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EDITOR’S LETTER their life and the lives of others—then THE PURPOSE OF ‘edtech’ is working well. STATE OF EDTECH EDUCATION (AND Right now, a lot of very good people are working on the problems of 2020-2021:THE MINDS BEHIND TECHNOLOGY’S ROLE) education and learning, and they are WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT Civilization, to progress, needs people well intentioned. Not all of learning EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Victor Rivero who can understand words, ideas, requires technology. Where technology objects, and methods—and advances our goals as a human race, it LEAD AUTHOR Mark Gura communicate with others toward should be used. Where it diverts from attaining targets in accomplishing these we should abandon it, but we something of value. should never abandon our drive toward When technologies ease and enhance better learning, a better system of learning, assist in presenting a subject in education, and a mindset of continual its most interesting and engaging form, re-connection—not to technology, but LEAD AUTHOR and allow people to fully and to ourselves, to each other; to our Mark Gura conceptually understand an area of purposes for learning and teaching, and Mark taught at New York City public schools in East Harlem for two decades. He spent five years as a curriculum developer for study with direct practical benefit to our purpose in education. —VR the central office and was eventually tapped to be the New York City Department of Education’s director of the Office of Instructional Technology, assisting over 1,700 schools + TOP 100 INFLUENCERS in edtech FIND OUT WHY page 36 serving 1.1 million students in America’s largest school system.
MONICA DAN JOHN TROY DEAN NADJA ANGELA ANGELA JAIME RACHEL BRADY- CARROLL BAKER WATSON AWONAIKE MARTINEZ CARLSON WHEELER MYEROV KAMEN SHAW
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Victor Rivero BHAVNEET GREG DORANN RAY RACHELLE NIGEL VU SCOTT MELISSA SCOTT Victor is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of EdTech Digest, a CHAHAL DAVIES AVEY MARTINEZ DENE POTH NISBET VAN PULSIPHER DODD KINNEY leading source of cool tools, in-depth interviews, and notable trends in the education and technology (edtech) sector. He founded EdTech Digest in 2010. He also oversees CAROLINE JOE SABRINA NATE MARCY MICHAEL EDEN SEAN MARLO The EdTech Awards, the world’s largest awards program DEWAYNE J. VANDER MCCLARY ARK SANFELIPPO MANVILLE DAVIS DANIEL FLOOD DAHLSTROM GALLAGHER GADDIS dedicated solely to education technology.
SUSAN S. GEORGE MERCEDES DAVID SANDRA VINAY KIM KEITH LIU DOROTHY PETER H. WELLS PERREAULT BENT WHELAN WHELAN MAHADIK BERGLUND YE STANLEY DIAMANDIS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Victor Rivero CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Mark Gura, Mark Weston JETHRO LISA DROR BEN- EARLENE PAUL KRISTY JAMIE JEAN PETER LAYLAH ADVISORY BOARD Keith Krueger, Mark Weston, NAIM PATTON JONES SPENCER FREEDMAN SAILORS HARPER TOWER ROBINSON BULMAN Ted Fujimoto, Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, Sheryl Abshire CONTRIBUTORS Mark Gura, Eliot Levinson, Adam Blum, David Siminoff, Gideon Stein, John Harrington, Gil Rogers, Andrew Grauer, Matt Harris, Farimah Schuerman, Jennifer Corriero, Emily Gover, Becky Splitt, Jessie Woolley Wilson, Jeremy Friedman, CYNTHIA SONNY JASNA JASON KIMBERLY ANNA SARA KIRBY EILEEN KRIS Michael Spencer, Emily Gover, Caity Selleck, Christina Yu, Shawn Bay, Sieva Kozinsky, Ariel HAYNIE MAGANA ALIEFENDIC BAILEY SMITH IAROTSKA TRETTIN SALERNO BELASTOCK HAGEL Diaz, Sean Brown, Joe Mazza, Monica Burns, Angela Maiers, Ferdi Serim, Deb Everhart, Deborah A. Gist, David Saltmarsh, Bruce Tolley, Nigel Nisbet, Jeremy Friedman, Jay King, Scott Kinney, Andrew Cohen, Paul Freedman, Todd Whitlock, Betsy Peters, Farb Nivi, Steven Alter, Richard Lakin, Eric Burns, Diane W. Doersch, Randy Swearer, Sean Graham, Michal ‘Borek’ Borkowski, Charles Duarte, Kellie Ady, Erik Harrell, Mary Lirette, Christina JEREMY CAROLINE BOB JEANETTE JAKE BETTY ED CANDICE MICHAEL JEAN KEESHIN FAY BERRY HAREN SCHWARTZ VANDENBOSCH HIDALGO DODSON HANSEN HAMMOND Oliver, Elena Cox, Randy Ziegenfuss, Ricky Ye, Dennis Pierce, Todd Richmond, Barbara Freeman, Reginald Berry, Nancy Conrad, Mark Wu, Tracey Roden, Stacey Ryan, Marie Merouze, Jamie Riepe, Stephanie Mathews, Monica Haldiman, Michele Israel, Phil Chatterton, Dominique Baroco, Susan R. Steele, Dylan Rodgers, Joe Parlier, Rachel Tustin, Sheldon Soper, Lisa Litherland, Matt Renwick, Simon Nelson, Emir Plicanic, Cliff King, Hilary CHRISTINE BRIAN MICHELLE RAAHSAN ANTTI ED KATIE JESS ERIN ZACH Scharton, Ryan Eash, Christopher Godshall STOKES- VANDER BEVERLEY SEYMOUR BOURGEOIS KING KORHONEN DIETERLE ONSTAD BORJORN MOTE VEEN HOW TO REACH US 323-823-4192 ANANTH JEFFREY DANIAL XAVIER HADI ANDY MARIA AMANDA [email protected] JEREMY KASTURIRAMAN ALEXANDRA AVERICK JAMEEL ANGUERA PARTOVI RAHDEN ANGUIANO SHORR BICKERSTAFF DIRACLES Wesley Chapel FL 33544 U.S.A. www.edtechdigest.com @edtechdigest
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5 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT EDITORIAL TEAM TOP 100 INFLUENCERS IN EDTECH | 2020-2021
STATE OF EDTECH 2020-2021: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT | EDTECH DIGEST www.edtechdigest.com “If you dislike change, you’re going to dislike irrelevance even more.” IN THIS REPORT: —Eric Shinseki Driven by a purpose to help learners... Numbers point to continued growth, steady expansion of the sector; leaders in education and technology press forward with a digital transition; the future of learning is what you are making it to be—and there’s much to look forward to!
NUMBERS HIGHLIGHTS FACING, EMBRACING, AND ERASING EDITOR’S LETTER NEW PUSHBACK TO EDTECH TOP 100 INFLUENCERS IN EDTECH EDITORIAL TEAM 27 5 PEOPLE: FOUNDERS, PIONEERS, NUMBERS TELLING THE STORY 29 INNOVATORS, PROVOCATEURS OF WHAT’S NOW AND WHATS GLOBAL SHARINGS: 8 NEXT IN EDTECH 30 BOOKS & PODCASTS She’s putting people into the game with a skills-based job application platform HAPPENINGS: that helps companies hire the best 31 THINGS THAT SHOOK OUR SPIRIT prospects based on what they can do, instead of where they came from. AND SHOOK IT HARD IN 2019 Caroline Fay, Co-founder, Skillist // PAGE 43 LITERACY EDUCATION FOR A POST-TEXT 33 DOMINANT, TIKTOK INFATUATED WORLD There are plenty of numbers in edtech, but what do they all add up to? TOP 100 INFLUENCERS IN EDTECH Here are a few that help tell the story. 37
Which numbers get your attention? “We need more comprehensive student-centered edtech tools,” according to John Faig, Director of STATE OF EDTECH A YEAR OF DEEP Technology, St. Patrick’s Episcopal 10 CHANGE AHEAD Day School // PAGE 16 STUDENT ROBOTICS EXPLOSIVE GROWTH, 13 HERE TO STAY FUTURE page 36 OWNING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION THE MINDS BEHIND what’s now and what’s next are 48 all around us, and this year we highlight 100 more 10 THEMES & UNFOLDING FOCUS POINTS innovative leaders shaping the future of learning. 50 TO WATCH IN 2020 AND ONWARD NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS 57 FINAL WORDS, COMING ATTRACTIONS—AND AN INVITATION TO PEEK AT WHAT’S NEXT EDTECH1000: 60 COMPANIES TRANSFORMING EDUCATION 10 COMPANIES TO WATCH ACKNOWLEDGING OUR SPONSORS
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NUMBERS TELLING THE STORY OF 21ST-CENTURY EDUCATION TRANSFORMATION
STATE OF EDTECH: A YEAR OF DEEP CHANGE AHEAD
STUDENT ROBOTICS: EXPLOSIVE GROWTH, HERE TO STAY
8 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT NUMBERS NUMBERS TELLING THE STORY OF WHAT’S NOW AND WHAT’S NEXT IN EDTECH
Edtech is growing, with the total market value worldwide set to reach $252 billion by 2020. 252 SOURCE: EdTechXGlobal
The classroom connectivity gap is now closed. 99 percent of schools nationwide are on scalable connections with a clear path to delivering enough bandwidth for 99 digital learning in every classroom, every day. SOURCE: EducationSuperHighway
Education is grossly under digitized compared with other sectors, with less than 3% of expenditure on technology (education technology vs. total global 3 education expenditure). SOURCE: HolonIQ
Estimated attendees at ASU GSV 2020 in San Diego. 5,000 SOURCE: Global Silicon Valley 32 $32 billion last decade global edtech funding. $87 billion of Global EdTech Funding predicted through 2030; global edtech 87 venture capital will nearly triple over the next decade.
In 2018, digital education investments totaled $142 billion worldwide, and are expected to rise to a total of $342 billion by 2025. Advanced technology 342 learning and education applications will start to hit their strides by 2025 with augmented and virtual reality and artificial intelligence becoming more integrated into core education delivery and learning processes, most likely starting in the corporate and non-accredited sectors. For above numbers 32, 87, 342, SOURCE: HolonIQ
According to a 2019 report, 85 percent of American students have a sole or shared device for a significant part (all or several periods) of the school day, 85 either with a 1-to-1 initiative, BYOD, laptop carts or desktop labs. SOURCE: The Learning Counsel 2019 Survey Assessment Tool
More than 76 Million Students Enrolled in U.S. Schools, Census Bureau Reports. 76 SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau (2018 data)
As of 2018, the global labor pool consisted of approximately 3.456 billion workers. 3.456 SOURCE: The World Bank
9 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT NUMBERS STATE OF EDTECH A Year of Deep Change Ahead
Here comes a year of deep change brought about by finally-arrived-at critical levels of traction and saturation.
By MARK GURA
Yes, 2020 will be a year of important change. Hold on though, that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see long fantasized, brand new technologies appear; don’t plan on running your hand over the shiny surface of a school version Star Trek transporter or using an app that will take you back an hour in time to better prepare a lesson just given.
