity. Through this practice, we can prioritize critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability in education and empower learners to excel in a world alongside AI.

Embracing the Potential 

AI will have lasting impacts on education, and its potential to enhance teaching and learning is vast. We should accept that leveraging AI to increase efficacy or to be the best educator possible is not cheating; rather, it’s a strategic move toward preparing ourselves and our students for the future. Schools must embrace this reality and begin exploring, training, and integrating AI tools purposefully and strategically. 

By leveraging industry partners, experts, and thought leaders in the field, schools can navigate this complex landscape with confidence, ensuring that AI is both effective and responsible. As we embark on this journey, let us embrace the potential of AI to create an education system that empowers every learner to reach their full potential in a future world that is all but guaranteed  to look vastly different from the world we know today.

—

Jeff Faust is Chief Technology Officer for Chesapeake Public Schools. Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn. Melissa Loble is Chief Academic Officer at Instructure. Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn.

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EPSON

To accommodate the need for flexible and easily movable large displays, the new Epson ELPCS01 Mobile Projector Cart is a smartly designed integrated AV furniture solution built to meet mobile display needs for shared spaces in education environments. Its lightweight design and convenient wheels make it easy and safe for virtually anyone to move. 

The ELPCS01 Mobile Projector Cart, paired with the powerful PowerLite® 810E or 815E extreme short throw display, offers a massive 100- to 160-inch display on wheels when it is placed just inches from the wall. It can be set up in minutes and users no longer need to be concerned about shadowing in the projection area since it can be set up right next to the wall. The plug-and-play portable solution offers a true mobile experience with locking casters and low center of gravity, making it easy to move wherever it is needed. Because of its extreme mobility, it allows schools to use one display option in numerous places such as classrooms, multi-purpose rooms, libraries, gymnasiums, and more, making it extremely affordable to provide students and educators with a large viewing area just about anywhere.    

Powered by the PowerLite 810E/815E, it includes an integrated I/O and user panel for easy connectivity and display control. Featuring a state-of-the-art laser light source, the projector can produce immersive, bright and extremely clear images which shines bright in well-lit spaces. Learn more. 

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Randi Economou is at the helm of Capstone at precisely the right moment of edtech’s evolution from providing technology for technology’s sake to vendors becoming true solution-oriented partners.

Whether at the beginning of her career teaching 9th grade or now as a leader of 200+ employees, Randi has been in schools every week for the past 23 years, and one thing is very clear: problems like closing the literacy gap are solved with collective action.

The message of collective impact guides her work. At Capstone, she champions customer-centric thinking and cross-departmental collaboration. She fosters employees’ sense of mission by asking employees to approach each other, their work, and their customers with empathy and a commitment to problem-solving.

In her evolution from teaching to CEO, impact has been central to her motivation: “I learned that I was impacting more kids across the nation by helping districts adopt just-right solutions and motivating teachers to use technology.” A recent example is entering into a partnership with ISTE to publish Sonia’s Digital World, the first in a series of children’s titles. The partnership teams ISTE’s subject-matter experts and research-based best practices on technology use in schools with Capstone’s delightful, engaging storytelling for young readers.

Randi’s core belief is that district/vendor partnerships are more than corporate-speak. They succeed by helping educators make a difference for students. Capstone’s customers are responding to the authenticity she inspires, setting both the trend and the pace for continued growth. For these reasons and more, Randi Economou is The EdTech Trendsetter Awards Winner for “Leader Setting a Trend” as part of The EdTech Awards 2024 from EdTech Digest. Learn more.

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This cool tool plays an intrinsic role in education: it helps provide space for learning. Lambent Spaces Occupancy Analytics platform helps higher education space planning professionals see their physical campus spaces in entirely new ways with powerful insights for decisions related to utilization, student experiences, classroom planning, scheduling and maintenance. It is a highly efficient and effective alternative to capital-intensive and intrusive solutions such as sensors, and it works with existing Wi-Fi infrastructure to get users up and running quickly while reducing costs.

Key capabilities include:

• Dynamic Space Management: identifies behavior trends to improve operations and inform decision-making for the use/reallocation of existing campus spaces, and construction of new ones.
• Data-Driven Decisions – provides in-depth, to-the-minute understanding of how/where people flow throughout a campus to surface risks, reduce costs, optimize space.
• Visual Mapping – makes occupancy data and usage patterns more relevant.
• Actionable Insights – in weeks vs. months.
• Privacy as a Priority – counts people and surfaces data points anonymously.
• Simple Integrations – with existing systems; deployed onsite or in the cloud
• Transforming Data to People Count – proprietary algorithms and machine learning at the edge produce anonymous spatial estimates of occupancy utilization by zone.
• Platform Data Insights – utilization trends and patterns throughout buildings and across campus.

Users can view utilization rates over time, compare registrations to reservations, identify underutilized spaces to reassign students and employees during build/maintenance projects, and make lease renewal and facility budget decisions with hard data.

Eastern Tennessee State, George Mason, Purdue, University of Southern Florida, University of Tennessee-Knoxville and William & Mary are a few of the institutions using the platform. For these reasons and more, Lambent Spaces was named “Best Occupancy Analytics for Space Optimization Solution” as part of The EdTech Awards 2024 from EdTech Digest. Learn more.