And while we may see some of that, it’s another variety of change we’re focused on: critical mass—change through ubiquitous adoption of tech-based practices. THE TRANSITION HAS JUST BEGUN. Education intelligence Will we see new technologies and firm HolonIQ reports that just 3% of education has been applications emerge this year? Quite likely; digitized, a very underwhelming number compared to developing the new is one of edtech’s other sectors. While today there are about a dozen edtech strong forces. However, it’s long-running companies with a $1B+ valuation, by 2025, the worldwide trends that finally achieve critical-mass edtech landscape will see more than 100 unicorns. thresholds of adoption, a condition in which new resources truly make a
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difference we expect to feel deeply. classrooms and in a small way launched Importantly, these catalysts set off a the field into the important next step of ripple effect, inspiring yet more robotic digital learning assistants. Sure redefining activity. enough, recently, Saint Louis University announced its program to provide student An Important Phenomenon One important access to Alexa across One important phenomenon phenomenon I’ve its campus, highlighting I’ve observed over the years is the placement of Alexa that long stretches of observed over the (Echo Dot) in every experimentation by early years is that long dorm room. adopters, folks who, by virtue of their refinement efforts, stretches of make an emergent Platform for Change technology ready for mass experimentation by adoption, is the mechanism early adopters, folks And likely, it may be by which deep, meaningful that much more of the change comes about. who, by virtue of their payoff of the long work in establishing a A quarter century ago, as a refinement efforts, platform for change will young district-level curriculum kick in this year, as well. administrator, I was one of a make an emergent A few months back the small national group who technology ready for group Education- worked on experimenting SuperHighway’s blog with placing robotics kits in mass adoption, is the announced “Mission classrooms. It was this past Accomplished: year, though, that the field saw mechanism by which EducationSuperHighway a veritable explosion of deep, meaningful Announces Closure of student robotics adoption (see the K-12 Connectivity EdTech Digest State of Student change comes about. Gap” – “46.3 million Robotics report for 2019). Yes, students and 2.8 million it can take time for the fruits of teachers in 83,000 experience-based design loops schools have the to kick in and produce the Internet access they flowering of important change. need for digital learning” – “93 percent of school districts Similarly, a handful of years back we are using digital learning in at least half of noticed (and many of us scratched our their classrooms every week and 85 heads wondering) at the emergence of percent of teachers and principals Amazon’s Alexa. And of course, that support the increased use of digital wonderful fringe group of ‘out there’ early learning in their schools.” teacher adopters saw something in Alexa, brought the little ‘smart speaker’ into their
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As reported this year in EdTech: Focus K-12 methods of reaching them that progressive magazine the “new report from Cambridge educators feel are far more relevant. International, which is based on an online With an appropriate digital platform now survey of nearly 20,000 in place, educators can teachers and students (ages turn their attention from 12–19) from 100 countries” establishing and tuning reveals “that use of Now that there are that platform to technology in schools preparing students for worldwide continues to grow, very high numbers the world that they will with 48 percent of students for available live, learn, and prosper in reporting they use a desktop by implementing crucial computer in the classroom. technology and approaches like student Forty-two percent use engagement and smartphones, 33 percent use usage of it, the ownership of their interactive whiteboards and education. 20 percent use tablets.” ways that “Importantly, 90 percent of technology is used schools reported that “the No Longer a Goal but an numbers remain high for in classrooms and Enabler of Goals more traditional modes as Now that the issue of well, such as pen and paper the satisfaction establishing a platform is (90 percent) and that educators receding in importance, it whiteboards (73 percent).” is time for those have with their committed to making experience and important, meaningful With High Numbers change in education to results produced move further and fully Why important? Because now into the posture of seeing that there are very high with it, can now be technology itself as no numbers for available longer the goal, but technology and usage of it, brought into rather the enabler to the ways that technology is sharper focus... reach those goals that get used in classrooms and the to the heart of human satisfaction that educators experience. have with their experience and results produced with it The time has come to can now be brought into sharper focus, harvest fruit planted decades ago, something that must assume greater opportunities to shift to more relevant importance. educational goals and methods are mature and hanging low on the vine. We’ll Technology is an enabler that can be be watching, reporting, and cheering from applied to shoring up dated, traditional this space. ◼ educational approaches and goals, or that can support the shift to newer goals and
12 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT NUMBERS STUDENT ROBOTICS: EXPLOSIVE GROWTH, HERE TO STAY
“Beyond the specific study of robotics itself and teaching of STEM curriculum for which there are clear and obvious alignments to the skills and understandings required to design and program robots, there are opportunities to have instruction benefit from robotics by integrating it across the full curriculum and spectrum of grade levels,” writes Mark Gura in EdTech Digest’s The State of Student Robotics 2019: An Educator’s Guide. The 90-page guide includes an interview with inventor and student robotics competition founder Dean Kamen, a products and services listing, inspiring reads, and a profile section featuring leading minds in this area. ◼
Get your free copy, visit: edtechdigest.com
A second edition is currently in the works, to participate, email: [email protected]
13 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT NUMBERS HIGHLIGHTS EDTECH LEADERS WEIGH IN ON THE STATE OF EDUCATION, TECH’S ROLE & WHAT’S AHEAD
FACING, EMBRACING, AND ERASING NEW PUSHBACK TO EDTECH
FOUNDERS, PIONEERS, INNOVATORS, PROVOCATEURS
GLOBAL SHARINGS: BOOKS &PODCASTS
HAPPENINGS: THINGS THAT SHOOK OUR SPIRIT AND SHOOK IT HARD IN 2019
LITERACY EDUCATION FOR A POST-TEXT DOMINANT, TIKTOK INFATUATED WORLD
TOP 100 INFLUENCERS IN EDTECH
14 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS STATE OF EDTECH LEADING VOICES What is the state of education, and technology’s role—and, what’s ahead?
By VICTOR RIVERO
For the third time since our inaugural STATE leaders, policy makers and others in and OF EDTECH: The Minds Behind What’s Now and around education. What’s Next report published in 2017-2018, we’ve again asked our readers to weigh in with And what better way to begin to get a picture their thoughts on these questions: of the realities we face across the full education spectrum — from early childhood What is the state of education these days? learning and K-12, to vocational and technical education, community college, traditional What is technology’s role in education? college and university, to corporate learning, workforce training, and skills development — What’s just ahead? than to lean in and listen!
We could get a sense of ‘where things are at’ by Their voices stand alone, each one a point of a careful study of the numbers, but with this view replete with its own experience and angle segment of our report, some of those “minds —but as a group, there is a certain resonance behind what’s now and what’s next” simply let us that begins to come through. know exactly what they are thinking. How this sounds to you, our reader, is for They include Directors of Technology, district you to decide. Listen closely, hear them out, administrators, startup founders, CEOs, and keep the conversation alive with your investors, teachers, students, education own leading voice!
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“The future of implementing AR/VR/MR in education will be education is going to be the collaborative equivalent of the California Gold work and project Rush of the mid-1800s and Oklahoma development. Land Rush of the late-1800s. It's all STEAM Education very positive and exciting!” will be the ideal —Debbie Rohlmeier // Chief educational model to teach the Engagement Officer, Institute for skills of the 21st century.” Learning Perspectives —Ariel Torres Saavedra // CEO, Recursos Educativos y “We should Tecnologicos SAS increase “Student needs are becoming governments’ “Technology more diverse and schools are awareness to plays a expanding on how to best meet vital changes in superficial those needs within a plethora of all educational role in constraints and under the institutions.” education and accountability umbrella. Technology —Kirill Slavkin // CEO, Annoto it is mostly is a key player in this quest for centered student learning and engagement, “Technology around and teachers and administrators are is making automation of including it in instruction now more education school functions. Edtech vendors than ever. However, technology enter a new are in a tough situation. If you does not stand still, so the target learning path make a highly functional product keeps moving. Fast-moving where that has the potential to deepen innovation, coupled with the technology learning, then you run the risk that hardware, software, and training itself is the the product will be too needs of implementing emerging means to incorporate not only complicated and time-consuming technologies such as augmented knowledge but also skills in a for teachers to meaningfully and virtual reality in the classroom, learning acquisition process. Being integrate it into the curriculum. On prove to still be barriers. I believe AR/ a methodologist, in this scenario, the other hand, if you focus the VR can be a great equalizer for professionals face the challenge of product narrowly, then adoption students. It can provide experiences mastering not only contents, will likely be more widespread, but that students would never before learning targets, and outcomes— the impact on student encounter giving students with but also: technical tools, engagement and achievement will limited background knowledge programs, and a whole range of be muted. In order to leverage AI, information with which to hang possibilities provided to them; an we need more comprehensive critical thinking and creativity. overwhelming—but fascinating— student-centered edtech tools.” Immersive technology developers scenario.” —John Faig // Director of and manufacturers need to consider —Claudia Alcelay // CEO, Technology, St. Patrick’s Episcopal the unique needs of schools, and CertificacionPM.com Day School while the Wild West of edtech has become more focused and purposeful nowadays, I think
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“The growth of “I think technology is on its way edtech will to find the true role in every continue at a learning space. Right now it feels fervent pace in very heavily biased towards 2020, but more schools (naturally due to being the importantly, main setting of education), but I adoption will think it's time to break out more increase as students find that into industry, too. In the UK, personalized education is more teaching hospitals and research supportive of the life and career facilities are already exploring the they desire. With this growth will unique uses of AV in classrooms come greater access to world- and labs and VR for practicals - but class educators and broader the use of personalized learning acceptance of dedicated learning “Today after years of evolution and feedback could really drive for a niche skill set. Technology’s we still follow the old-fashioned development further and the use role in education is to globalize curriculum, ignoring kids’ of LMSes and LRSes to store this access to learning, creating new interests, strengths and passion, learning data would only serve career opportunities for people in instead forcing them into arbitrary evaluation and appraisal times regions where the local labor tasks mainly directed to passing much more.” market is stagnant or undesirable. exams. About critical thinking, the —Michael Porter // Senior Technology has the ability, and edtech industry is focusing more Educational Technologies Support, responsibility, to lift people up. on content instead of the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Broadly, the role of technology is assessments design, that actually NHS Foundation Trust to expand our understanding of should lead to a child thinking and what it means to be educated, learning. If we change the “Learning tech, a because the needs of students approach with help of technology subset of edtech, tomorrow are far different than to be more personalized and user continues to lurch the needs of yesterday.” centric instead of teacher centric, forward slowly. —Rich Maaghul // CEO, ODEM we can really help the children The ROI remains grow, think and perform much difficult, but is “Privacy, data better in their lives. Going ahead, improving. Math protection and technology will be more and ELA harvest the most district consideration for personalized and learner centric, funds, leaving behind science, how we use with emphasis on increasing the history, arts, and P.E. I think that this personal data are thinking and innovation aspect of situation is the reverse of what it still not as a child, and making the learning ought to be because science and ingrained in schools—whether in process two-way, unlike now—and history have more inherent interest our choices of edtech to use, or in the reason industry has more for children than ELA and math do. how we support our children.” noise than outcomes.” Learning tech must focus more on —Tony Sheppard // Head of Services —Manish Wahie // Founder & supporting learning than on the and Operations, GDPR in Schools CEO, Budbeed Learning latest ‘shiny new thing’. VC money goes to the latter, and we can expect much of this next year
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without much actual learning expectations of Teaching and competency-based micro- improvement. I am focused on Learning. What should the role be: credentials into existing online improving science learning instead.” I feel this has very much reduced programs is one way to help —Harry E. Keller // President, the focus on transformational and learners meet the demands of a Smart Science Education Inc. experiential use of technologies to changing professional workforce. improve student experiences. For colleges, stackable degrees “With the ever What’s just ahead: Expanded use of that enable learners to earn increasing scope, 4th I-R Technologies like XR competency-based micro- capability and (eXtended Reality) 3D Printing for credentials are a way to increase diversity in Manufacturing, ML (Machine enrollment and create feeders edtech offerings Learning); Machine Learning/AI for into their undergraduate and along with the expansion and easier instructional graduate programs.” wealth of use of personalizing learning. XR —Joseph Rene Corbeil // experience, competency and and ML will see transformational Professor of Educational application at all levels, I see growth in CaTE where the focus is Technology, University of Texas educators that are better placed on readying students for the Rio Grande Valley than ever to make decisions on workforce—and these technologies how technology can be harnessed will drive skills needed for growing “AI and VR will to best serve their teaching and jobs in almost every sector.” continue to development goals. Indeed, —Mike Belcher // Director, transform educators are taking back the lead EdTech Innovation, HP, Inc. education.” in the conversation on what edtech —Lois innovation should be achieving for “The Edtech Langehaug // CS them and their students as and E-Learning Teacher, CORE Charter opposed to being mere industries are stakeholders in the decisions booming. The “The state of around which technology is used incredible education is and how its is applied. Edtech growth in both depressingly promises greater outcomes, of these tech bleak. So many increased performance and sectors creates challenges and engaged and simpler administration after all, but opportunities for higher passionate it should stay true to its aims by education. While on the one hand, teachers (and putting educators in the driving funding for education is being cut, students) are over-worked, over- seat when deciding what’s best for the demand for flexible and observed, under-paid, under- their learners and programs.” relevant ways for professionals to supported, under-valued by the —Myles Thies // Director of Digital develop advanced workplace skills very establishment that should be Learning Services, Eiffel Corp is on the rise. For colleges to there to support and encourage remain relevant in the emerging them. If it wasn't for their passion “The state: Lots of professional development and dedication, education (and low-end tech landscape, they will need to think our children's future) would be in (Chromebooks) that creatively about how they a far worse state than it is in!” are driving basic use structure and deliver their —David Hopkins // Senior and lower degrees. Integrating stackable, Learning Designer, CU
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“What is the “Nowadays no choice but to re-invent education state institutions themselves. AI and the cloud will these days? practicing play a central role in redefining Education is a variable education as we know it.” tight sector that curricula —Karim Guessous // Founder & is too centrally empower CEO, Tradepal, Inc. regulated and educators to still focused on learning in design “We need much classrooms. Distance learning is lessons based on innovative more investment underestimated and knowledge of pedagogical methodologies to use in educator andragogy is lacking. What is the for their own convenience, or to training.” role of technology in teaching? The take lessons beyond the —James Rice // role of technology is to improve classroom into a real-world The James Rice the introduction of proven, new context, so students will better Show Podcast and innovative forms of understand the academic content examination and teaching. What taught to them. But in many exactly is ahead? E-exam, online places around the world we see proctoring, remove the idea that the shortage of qualified “...in many places only LMS is the learning tool for educators and lack of accessibility managing teaching and to learning materials, and around the world examination. Here, for example, is incorporating technology into we see shortage of Microsoft Teams with apps that these schools to tackle such issues qualified are the future.” remains a challenge due to the —Mats Brenner // poor infrastructure. Through the educators and ICT-Educator, Ersta Sköndal technology, worldwide educators lack of Bräcke University College have to be able to provide accessibility to learning that is completely learning “I believe accessible with just a mobile technology is a device, no matter where the materials, and must-have trend students are and if there is little or incorporating for all schools. It no Internet connectivity. technology into will be used as Personalized feedback would be an auxiliary tool another challenge.” these schools as a book or —Rada Ryzhykava // e-education remains a clipboard is. It will help educators expert, BeED challenge due to to understand better the environment and student “As the job the poor development, as it will also be market is infrastructure.” used as a tool to improve and experiencing individualize development plans.” fundamental —Marcelo Michelli // Partner, changes, VOA educação education institutions have
19 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS EDTECH LEADERS WEIGH IN ON THE STATE OF EDUCATION, TECH’S ROLE & WHAT’S AHEAD
“District larger voice and role in the greater technology education movement.” departments are —Mike Teng // Co-founder & CEO, becoming Swing Education increasingly more integrated with curriculum and instruction departments. With this integration, CTOs are now not just tech people – they are often former educators with classroom experience and expertise on what “Higher education needs to works (and what doesn’t) in the redefine itself and technology will classroom. This shift is positive for play a big role. Currently, schools today’s classrooms as it helps tend to buy multiple software ensure new edtech is more platforms that do not integrate consistently aligned to improving well. This leaves the student learning for both students and “Huge changes are coming in how experience fragmented with educators versus based on just teachers leverage technology for frustrating UI/UX design. We see what’s shiny and new.” teaching. Yes, technology is well technology becoming more —Adam Geller // Founder & CEO, entrenched in education streamlined and intuitive to Edthena infrastructure, and in the delivery of enhance the student experience. video or distance learning. We are Every school now has to compete “There will be also inundated with B2C programs, on a national level for non- continued from practice with math facts to traditional students and a investment and memorizing vocabulary. These are shrinking number of high school growth in the significant and valuable graduates. As more learning edtech industry contributions to education. But we moves online, fancy dorms and this coming year. haven’t yet seen widespread use of a recreation centers will be seen as I expect that we’ll tightly integrated blended learning an investment with little return. see more startups entering the approach, where we combine the Delivering meaningful experiences space as well as the big players best aspects of live, human teaching through technology will carry more continuing to grow. As technology with the power of adaptive edtech weight. From apps that foster improves, companies will also find programs. I’ve been lucky in my community to AR/VR software that more and more ways to help career to be involved with two game removes distance barriers, improve the educational changers that do just that: technology will balance meaningful experience. There’s definitely a DreamBox Learning, which helps K-8 student experiences with the current trend with education math learning, and Blue Canoe strategic objectives of the school.” being a part of a larger social Learning, which helps non-native —Jake Himmelspach // Principal/ justice movement and there’s an English speakers learn clear spoken Strategy Director, Peopledesign opportunity for edtech to help English. I expect to see many more.” empower educators to have a —Sarah Daniels // CEO, Blue Canoe
20 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS EDTECH LEADERS WEIGH IN ON THE STATE OF EDUCATION, TECH’S ROLE & WHAT’S AHEAD
“The work and to connect with support student learning. These abundance of students. For example, technologies are helping to break information and teletherapy platforms are down walls allowing teachers to the easy access offering school-based clinicians share workload and collaborate that technology new ways to manage their more freely, either within their provides has caseloads without schedule and own buildings or with others forced commute constraints. Online around the world.” educators to shift from the tutoring platforms are allowing —Blair Pircon // Co-founder/CEO, traditional model. Understanding teachers who cannot support a The Graide Network that technology is a tool, and not full-time teaching load to continue by itself the driver of innovation, to impact student learning. In an “Edtech education is focusing to a student- era where educators increasingly companies centered model where the role of consider exiting the workforce due must the educator has changed to to unsustainable stress, edtech is strengthen their become a facilitator and curator of finding ways to keep these critical, focus on helping information. Also, the education skilled professionals active where districts, schools, model is changing from teaching education need them most— and teachers what to learn, to teaching how to connecting with students.” deliver impactful, equitable learn. The educational spaces are —Kate Eberle Walker // CEO, learning experiences for all also changing, from a place of PresenceLearning students. Actionable data is key to receiving information to a place supporting equity, and software where they can explore their “In recent programs able to produce more curiosity, collaborate with others, be years, teacher data on students’ academic creative, and experiment with real- workload has progress will, in turn, help world applications. This is with the become one of teachers better understand the goal to prepare students to become the biggest unique needs of individual solvers of complex problems.” problems learners, address opportunity —Luis Garcia // VP, Emerging educators face. gaps, set high expectations and Technologies, Full Sail University Educators are asked to constantly support all students in meeting make their instruction more them. It is critical that teachers “Edtech is not rigorous while incorporating new have access to multiple forms of only changing teaching methods. They are also side-by-side data that paint a the way that asked to take on larger class sizes complete picture of how a student students learn, it while connecting with each is performing – not only compared is changing the student personally to provide to their peers but also relative to way that mental health and SEL supports. grade-level expectations – to help educators work. And all of this is expected, while them accomplish these goals in an Companies are building solutions for the most part, teachers are educationally meaningful way.” to solve for the stress and work confined to their classrooms. —Rob Waldron // CEO, burden that school-based Companies are focusing on Curriculum Associates employees encounter. Technology developing technologies to make will increasingly offer alternative it easier for teachers to work with ways for educators to do their others remotely in order to better
21 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS EDTECH LEADERS WEIGH IN ON THE STATE OF EDUCATION, TECH’S ROLE & WHAT’S AHEAD