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Here’s a great communication tool for learners with autism. Pyramid Educational Consultants, the pioneers behind the Picture Exchange Communication System® (PECS®), recently launched PECSTalk™, an innovative communication app designed for learners with autism and other complex communication needs. Available now for Android tablet users, PECSTalk™ merges decades of proven strategies with modern technology, offering an intuitive, user-friendly experience; redefining how non-speaking individuals communicate.

The cool factor of this tool lies in its simplicity and versatility. With fewer steps required to build and speak a message, users experience less frustration and more successful communication. The app’s streamlined interface mirrors a traditional PECS Communication Book, yet it supports a much broader vocabulary, thanks to its Speech-Generating Device (SGD) capabilities.

Customization is at the core of the tool. Users can access the extensive Pics for PECS® image library, choose from 14 languages, and tailor voice outputs, creating a truly personalized communication experience. The app also allows caregivers and educators to back up data, transfer information, and share books across devices, making it easier to support learners in various environments.

Whether making requests, asking questions, or expressing feelings, PECSTalk™ empowers non-speaking individuals to fully participate in their world. A free version with limited functionality is available, making this essential tool accessible to more learners. Learn more. 

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Kindiedays is a digital platform developed to support early childhood education centers, preschools, and kindergartens in creating an ideal learning environment for children’s growth and development. Founded in 2015 in Finland, Kindiedays was born from the vision to bring the globally acclaimed Finnish education system to a wider audience. The platform serves as a digital solution that assists educators in adopting the Finnish way of education and curriculum while making high-quality education accessible to all.

Kindiedays offers a suite of tools and features, including attendance tracking, communication tools for educators and parents, photo sharing, curriculum reports, learning portfolios, daily reporting and 300 playful plans. These features streamline administrative tasks and enable systematic learning and data-driven decision-making.

The platform stands out by offering a comprehensive solution tailored to early education settings, allowing educators to focus on pedagogy and children’s holistic learning. It promotes playful learning and adapts to various cultures and preschool environments.

Educational professionals and managers using this solution have reported positive outcomes. They have found it valuable for analyzing children’s progress, enhancing parent engagement through daily updates, and reducing educators’ workload by integrating technology into daily routines.

The platform’s effectiveness is evidenced by improved learning outcomes, streamlined operations, and positive feedback from educators, parents, and managers. They doubled their sales last year and are set to double them again this year. 

The platform is used in 25 countries, including Finland, Estonia, India, Dubai, and Thailand, impacting numerous early education centers and children worldwide. For these reasons and more, Kindiedays was named “Best Best Pedagogical Management Solution” as part of The EdTech Awards 2024 from EdTech Digest. Learn more. 

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After teaching, founder and CEO Jamie West spent 20+ years building literacy programs with education companies. “One inspiration for Johnnie Max came while collaborating with a language researcher to develop an intervention program for preschoolers. Another came from my dad, Johnnie Max Jones, who spent years traveling and photographing the world,” says Jamie. “When he left his photographs to me, I wanted to use them to impact the learning trajectories of all young children.”

The result is an award-winning platform — a web-based bilingual, early literacy program for Pre-K–K designed to build oral language.

Oral language competence in young children is a strong predictor of later reading and writing success. Yet more than 50% of underserved preschoolers have moderate to severe language delays. These delays can hinder children’s social and academic learning from K–12 into adulthood. Too many children enter school with oral language deficits that prevent later academic achievement. Johnnie Max builds foundational literacy skills with nonfiction content, using an evidence-based framework that accelerates the development of oral language, vocabulary, and critical thinking.

Despite research espousing the benefits of informational text for pre-readers, only 5% of read-alouds in Pre-K are nonfiction. This solution appears to be the only bilingual supplemental online literacy program for Pre-K that offers dialogic reading support with nonfiction.

The team behind the platform are industry leaders in early literacy, early childhood, and social emotional learning. Their device-agnostic platform houses digital media, resources, and lessons based on the science of learning. Annual classroom subscriptions extend to families through a free family portal for equity of access. For these reasons and more, Johnnie Max was named “Best PreK Early Literacy Solution” as part of The EdTech Awards 2024 from EdTech Digest. Learn more.

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ClassWallet is a purchasing and reimbursement platform for public funds. Founded in 2014, the company’s technology is used by state education departments, districts and public and private schools to get public funds to the right people and ensure they are used for the right purpose – from teacher stipends for classroom supplies to scholarships and other federal and state education grants.

The company’s solution replaces outdated reimbursement processes including teacher/ administrator expense reports and receipts, debit cards and other manual systems which are inefficient and difficult to audit. Managing the compliance around getting public funds to the right people while ensuring those funds are used for the right purpose is very complicated. ClassWallet does it at a fraction of the time and cost compared to legacy processes, in a fully transparent manner, without any sacrifice to compliance.

ClassWallet has emerged as the national de facto technology standard in education with 10% of teachers in America having a ClassWallet account. It is used across 32 states serving 6,200 K-12 schools and more than six million students. The company has helped its clients realize the full potential of over $2.7 billion in public funds.

One ClassWallet school district reported a reduction in purchase orders from 3,772 to 37 and a 42% increase in funds being utilized for their intended purpose, aided by the digital wallet technology. That same district expanded their usage from one to eight funding sources including Pre-K Funds, Special Education Funds and State Classroom Instructional Supplies. For these reasons and more, ClassWallet was named “Best Reimbursement Platform Helping Education Funds Distribution in a Compliant Manner” as part of The EdTech Awards 2024 from EdTech Digest. Learn more. 

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