“This coming understand the value technology funded free community college year there will has in creating an engaging, online or on campus, will increase be the collaborative classroom over the next two years, enabling continued experience that improves student students to save time and money, growth and success in and out of school. Even with flexibility that fits their development with this buy-in, school systems schedule.” of lessons will need to overcome —David Vise // Executive Director, around science organizational inertia and legacy Modern States Education Alliance standards and coding activities. infrastructure to see meaningful These materials will help results. Tomorrow’s edtech trends “When it comes educators with STEM integration, are here today, but not broadly to preparing for as well as be more integrated with used or accessible. Cloud and higher technologies to make it easier for virtual learning solutions, VR/AR, education and educators to introduce them in robotics and 3D printing will all their careers, the classroom. Specifically, coding combine with traditional learning students need to activity resource communities will methods to reach, teach and be given continue to grow as educators challenge students in ways never opportunities to integrate digital contribute content and that thought possible.” learning with hands-on, real-world content matures and broadens. —Cheryl Miller // Chief Marketing experiences. One way schools are There will also be an expansion of Officer, Promethean starting to do this is to offer more free engineering activities and and more career and technical lessons, as well as the “Education is education (CTE) aligned to specific introduction of quality, open- evolving so that career clusters. This will provide source curriculum aligned to individuals can students with the important skills science standards. This content pursue their own needed to work in multiple jobs will take advantage of the digital personalized within a given field.” platforms used in today’s path. Technology —Dan Cavalli // General Manager, classrooms to enhance lessons is playing a Education Solutions Group, Flinn through the use of varied media, larger role in helping students Scientific interactive components, and, in access online courses that lead to some cases, integrated real college credit for free or for a assessment.” fraction of the cost of traditional “...students need —John Wheeler // CEO, Vernier courses. One philanthropy, Software & Technology Modern States, offers 30+ core to be given college courses online, each opportunities to “Edtech is a taught by a college professor, that integrate digital staple in today’s lead to real college credit. The classroom, and courses are free and self-paced learning with education and prepare students for the hands-on, real- professionals College Board’s CLEP exams, world do not need to accepted for credit at more than be sold on 2,900 colleges. Expansion of experiences.” edtech’s advantages. They programs like this, as well as state-
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“There’s collaboration between industry can adapt to the constant much and educators to bridge the evolution of technology. To that discussion learning gaps and ensure end, we will see a cultural shift about ‘too workforce readiness of graduates. among K-12 and college/university much’ Technology will play a key role in educators who will focus on classroom this evolution. First, we will see empowering students to prepare technology. increased use of technology such for lifelong learning. Technology It’s time to as AR and VR to support the will be a key enabler of lifelong shift the dialogue from time to teaching and learning processes teaching and learning to help impact. We need to test edtech for that will be directly aligned to people reskill and upskill and measurable impact on learning. industry certifications and skills remain relevant for the The most powerful learning needs. Industry and educators workforces of the future.” models integrate learning collaboration will also inspire the —Ken Fitzpatrick // Chief technologies into classrooms, creation of more learning content Executive Officer, Digital seamlessly blending dynamic that will be easily accessible to Marketing Institute (DMI) formative assessment with support lifelong learning: readily instruction. We must prepare all available information and training “STEM students, regardless of their zip that will keep learners at the top education code to be confident, competent of their game as their careers tools learners to thrive in the future progress.” continue to workforce. Additionally, teachers —Michael Carbenia // Executive open doors must be equipped with actionable Director of Career & Technical for students insights, so they can provide Education, zSpace to preview individualized plans for closing future learning gaps. The future of career learning likely will be different but opportunities. With technology- it can be personalized, effective enriched STEM activities students and engaging with the right get the chance to fully experience learning technologies in the every step of the learning process classroom if we design it that way.” – like when they fold and fly paper —Jessie Woolley-Wilson // CEO & airplanes, analyze flight data, and President, DreamBox Learning apply engineering concepts to improve their planes. These types “As high school of activities have helped students career and become more persistent in their technical learning as they learn that making education mistakes can lead to new “Organizations are beginning to programs discoveries. As the U.S. continues realize that their hiring needs continue to grow to focus on growing the number should focus less on people with and provide of individuals who study STEM and specific technology skills (that students with direct pathways into go into science careers, schools could be outdated or irrelevant 2-year institutions and careers, will need to provide more and tomorrow), and more on people we’re going to see increasing more opportunities to let students with business and soft skills who
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take the reins on their learning education. The status quo will be and use tools that drive the left behind as schools work harder inquiry process.” to compete for students and —Shai Goitein // CEO & Founder, create processes that POWERUP Toys demonstrate impactful outcomes. Recruitment and career advising “Disruption will be rewarded with new energy and evolution and attention. Institutions will best describe make greater investments in tools the future of to attract the right applicant. education in These platforms will use predictive 2020. science and AI technology to Unsustainable accurately connect students to “When I was a teacher 12 years debt, new innovative channels for educational pathways that fit ago we barely used technology. skills acquisition, a focus on them. Ultimately the institution Now most teachers and students certifications and badges, and will need to connect their have access to technology at their changes to traditional graduates with careers and jobs. fingertips. Today, technology plays employment models are but a few The reward will be alumni that will a huge role in facilitating both of these drivers. Gone are the become lifelong learners and academic and social-emotional days that a learner will go to engaged with their alma matter. leaning, and in saving teachers’ university just to learn. Today’s History shows us that disruption time. Technology is used to drive student is looking for a and evolution can be confusing instruction, administer measurable outcome and a return but also obvious. We have always assessments and to track and view on their educational investment. been able to summon a car and student data. This includes the Technology is the catalyst. Nearly ask a stranger to drive us growing field of social-emotional everyone holds a supercomputer somewhere. But did we ever think learning (SEL). Today, both and unlimited information in their it would evolve away from the teachers and administrators hands. The exclusivity of status quo of limos and taxis? expect to be able to administer knowledge has dramatically been Innovative educational leaders assessments online, and to have commoditized. Learning would be wise to take this page immediate access to results so institutions can no longer just from history.” they can meet the needs of consider their online campus —Eric Leftwich // Co-founder & students. They also want to easily enough. Big data, predictive Revenue Officer, jobZology access curriculum and science, and AI, need to play a interventions online to help them greater role in recruitment, meet these needs. In 2020- 2021 advising and connecting graduates “Institutions will we will see edtech companies to careers and jobs. Leveraging make greater evolve their products and education for a lucrative and investments in platforms further in order to meet meaningful work-life, not a this growing demand and to degree, will be the new focus tools to attract provide continued value for ahead. Learning institutions will the right teachers and students.” need to adjust to changes in applicant.” —Tara Ketner // Director of Client generational attitudes about Success, Aperture Education
24 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS EDTECH LEADERS WEIGH IN ON THE STATE OF EDUCATION, TECH’S ROLE & WHAT’S AHEAD
“The safety of on the stage’ teaching style to a teachers taking advantage of young people is of more collaborative learning graduate programs that redefine the upmost environment utilizing a variety of the concept of job-embedded importance, and edtech to enable a number of learning and provide cohesive technology plays a different styles of teaching and degree pathways in high-demand critical role in learning. Schools aspire to areas like STEM. Using edtech helping schools seamlessly integrate student tools such as online learning support safety plans. Today, schools devices, curriculum software, platforms and digital curricula, are increasingly turning to classroom management and teachers will experience technology to help them gather wireless display systems to drive meaningful learning within the information about student safety better student outcomes. School context of their daily work with concerns and identify risks of harm. budgets are challenged to keep up students. They will receive In the coming years we will see an with the rapid modernization of continuous, relevant, personalized increasing reliance on technology U.S. education while no one feedback and support over an that provides a holistic view of technology standard prevails. extended period of time, and students by monitoring both offline Schools are faced with a access expanded learning and online safety risks such as cyber staggering number of choices in resources as desired.” bullying and mental health concerns technology today and the pace of —Judy Zimny, Ed.D. // Vice as well as academics. Being able to innovation is not slowing. With this President, National Institute for gather and track this data—in a rapid pace, schools need STEM Education manner that is appropriate and companies that understand their protects student privacy—will help unique needs and create best- “Technology schools provide early intervention matched technologies to meet has been in and promote a whole-school those needs.” the classroom approach to safeguarding young —Jason Meyer // Group Product for quite a people. Having a deeper Manager, Projectors, Epson long time but understanding of the student’s America it’s been on wellbeing, not only affords schools the periphery. the opportunity to create a safe “Technology is Now it’s environment for learning but also providing new moving to the center. The supports them, and other interested opportunities for curriculum itself is changing and parties, in raising attainment and transformational, how that curriculum reaches improving pedagogy.” online adult students is shifting from focusing —Justin Reilly // CEO, Impero learning. New on how teachers teach, to Software strategies to focusing on how learners learn. provide relevant professional We are now able to personalize “Over the last learning — and thus close the gap lessons for each individual learner five years the between higher education and and allow for greater rate of change in workforce needs — are evolving differentiation in the classroom to education has due to collaboration across suit student needs.” accelerated away universities, professional learning, —Umang Jain // Co-founder, from a and curriculum providers. As a Splash Math traditional ‘sage result, in 2020-21, we will see K-12
25 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS EDTECH LEADERS WEIGH IN ON THE STATE OF EDUCATION, TECH’S ROLE & WHAT’S AHEAD
“To help students thrive in the 21st century, a “Edupreneurs will richer experience of apply research learning and projects and skill development will emerge. initiatives as they Edupreneurs will apply research projects and initiatives as they scale outcomes in scale outcomes in an experiment- an experiment-lab lab format. Marginalized students format. “There are two key trends that will accelerate to catch up to the will advance edtech and deliver learning levels of today’s highest Marginalized greater impact. One, clearly, is achievers. Design will drive students will machine learning. An example of returns in: learning, investment, accelerate to catch this is using machine learning and trust, information and time. up to the learning ‘the wisdom of the crowd’ to help Investors will continue to ignite students develop the cognitive smart capital for impact and levels of today’s flexibility and test-taking strategies return in education.” highest achievers. to perform at a higher level on —Fernando Valenzuela // Design will drive tests like the ACT – with higher on- Partner, Global Impact Edtech time graduation rates and college Alliance returns in: acceptance levels the outcome. A learning, second trend is technology’s investment, trust, ability to integrate high-impact practices such as differentiation, information and individualization and time. Investors will + personalization to deliver continue to ignite instruction at scale to all students What are your thoughts on the in a classroom – and to each state of education, technology’s smart capital for individual student in the role in it, and what’s just ahead? impact and return classroom – based on district Use your leading voice and write to in education.” paths aligned to reading levels, us: [email protected] ◼ personal interests and career goals. Literacy growth will be a focal point where these trends deliver important breakthroughs.” —Saki Dodelson // CEO & Founder, Beable Education
26 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS FACING, EMBRACING, AND ERASING NEW PUSHBACK TO EDTECH
Facing, Embracing, and Erasing New Pushback to Edtech Sharing the fuller understanding of what edtech is—and the education-redefining possibilities and benefits it offers—to continue making a positive difference in the field.
DISCUSSION POINTS | by Mark Gura
One trend, seemingly jarring when first they feel that distance is created between acknowledged, that I continue to see rear its them and their students who they observe head in the numerous Facebook groups for working away in a very isolated way, hyper- educators that I belong to, is what I see as a focused in their screens on basic skill sets reemergence of distaste for—and resistance to and bodies of knowledge, not engaging in the use of—tech in their classrooms. social learning, exercising voice and choice, developing self-directed learning In many schools, I gather, the mandated use of preferences and on and on. specific digital resources to address what administrations identify as ‘high priority goals’ is Mandated use of technologies that common for very appreciable numbers of teachers comply with but don’t see the elementary and core curriculum subject teachers. value of—worse, feel they see negative results from—is showing itself and is being But while those who order such uses of reflected in the body of conversation and technology may have what they feel is good information for teachers online. reason to do so, teachers feel disempowered;
27 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS FACING, EMBRACING, AND ERASING NEW PUSHBACK TO EDTECH
If on the one hand, use of technology These are representative of an provides opportunities to implement unfortunate misapprehension that in my student-centered, progressive approaches experience has been showing a growth to education, then use of digital resources spurt recently! Facebook posts in the applied to doubling down on those teacher groups I belong to and follow aspects of traditional instruction often seem to be full of this. recognized by many teachers as aligned with an outed paradigm, no matter how In my book The EdTech Advocates Guide well designed, well researched, and well- (ISTE) I talk about advocates sharing a intended is potentially counterproductive. vision that represents the biggest big picture of tech. Teachers who categorically That educators are becoming aware of this reject the idea that tech offers much good, and making moves to steer their collective I think, do so because they’ve only seen a effort’s course in what they sincerely narrow slice of the pie of what tech is and believe is a better direction can be seen offers; at that, not one they chose or not just in Facebook exchanges, but in believe in, one they see negatives in. published articles, as well. Here are just a few tip-of-the-iceberg headline examples: I think the takeaway from this unfortunate left turn is that sharing the fuller “Technology can hurt students’ understanding of what edtech is and the learning, research shows - New study education-redefining possibilities and finds giving pupils access to laptops in benefits it offers — is an opportunity for all the classroom has a negative those interested in making a positive effect” (Irish Times) difference in the field. This includes: school administrators, instructional supervisors, “Unplug the Kids: Technology Isolates and especially—colleague teachers. Children from Each Other and May Be Hampering Their Communication and How do we move forward? By being Collaboration Skills” (Phi Delta Kappan) sensitive to the presence of this new resurgence of pushback, by understanding “New Research: How Much Screen Time its source, and by taking on the challenge of Is Bad for Kids?” (Forbes) overcoming it as all part of the good work that has to be done right now—as we sort “Is technology good or bad for out this 800-pound gorilla bugaboo—so that learning?” (Brookings blog) we can get on with reaping great benefits for learning and reshaping instruction through ‘The Dark Side of Educational all that technology offers. ◼ Technology”(The Edvocate)
“Technology won’t fix America’s
neediest schools. It makes bad + education worse.” (Washington Post) What are your thoughts on this? Write to us: [email protected] ◼
28 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS FOUNDERS, PIONEERS, INNOVATORS, PROVOCATEURS
innovation", first introduced in his 1997 Where We’ve book The Innovator's Dilemma, which has been called the most influential business Been Recently, idea of the early 21st century. Christensen was described by mentee and colleague, Where We’re at Michael Horn, as The Gentle Giant Of Innovation… Right Now... ■ ■ ■
(The following people are alive and well) Founders, Pioneers, Provocateurs (the best kind) Innovators, Provocateurs Marc Prensky – Has established the Better Their World Student A few who passed on in 2019, leaving a Project Database, resource in rich legacy: which students may share and submit real-world-Impact Student Woody Flowers: STEM Empowerment Projects. The database is Learning / Student Robotics accessible at http://btwdatabase.org/ The site Pioneer offers provocative, related ideas like, “We Distinguished Advisor to FIRST, don’t need to incrementally fix our old participating in the design of the FIRST academic education. We need to transition Robotics Competition - helped create MIT's from the academic education to something renowned course "Introduction to Design" new — an ‘Empowerment to Better Their – Recipient of NASA’s Public Service World’ Education.” Medal… and a lifetime of so much more! http://classroomrobotics.blogspot.com/ Ayana Klein, Education 2019/10/rip-woodie-flowers.html entrepreneur and advocate, a student at Washington University Eliot Levinson: Forever A St Louis. With the help of her Founder An inspiration to the younger brother, Ayana engineered a edtech world—and the start of cardboard-based modeling set to make use something new. His life of the most ubiquitous and recyclable achievements and passing noted in EdTech material in the world, the corrugated box! In Digest by Editor-in-Chief Victor Rivero. less than two years, this has become a full https://edtechdigest.com/2019/09/08/eliot- line of products and curriculum. 3DuxDesign levinson-forever-a-founder/ is now used in over 350 schools, makerspaces, and museums across the Clayton Christensen: States and abroad. 3Dux has also “Disruptive Innovation” - The established the 3Dux university global Kim B. Clark Professor of initiative, an international learning through Business Administration at the design program “connecting communities by Harvard Business School, he was best design.” (Source: https://edtechdigest.com/ known for his theory of "disruptive 2019/07/12/ba-boom-edtech/ )
29 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS GLOBAL SHARINGS: BOOKS &PODCASTS
creative thinking and expression and to Global Sharings: learn and use digital formats for their work. Her recent book, New Realms for Books & Podcasts Writing features a variety of her teacher- created resources and samples of student Book: STEAM work illustrating how teachers can design Power Infusing inquiry units for their content area that are Art Into Your authentic and engage students while STEM developing digital age skills. Curriculum by Tim Needles *Look for an in-depth review and interview with Expected both of the authors above, soon in EdTech Digest. publication date: 02/2020 Don Wettrick’s https://id.iste.org/ StartEdUp resources/product? Podcast - A solid id=4744&format=Book&name=STEAM+Power early step on the new path to The work of Tim Needles an artist and fostering the educator from Port Jefferson, New York, learning of innovation, StartEdUp is a has been featured on NPR and in The New global network of the most renowned York Times. He’s taught art and media in innovators, educators and Smithtown, New York, for 20 years. entrepreneurs. “We define and employ Focusing on creativity, innovation and the tactics of real innovation and leave collaboration, this book offers creative the buzzwords in the dust.” ideas for blending the Arts and STEM http://www.startedupinnovation.com/podcast learning (STEAM). It covers the fundamentals of STEAM, with project ideas The 180 Podcast and best practices, while providing insight – The from educators in the field. Published by organization, ISTE. Expected publication date: 02/2020. Turnaround for Book: New Children, has Realms for announced a Writing – Michele new podcast, The Haiken (teacher, 180. “Featuring professor of leading voices in Education courses, American education, health and child and author), has development, The 180 explores how to transformed the transform 21st century education – how to middle school turn it around – using 21st century science. writing lessons she The science explaining how children engages her middle actually learn and develop is incredibly school students in, into opportunities for optimistic about what is possible for each
30 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS HAPPENINGS: THINGS THAT SHOOK OUR SPIRIT AND SHOOK IT HARD IN 2019
and every child. If applied, it could unleash particularly interested in European history talent and potential in classrooms and has also posted history-themed content everywhere.” The initial episode titled on YouTube and Instagram, has received Todd Rose: Talent is Everywhere revealed recognition from the History Channel and great potential in this podcast series. Time magazine for her TikTok clips.” General Interest https://www.npr.org/2020/01/04/787810829/ Podcasts that are laugh-cry-and-gasp-along-with-the-best-viral- beginning to take deep classroom-moments-of-2019 dives into the realm of And: Education… Example: Eric Weinstein’s The ■ “Physics explosion! (27 million views Portal podcast episode #008, a conversation with on Twitter) Andrew Yang—which has a deep He jumps on a pogo stick and zooms on a discussion of School/Education among the skateboard. He makes ice cream out of various themes they touch on. liquid nitrogen. He lies down on a freaking bed of nails. This compilation shows that there’s seemingly nothing that David Happenings: Wright won’t do to get his students at Tidewater Community College in Virginia Things that grabbed our excited about physics.” spirit and shook it hard Equity and Inclusiveness in Education in 2019 Assert Themselves
The impact of social media continues to be ■ “Rosen bill to push STEM careers for felt harder and harder… girls, minorities becomes law… …The bipartisan Building Blocks of STEM The all-defining characteristic of our time, Act was signed into law on Dec. 24 after Connectedness, continues get masses of approval by the House and Senate… ‘This us (students, teachers, parents, and more) bill is particularly for young girls but also on the same “in the know” page and for young girls and underrepresented marching to the same digital drum minorities to realize all the things you can machine. This reality was nicely celebrated do by understanding computer science, by NPR’s recent article ‘School moments STEM or technology, and where it can take go viral in 2019’ giving numerous you,’ Rosen said.” (Source: Las Vegas Review examples, two of note from EdTech Journal) Digest’s perspective are … https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics- and-government/rosen-bill-to-push-stem-careers- ■ “Teen's history-based TikTok clips go for-girls-minorities-becomes-law-1924544/ viral - Brooke Pavek of Jacksonville, Fla., has developed a following of nearly ■ Improving Education shows itself as a 100,000 on TikTok by posting 15-second prominent part of public consciousness videos on historical subjects from Joan of and conversation. One prime example: Arc to Isaac Newton. Pavek, who is
31 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS HAPPENINGS: THINGS THAT SHOOK OUR SPIRIT AND SHOOK IT HARD IN 2019
“The ‘Public Education Forum 2020: Equity ■ Teacher Shortage is ‘Real and and Justice for All’ forum—organized by Growing, and Worse Than We Thought’ the Schott Foundation and 11 other public reported in NEA Today (National Education education and civil rights groups, viewed Association)…Probably the most critical by millions and offered by numerous resource denied to many students is an major news outlets. experienced, full-certified teacher – a deficit that is “much more acute problem in “2020 presidential hopefuls weigh in on high-poverty schools,” said EPI Economist public education ahead of December Emma García. “These shortages threaten debate - Seven candidates traveled to students’ ability to learn and reduce Pittsburgh to share their perspective teachers’ effectiveness, and high teacher plans.” (Source: ABC News) turnover consumes economic resources https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2020- that could be better deployed elsewhere.” presidential-hopefuls-weigh-public-education- http://neatoday.org/2019/04/03/how-bad-is- ahead-december/story?id=67733604 the-teacher-shortage/
■ “Teacher Activism Persists in U.S. Frustrated about wages, working ...True, but I’d like to see a comparison of conditions, and other education issues, the attrition levels of those who teach in teachers are continuing to walk out of traditional schools to those who teach in their classrooms. school where progressive approaches and Labor strife spiked last year as teachers in practices supported by transforming Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, North applications of technology; my guess is that Carolina, Oklahoma, Washington state, and this sort of satisfaction for teachers and West Virginia took to the streets to protest. their students can make a tremendous difference in recruitment and retention of Now, just as Denver teachers returned to talented teachers. —Mark Gura, Editor-at- their classrooms after a nine-day strike, teachers in West Virginia once again went Large, EdTech Digest ◼ on strike as did their counterparts in Oakland, Calif.” https://www.edweek.org/ew/ articles/2019/02/27/teacher-activism-persists-in- us.html + What issues are important to you in ■ Distinguished school reform activist education? What role can technology play in publishes latest book SLAYING GOLIATH - working as an enhancement or even a solution? The Passionate Resistance to What resources do you find helpful in your Privatization and the Fight to Save work? Who has inspired or provoked you into America’s Schools. See New York Times an improved approach? Write to us: review, “Diane Ravitch Declares the [email protected] ◼ Education Reform Movement Dead.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/21/books/ review/slaying-goliath-diane-ravitch.html
32 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS LITERACY EDUCATION FOR A POST-TEXT DOMINANT, TIKTOK INFATUATED WORLD
As I cruise through my world I realize that if we aren’t already fully living a “Post Text- dominant Literacy”, then we are racing toward one.
What’s ‘Post Text-dominant Literacy’?
Simply stated, the state of people expressing and communication through language that no longer reflects absolute faith in the supremacy and omnipotence of text as the most effective and impactful manifestation of communication; a belief that was universally held a mere decade ago.
We’ve moved on; and hopefully Education will embrace and accommodate this new understanding and find a new status and Literacy Education role for text in its universe. What? It’s true, look around; the for a Post Text- communication that’s surrounding us consists of digital audio (the recent Dominant, TikTok explosion of podcasting is a good example), digital video (YouTube rules!), Infatuated World digital images (Facebook, is a clear Excerpted from ISTE Network Literacy Journal example of not only the power of images, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1- but of their superior appeal and function YQXVcSNJ9vEGhMs7SpZqoOqIGViLkzEnfsz1wKf59I/edit for communication)… There’s more, of course, but just these three items that by MARK GURA account for billions of exchanges between people daily are enough to paint a picture of how today’s humans are literate in a “...As society and technology change, so does post text-dominant way. literacy. The world demands that a literate person possess and intentionally apply a wide This is not to say that text has disappeared range of skills, competencies, and dispositions. These literacies are interconnected, dynamic, or is going to disappear. On the contrary it is and malleable …” probably produced in greater volume than ever before. What I’m ranting about is text’s —National Council of Teachers of English position change in role; in status. Even old-guard statement titled “Definition of Literacy in a Digital Age exponents of high value text, like the New York Times understand this. The Times does still put out a hard-copy, text-prominent
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paper, but its business survives and grows token effort. What’s very largely absent in and its manner of expression broadens and the majority of classrooms is the creation of becomes richer in the paper’s online version, these items as the day in /day out work of which mirrors the observations learners. What’s actually about Podcasting, YouTube, done currently is that in all and Facebook, above. but the more advanced Where does all of this leave One important classrooms, on occasion Literacy Instruction in our students’ usual, routine schools? In need for some phenomenon I’ve work is set aside in favor of change, I’d say! such work that is considered observed over the as a special project… For one thing, if the world years is that long around our students is going How Kids Are Literate to deeply and increasingly stretches of These Days engage in literacy that makes use of other means than experimentation by Recent youth technology text, while there is no reason use has been marked by to stop teaching reading and early adopters, folks much fascination and buzz writing in text, there is very who, by virtue of their around the things like good reason to teach the the hyper-popular app more recently and refinement efforts, TikTok, which was the increasingly popular digital most downloaded app means of communication make an emergent worldwide in the year of and expression. Schools technology ready for its release, 2018. This should embrace the teaching trajectory of popularity and learning of digital media mass adoption, is the continues. and its uses. mechanism by which TikTok’s appeal is its These media formats and deep, meaningful usefulness in what youth applications are already in perceive as the legitimizing place in many classrooms, change comes about. dimension of personal although most strongly in the recognition through guise of students’ passive participation in digital consumption of content. In media. Of course, it is other words in the world of inevitable, though, that schools, a world in which hard individuals will emerge copy texts are still present to a high degree, who put this remarkable resource to publishers as well as a number of hands-on other, higher purposes. educator users supplement and enrich hard copy materials with digital audio, TikTok’s popularity is a good example of video, and graphic media items. A good how our world continues to gravitate thing, but when viewed against the toward other-than-text communication backdrop of the reality of the current state media. In a nutshell, TikTok enables its of the universe of Literacy; realistically, a community of users to create, upload, and
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appreciate short video messages, as well as well as new responsibilities to address. I follow, message, comment, do all of the think that smart, responsible educators standard social media things, around them. will accept this shift as they figure out its dimensions and their significance. For one thing, the app is very easy to use Further, wise ones will likely do so in with intuitive features that make formerly conversation with their students. ◼ challenging content generation, enhancement and editing chores easy to perform. The quality of product one can create is very impressive as is the app’s ease of navigation. One can launch, shoot video, edit and upload in a smooth continuum of quick and easy-to- accomplish moves.
What Would Shakespeare Do?
And, if you think about it, this is the crux of the issue with the shift in literacy medium selection and preference. Now that doing all of this is so easy and inexpensive (or free in the case of so many resources), I often wonder what Shakespeare, himself, would opt for if he were living and working among us today. While often considered as a sort of gold standard for the worth of text-based literacy, his work was about entertaining the masses through storytelling and I think resources like YouTube and TikTok would win him over quickly.
Will TikTok and its copiers eliminate the use of text? Of course not.
In fact to register for, to navigate, and to participate in the Twitter-style short message exchanges around social videos The largest and most competitive that are so appealing to users, text is Awards Recognition Program in edtech. part of the mix, an important part, but K-12 + Higher Education + Workforce simply no longer the dominant medium.
I think this leaves literacy educators with LEARN MORE AT www.EdTechDigest.com much to ponder and no doubt with many opportunities to take advantage of, as
35 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS STATE OF EDTECH EDTECH’S TOP INFLUENCERS The minds behind what’s now and next.
By VICTOR RIVERO
If there are any areas of human endeavor superintendent, to a library media that indicate the future, technology and specialist, a professor on a college campus, education are at the top of the list. They are a coding bootcamp instructor, the the areas to look at to see where all the rest president of a university, or the founder of will go. Separately considered, their contrast a startup—behind the word “edtech” stand is great; as one advances, the other lags. Yet dedicated people with a passion for together, we use them to propel ourselves improving the lives of learners everywhere. into the future of our choosing. Such people are part of a larger mission, Speaking of the future, global edtech something greater than themselves. They venture capital will nearly triple over the are the minds behind what is now and next decade, according to education what is next, and they are shaping the intelligence firm HolonIQ. In 2010, $500M in future of education. investments finished 14x higher at $7B in 2019, more than half from China, a third This is our third assay into the state of from the US, then Europe and India and the edtech, and it would not be complete rest of the world, the firm reported. without a fresh look at some of these people. We present here an all-new class of Tools for learning, methods for moving individuals—our Top 100 for 2020. Though forward, systems for sustaining the millions of educators worldwide are actively processes that produce what we need to using technology, with 15k+ companies in march onward in our ceaseless motions edtech, and many of them in attendance at toward betterment; this is part of what the scores of conferences addressing the edtech can deliver. But who will deliver it? future of learning—these people in particular have come to our attention as From a special education teacher in a among those that are pushing the kindergarten, a middle school math boundaries of the possible, inspiring the rest teacher, or a large-district assistant of us. Here they are—and why. Enjoy!
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Dan Carroll Rachel Carlson Chief Product Officer Clever CEO & Co-Founder Guild Education When this Teach for America alum and Created academic and career planning science teacher moved into a tech role app with Student Blueprint; stepped it for a Denver prep school, “I wanted to be an up partnering with Fortune 1000 companies and innovator, but I got stuck being a human API.” Now nonprofit universities to offer education benefits to he’s helping 55% of US K-12 schools with a single their employees; she’s redesigning tuition sign-in for all their digital resources. reimbursement programs and in the process, workforce education. Angela Baker Tech Services Manager Georgia Troy Wheeler Dept of Education President Ed-Fi Alliance This great communicator has trained After serving as CIO at Idaho State over 10,000 educators and supervised scores of Department of Education, this Boise contractors to evaluate and curate digital State engineering and management grad presides content; her work ethic, know-how and can-do over the Austin-based nonprofit enabling efforts are inspiring. interoperability among secure education data systems, improving student achievement—and John Watson teacher satisfaction. Founder Evergreen Education Group For 20 years, he’s been a leader in the Monica Brady-Myerov K-12 digital learning market, for the last Founder & CEO Listenwise couple he’s led a new gathering, disrupting the Pushing boundaries as a radio traditional education conference format “to help reporter and producer, in 2013 she educators reach the next level” of work in online, went full entrepreneur and created a platform to blended, and digital environments. curate public radio stories and develop rich lesson plans, class activities, and assessments for Angela Awonaike teachers and students. Response to Intervention Specialist DC Office of the State Supt of Dean Kamen Education Inventor Co-Founder FIRST She’s been a special education teacher, a data The engineer, inventor, and coach and testing coordinator, and for the last few businessman known for his invention of years her work has focused on training teachers the Segway is co-founder of the nonprofit FIRST with a system that helps students at academic or (long form: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science behavioral risk. and Technology) the world’s most popular student robotics competition, although “It was never about Jaime Martinez the robots,” he admits. Founder & CEO Schola A LearnLaunch BOOST alum, this ASU Nadja Shaw grad (Master’s, Elem Ed. & Teaching) Director of Learning and and dedicated entrepreneur is guiding parents and Development Strategy Trilogy students through a process to discover, connect, Education (2U) enroll, and succeed at the right school for them. Fiercely committed to closing the digital skills gap, the former 1st-grade teacher and Teach for America coach and director earned her Master’s at Teachers College; she now designs and implements instruction for 3,500 employees.
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Bhavneet Chahal Nigel Nisbet Co-Founder GoSkills VP Content Creation MIND Research For the past 7 years, has led the online Institute learning platform for skills seekers Formerly of the British rock band looking to reach their personal and professional Electrasy (‘94-’02), subsequently released 4 solo goals; aptly personifies the type of energetic go- albums, the latest in 2018, but what’s really music getter that her platform strives to develop. to his rocker-turned-math-teacher ears are the results that ST Math attains with learners, Greg Davies everywhere Jiji the penguin takes the stage. CEO Full Measure Education One of Blackboard’s first five hires, he Vu Van left to build Presidium then sold it to Co-Founder ELSA (“English Language Blackboard for $53M; now, he’s using innovative Speech Assistant”) technology to put every student on a personal Leading a team of scientists and education plan and keep him or her on it. linguistic experts, bills her company as “world’s smartest AI assistant for pronunciation training and Dorann Avey accent reduction” serving 1.5 language learners Digital Learning Director Nebraska worldwide; their flagship product ELSA Speak is a Dept of Education personal virtual pronunciation coach. Dedicated professional learner and team leader promoting current and emerging tech Scott Pulsipher with student-centered approach, often found President WGU either leading workshops to help educators or Advocating high quality competency- taking them in herself to remain on the leading based education models to support the edge of it all. profiles of today’s students (working adults and other ‘nontraditional’ types); serves 110K students Ray Martinez from all 50 states; known for his integrity and ability Co-Founder & CEO EVERFI to help at all levels. Leads financial education efforts of the learning platform, partnering with more Melissa Dodd than 900 institutions delivering personal finance, CTO San Francisco USD entrepreneurship, and investment education to She’s led talented teams of tech K-12 students nationwide. integrators delivering on empowering student learning from Boston to San Francisco; Rachelle Dene Poth 2017 Withrow CTO Award winner presents Spanish & STEAM Teacher nationally on the role of technology in education. Oakmont, PA She’s an attorney, teacher, and prolific Scott Kinney presenter at ISTE, iNACOL and more including President K-12 Education EdTech Digest’s ‘Probing Edge’ panel at FETC in Discovery Education Miami; she’s also president of the ISTE Teacher Has spent 25 years supporting the Education Network. success of all learners through a variety of roles in both public education and the business world, and is helping to bring DE services to 5 million educators and 51M students in 90+ countries.
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Dewayne J. McClary Marcy Daniel Director EdTech & Library Program Chief Product Officer PowerSchool DCPS After 5 years with Hatch Early Learning He was a Middle School Social Studies where she built and led a team that Teacher in South Carolina, an instructional commercialized and launched 5 major instructional technology coordinator in Arlington, VA. For the technology products resulting in $19M in sales, she past 5 years, he’s headed up the District of continues powering it up as Chief Product Officer Columbia’s efforts to innovate and update with his for this unified platform serving 45M students in dynamic leadership style. 70+ countries.
Caroline Vander Ark Michael Flood President & COO Getting Smart VP Strategy Kajeet Manages day-to-day operations of the Representing corporate members of renowned learning design firm which the Consortium for School Networking she’s been at for nearly 10 years; SXSWedu (CoSN), his focus is on technology’s transformative advisory board member, also a prolific writer and role in education, especially mobile learning; in a speaker on innovations in teaching and learning. former life, was a strategist for Sprint (K-12 vertical), serving 116K schools and 55M students. Joe Sanfelippo Superintendent Fall Creek School Eden Dahlstrom District WI VP Professional Learning EDUCAUSE Provocative popular presenter, he’s Leads one of the foremost nonprofits mastering the art of storytelling and leveraging helping higher education optimize the social media to help teachers, administrators and impact of IT; strategist, visionary, leader and other education leaders change the narrative of speaker, has contributed significantly to the field their learning environments. and is a familiar face developing tools and resources for over 2,300 member organizations Sabrina Manville and 100,000 members. Co-Founder Edmit She’s worked for Coursera, Pearson, Sean Gallagher SNHU, and now she’s helping families Exec Dir Center for the Future of make great financial decisions so they can be Higher Education & Talent Strategy better off after college with a proprietary software Northeastern University that calculates tuition estimates personalized to He’s building the leading university-based research each student. org at the intersection of the world of work and postsecondary education to eliminate the gap Nate Davis between work and learning; previously spent nearly CEO K12, Inc a decade at Eduventures. Seasoned corporate exec, presided over the merger of XM Satellite Radio Marlo Gaddis with Sirius Satellite Radio; now he’s broadcasting CTO Wake County Public School the benefits and potential of inspired teaching and System personalized learning through tuition-free online Self-described learner and leader with a public school. passion for instructional design, technology, and schools, she presides over a paradigm shift for the largest K-12 public school district in North Carolina, responsible for 159K students across 183 schools.
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Susan S. Wells Vinay Mahadik Founder TechTerra Education Co-Founder & CEO Securly A champion of STEM literacy to help This information security veteran was children better understand their world, a senior R&D manager at McAfee; was previously principal of Durham Public Schools now provides an end-to-end student safety and (NC), where she oversaw their 1:1 iPad deployment device management solution for schools; holds and learned the value of mobile learning. 5 patents in the field; deeply dedicated to online safety for kids. George Perreault Chief Academic Officer ClassLink Kim Keith Berglund For nearly 40 years, worked for one of Executive Director Disney Junior the nation’s largest school districts - Founding Member of Children’s Media Orange County Public Schools (FL) - as an assistant Association and curriculum board principal, senior assistance principal, director of member for Age of Learning, this veteran of digital instructional technology & library media; now media for children is expert in presenting math, enjoys removing access barriers to digital social studies and STEM education in their most curriculum for students and teachers everywhere. engaging forms.
Mercedes Bent Liu Ye Partner Lightspeed Venture Partners CEO KnowBox Lives and breathes startups, and with Heading up the Alibaba and Baidu her focus on the future of work and backed online education platform, edtech, watch out for interesting developments in and fresh off a $150M funding round, with 40M+ VR/AR. An early employee at General Assembly, users his homework-test-games learning hub launched several product lines and grew her serving 70% of China’s primary schools is just division from $0 to $30M+ in two years. getting started.
David Whelan Dorothy Stanley Co-Founder Immersive VR Education Standards Architect Aruba This tech entrepreneur and former An HPE Fellow and head of strategy, editor-in-chief of Virtual Reality she chairs the IEEE 802.11 Working Reviewer is a multi-award winning VR director and Group, a very technical way of saying a small, producer, and an EdTech Digest EdTech dedicated group of techies overseeing Trendsetter Award Winner. standards for wireless networks, which has everything to do with campus connectivity Sandra Whelan across the US and beyond. Co-Founder Immersive VR Education Listed on the London and Irish Stock Peter H. Diamandis Exchange, her Ireland-based virtual/ Founder Xprize Co-author The Future augmented reality company dedicated to is Faster Than You Think transforming how training and educational content Besides starting 20+ companies in is delivered and consumed globally is shaping the longevity, space, venture capital and education, the future of learning. pioneer in the fields of innovation, incentive competitions and commercial space is now challenging all students of the world (including education leaders) to predict their future by creating it themselves.
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Dror Ben-Naim Kristy Sailors Founder Smart Sparrow Director of Instructional Led a research group in the field of Technology Eanes ISD, Austin Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Supporting teacher integration of tech Educational Data Mining (his PhD), developed an to engage students, she’s designed courses, written adaptive e-learning platform teachers love; the policies, created PD and is an IMS advisory board sparrow is symbolic of freedom, “we really think member and Project Tomorrow Speak Up that education emancipates the mind,” he shares. committee member.
Earlene Patton Jamie Harper Distance Learning Administrator VP Education Microsoft Alabama Dept of Education Serving higher ed, K-12, libraries & For excellence in integrating digital museums, his team works with curricula and content and supporting teachers stakeholders on everything from cloud computing and students, she’s been recognized for her work to Minecraft and Surface devices; previously served with her state’s ultra resource-full Learning on MS leadership team, South Africa; he’s been Exchange Program. with Microsoft for 20+ years.
Jethro Jones Jean Tower Middle School Principal Fairbanks Director Media & Digital Learning Alaska is still the Last Frontier and this Needham Public Schools 2017 NASSP Digital Principal of the Helping instructional leaders focus on Year can be heard pushing boundaries at how they can incorporate tech leadership into their transformativeprincipal.org where he hosts an practice, she asks the right questions and has a inspiring future-leaning podcast with a wide refreshing no-nonsense action-plan approach to variety of guests. getting things done.
Lisa Spencer Peter Robinson Director of Instructional Technology Director Auburn School Technology Prince Georges County Department Schools Keeping focused on the true goal of After over a decade as a classroom teacher, started improving the overall classroom experience for as an instructional technology coordinator at the students, this Maine guest columnist for EdTech turn of the millennium and has been providing Digest has gone far in solving efficient, affordable exceptional direction, training and support to 19K device management. employees serving 130K students in a US-top-25- largest district ever since. Laylah Bulman Executive Director FL Scholastic Paul Freedman Esports League CEO/Co-Founder Entangled Group Works for LEGO Education as Principal Consultant at Entangled enterprise sales director, but a force behind the Solutions, longtime advocate for the scenes with Florida Scholastic Esports League; transformative power of a college education, has passionate about creating “hands-on, minds-on” founded, managed, and invested in a number of programs in pre-K-12 STEM learning environments. successful education ventures.
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Cynthia Haynie Anna Iarotska CTO Campus Management Corp Co-founder & CEO Robo Wunderkind Leader and strategist in higher ed, has From Kickstarter to a worldwide also worked at the Department of phenomenon, her robotics platform Defense and NASA’s famed Jet Propulsion inspires children to become creative with technology, Laboratory; humbly credits senior leadership around building and coding their own robots and gadgets; her when asked about keys to her own success. meanwhile, she’s a great role model in STEM education.
Sonny Magana Sara Trettin Author Disruptive Classroom Policy Advisor US Department of Technologies Education Rock guitarist turning up the volume on Leads their open education work, digital his discussion of continuous growth and engagement efforts, and co-created professional learning for educators using Future Ready Librarians Framework to raise the technology to make an even bigger impact in their profile of tech-using librarians in schools. teaching and learning. Kirby Salerno Jasna Aliefendic Founding Partner BroadReach Coordinator of Technology EdTech Advisors Integration & Staff Development He’s worked at Amazon Education, Garland ISD Flocabulary, Money Experience, Listenwise; has For 12+ years, she’s led educators as a very been active as a venture partner with LearnLaunch, capable coordinator at this 56k-student, 72- and is helping startups that are addressing some of campus large tech-driven district in Texas, among the most vexing societal challenges to scale up. the 75 largest in the US. Eileen Belastock Jason Bailey Director Academic Technology Director Innovation & Design Mount Greylock Regional School SETDA District Former Indiana English teacher, was A board director for edtech orgs senior strategist for e-learning within the state MassCUE and METAA, regularly writes and presents department of education developing their e- on digital equity, student data privacy, and the learning conference series before he took on his importance of learning for students and teachers. current challenge. Kris Hagel Kimberly Smith Executive Director Digital Learning Executive Director League of Peninsula School District WA Innovative Schools Administrator, implementer, deliverer Head of strategy and growth for this of innovative tech solutions for national network of forward-thinking education students; expert in budget, policy, strategy—and leaders working to improve student outcomes importantly, end user experience. through smart use of learning tech and innovative practices; partners with entrepreneurs, researchers, and thinkers, serves 3.3M students.
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Jeremy Keeshin Betty Vandenbosch CEO & Co-Founder CodeHS Chancellor Purdue University Leading expert in computer science Global Educator, author, and leader of education and edtech; visited 150+ 29,000 online degree seekers; schools nationwide. His platform is used by advocates access for adult students, has hundreds of thousands of students and is the spearheaded competency-based education, and largest of its kind for coding in high schools. has spoken at ASU-GSV on ‘radical scaled online learning models.’ Caroline Fay Co-Founder Skillist Ed Hidalgo Jobseeker’s advocate, develops Chief Innovation & Engagement strategic partnerships with Officer Cajon Valley Union School community colleges and nonprofits for skill- District based job application platform; continues as Year Led development of Qualcomm Thinkabit_Lab Up mentor; earned M.Ed. creating individualized makerspace, pioneer in world of work and career course focused on post-secondary success and development initiatives; now applying corporate career development. experience with workforce development in changing school culture to prep students for Bob Berry their future jobs. VP Business Dev Troxell-CDI One of the longest-serving employees Candice Dodson at this school AV products distributor Executive Director SETDA turned school tech ecosystem company (est. 1946); Spent 26 years at the district level, then he’s vibrant, youthful, and has deep knowledge of 8+ years as Indiana Department of everything trending, including the not-yet-trending. Education Director of e-Learning, now she’s stepped up her efforts to help other state level Jeanette Haren edtech leaders through the foremost association VP Product Management for state education technology directors. PowerSchool Two decades of developing Michael Hansen professional growth systems for K-12 school CEO Cengage districts; founder, Truenorthlogic (acquired), now German-born exec leading merger with leads talent and performance assessment efforts McGraw-Hill; Glassdoor 2019 for this edtech ecosystem giant supporting 45M Employees’ Choice Award for top CEO; his 5,000- students in 80+ countries. employee Boston-based edtech company serves all levels of education on the forefront of a massive Jake Schwartz print-to-digital transformation. CEO & Co-Founder General Assembly Jean Hammond Ardent Phish-head, also follows: the General Partner LearnLaunch future of work, upskilling, the economy, jobs of Accelerator tomorrow; 15-campus and online firm leads the Active as an angel investor (early stage field teaching entrepreneurs and business pros tech startups), she’s been a leading voice in practical tech skills with 10-12 week immersive web conversations about reskilling the workforce, high development and product management courses. schoolers and experiential learning, and what startups can bring to education.
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Christine Stokes-Beverley Ed Dieterle Senior Instructional Technology Executive Dir Center for External Coordinator Arlington Public Research & Strategic Research Schools Alliances ETS Special education math teacher, member of her Former science teacher and university instructor school’s edtech team; facilitates professional works seamlessly with edtech companies, learning sessions, and serves as a CoSN Advistory foundations, NGOs, universities and agencies to Board Member; she also works with parents to increase product impact for the world’s largest navigate parenting in the digital age. educational measurement nonprofit.
Brian Seymour Katie Onstad Director Instructional Technology Co-Founder Education Framework Pickerington Local School District Self-described “leader with a An EdTech Leadership Award Winner conscience” is solving student privacy (EdTech Digest), he’s been with his Ohio district for issues with automated technology solutions; 18 years, 10 of those as a Science Teacher; he’s created the first online student data privacy now one of the most professionally active Tech workflow manager for schools. Directors in the country, and has brought his learning home to PLSD. Jess Borjorn Assistant Superintendent Michelle Bourgeois Curriculum & Instruction Roseville CTO St. Vrain Valley Schools High School Leads a 1:1 program for Colorado’s 8th With 3+ decades getting results for students and largest school district; a thoughtful the adults who support them, he’s a passionate leader with an eye on the cultural shifts taking collaborative-style leader facing down digital place beyond schools that impact schools; a keen transformation across his classrooms. focus on learning, connecting, and improvement. Erin Mote Raahsan King Executive Director InnovateEDU Founder & CEO Students of Strength Brooklyn-based educator founded and The Harvard grad’s online academic grew a charter school for 6 years, now coaching service offers personalized she’s heading up a nonprofit whose mission is to tutoring and mentorship, as well as college advising eliminate the achievement gap using next-gen – to students of all socioeconomic backgrounds in learning models and tools. grades 7-12. Zach Vander Veen Antti Korhonen VP Instruction Abre Co-Founder & CEO xEdu Former Director of Instructional Tech Humble head of one of Europe’s for Ohio’s Hamilton City School District, leading business accelerators for and Social Studies teacher; “the sheer number of edtech startups, also founded EDUIMPACT hoops educators need to jump through are really Venture Capital, the first Nordic VC fund quite astounding,” he told EdTech Digest this past focusing on education. year. “Good technology should make lives easier.” He’s working on it.
44 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS TOP 100 INFLUENCERS IN EDTECH
Jeffrey Averick Maria Anguiano Founder & Executive VP Certica SVP Strategy ASU Leads business integration and First-gen college grad and content teams; developed K-12 former Minerva Project CFO, compliance application for this company, a now broadening her influence - and access - team of ed and tech experts helping for the full spectrum of students; educators positively impact student interdisciplinary mindset has served her well improvement with actionable - and and made her a strong collaborative leader accessible - measurement and insights. on the forefront of higher ed transformation.
Danial Jameel Jeremy Shorr Founder/CEO Ready Director Innovation & Early Education Childhood STEM Teaching For past 8 years, helping higher Institute for Excellence in STEM ed institutions redefine communication and Ohio-based consultant passionate about improve student experience with latest STEM; Certified Educational Technology mobile app and cloud tech, developed by his Leader (CoSN), innovator on the forefront team of data and social scientists designing of bringing STEM (design, curriculum, tools to amplify student engagement. instructional support) to school districts.
Xavier Anguera Amanda Bickerstaff Co-Founder & CTO ELSA CEO Pivot Professional Senior speech scientist, Learning published 100+ peer-reviewed With 15+ years experience scaling research papers; holds multiple patents in startups, developing professional online the areas of multimedia, machine learning, learning, driving revenue, and partnerships, deep learning, and artificial intelligence. she’s a passionate exec for improving student results and teacher support. Hadi Partovi Founder & CEO Code.org Ananth Kasturiraman Angel investor in Facebook, Co-Founder Skillist DropBox, airbnb, Uber, and Spent career at intersection of more, this Harvard grad (Computer Science) business and social impact; is a technologist at heart; enjoys building worked for UC Riverside, KIPP Foundation, disruptive, innovative technology products Bain & Co. Believes that while talent is and services with worldwide impact. distributed equally, opportunity is not, and thus — his company. Andy Rahden CEO Shmoop Alexandra Diracles Was VP Creative/Design/ Founder & CEO Vidcode Engineering for Pluralsight, Photographer-turned-coder mechanical engineer at Baker Hughes; now helping schools and libraries building a team to confront the challenge connect coding and creativity through her of moving education forward (and platform for teens (and teens at heart) who including a little fun and humor); “What want to learn to code through an interactive we’re trying to do is enhance people’s ‘computational media’ approach. ability, the learner’s ability - to progress in their knowledge,” he says.
45 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS TOP 100 INFLUENCERS IN EDTECH
Angie Eilers Kyle Liao CEO & Founder UR Turn, SBC Director of Community Growth Focused on low-income students Educate LLC enrolling in and completing a post- An instructional coach for this New secondary degree using this AI supplement to York City based education management company, school counseling to shine a light on an obscure he’s served K-8 schools around the NYC area, education pathway, “like Google Maps for the working with principals and teachers, and now— education highway” to help students and families with a thorough understanding of effective chart a path for success. pedagogy—apps and tech.
Brian Moynihan Alex Inman Global Education Solutions Founder & President Educational Manager Lenovo Collaborators Leads VR Classroom initiative for Heading up a group of 100+ experts world’s largest PC provider, but you might not know helping schools and districts with design, this well-rounded techie earned a Master’s in assessment, and implementation of 21st-century Comparative Religion and graduated cum laude initiatives, he’s been at it for 20+ years; from G- from a Miami University advanced interdisciplinary suite to audits, he knows everything tech and has science & humanities program. helped thousands of schools.
Kai Frazier John Katzman Founder & CEO KAI XR Education Entrepreneur Advancing digital transformation of Irreverent Princeton grad co-founder of museums, directs educational VR and The Princeton Review (1981), 2U (2008), AR experiences for multi-generational audiences Noodle companies (2010), he’s also helped with and is an advocate for tech startups and founders Tutor.com and two dozen other edtech ventures; everywhere; meanwhile, continues her rich work tells it like it is, sense of humor included. with the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Jodi Goldstein Executive Director Harvard Abhimanyu Saxena Innovation Labs Co-Founder Scaler Academy With 20+ years experience in the Bengaluru software architect startup world (exec, co-founder, investor), now reverse-engineered a curriculum focused on strategic initiatives in expanding the labs’ based on current skills demanded by top reach and impact; the University of Vermont grad companies; smart thinking, and the skills-to- (BS International Business) and Harvard MBA stays work company recently raised $20M. edgy as a snowboarder, cyclist, and private pilot.
Vanessa Castañeda Gill Harsh Patel CEO Social Cipher CEO Galvanize Firm believer in the power of play, has A former Teach for America Math & made it her mission to bring art and Science teacher, code school veteran, science together in developing story-driven video and for the past year leader of this 21st century games that provide autistic youth a safe, accessible, school for entrepreneurs, engineers, and data and empowering space to apply social skills. scientists. His company was recently acquired by K12 for $165M.
46 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT HIGHLIGHTS FUTURE OWNING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION
10 THEMES & UNFOLDING FOCUS POINTS TO WATCH IN 2020 AND ONWARD
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS+
EDTECH1000: COMPANIES TRANSFORMING EDUCATION
10 COMPANIES TO WATCH & WHY
THE EDTECH AWARDS: LEADERS, INNOVATORS, AND TRENDSETTERS
47 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT FUTURE OWNING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION
Owning the Future of Education Shifting from guessing and accepting—to: predicating, influencing, choosing, and preparing.
FAST FORWARD | by Mark Gura about to happen. And this unfolds with a clearer picture of ‘before’, as well. The connectedness of our world, a Using available A.I. driven tools, even networked environment enhanced simple ones like Google Alerts, to scour through applications of social media, data reported news and information, collection, and A.I.—enables a profound individuals can engage in enabled potential shift in our relationship to the prediction like never before. As an future. We are moving from our inherited example, the trends reported and passive posture, to the realized possibility behaviors and events predicted in this of an active role. This is proving itself true report reflect all of this, which is to say in several ways: their hunch factor takes a back seat to crowdsourced knowing and thinking. Prediction
Influence Some of what’s coming down the road of interest and importance can be perceived The same connectedness that makes by viewing the reporting of interests and seeing what’s coming at us enables us to preferences of large numbers of people. favor and influence the manifestation of With refinements of capability in those things we have high interest and increasingly common and accurate digital faith in. Let’s shine a light on just a few polls and surveys and increased reporting ways in which this is true: for one, of the digested results of these, those who educational resource developers are follow news aggregation services can keep sensitive to evidence of interest from themselves in-the-know about what’s potential purchasers; further, policy
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makers will act in ways that reflect their field. Offering teaching ideas and concern for and interest in approval from recounting experiences, either on personal their constituencies; and colleagues will blogs or submitting them to online invest effort, good will, and periodicals, likewise offers professional reputation in the opportunity of impact. items they know masses of And sharing or selling fully their peers are committing to. “...when working in detailed lesson plans to Our digitally connected a connected peers amounts to using professional environment and digitally supported long tail culture has evolved to value environment, by publishing to nudge the information to support all of field to further develop in this, as methods to reading, directions one believes in. accomplish that have become implementing, and a priority among developers. Selection/Choice And to whatever extent replicating what’s educators develop confidence been posted, by Similarly, when working in that they are safe to do so, it is a connected environment, important for them to downloading by reading, implementing, understand that an upside of and replicating what’s been data collection is that allowing materials, and posted, by downloading this tracking will result in sharing about these materials, and sharing influencing their future. about these actions, one is actions, one is participating in owning and Additionally, through the shaping the field’s future. enabling power of the now participating in It’s high time that educators mature ‘Read/Write Web’, owning and wrap their minds around this there are opportunities for simple truth and through educators to exert direct shaping the field’s their crowdsourced, mass influence. For instance, by future.” participation further the providing reviews of impact they can have on resources on sites that elicit how things shape up for and publish them from them and their students.◼ teachers, by leaving reflective comments adding to such reviews posted — by others , and by clicking on “Find this Mark Gura is a Contributing Editor to EdTech review helpful?” type opportunities. These Digest. He is former director of the Office of and similar are actions that educators Instructional Technology for New York City stepping up to their potential role as good department of education. Write to: digital citizen professionals understand as [email protected] potentially influencing the future of the
49 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT FUTURE 10 THEMES & UNFOLDING FOCUS POINTS TO WATCH IN 2020 AND ONWARD
Teachers” highlighted one powerful approach to moving in this direction. The 10 Themes & approach of the planned series (with one episode finished and made available free to teachers everywhere) is to shine a light on Unfolding inspiring and engaging practices in teaching.
Focus Points ■ By the way, another tough nut that teachers have been trying to crack seemingly forever is parent engagement, to Watch in and moving forward, through greater availability of more capable resources, 2020 and along with raising this success factor’s priority (quite possibly the technology makes it seem more likely to bring Onward success) is showing up. One example is the Middle Web article, “Boosting Parent and Family Engagement” (December 2019), stating, “With some front-end planning 1 and strategic use of technology, teachers Student engagement: going for and administrators can mitigate many of the challenges by reaching out to parents it! Revitalized, technology- in a number of ‘smart’ ways…” supported commitment to engagement as the prime driver for learning. 2 Educators have always spoken of Student Giant steps in transforming Engagement as a key element in the professional development. complex alchemy of teaching and learning. It appears that the field is about to make it The classic, traditional model of live, face- a much higher priority, though. Education to-face, workshop-driven professional Week’s piece, “Special Report: 10 Big Ideas development continues to recede in in Education”” (January 2019), chose to put dominance as new possibilities and “Kids are right. School is boring” in the list’s models appear and gain traction, a great number one spot. This may come for many of them established through the some as a jaw-dropping shift in development of more sophisticated understanding about success factors that communications technologies. impact the institution of School. The ways the above is so, are so numerous ■ As if specifically designed to address this that they beg an in-depth article. For now, challenge, EdTech Digest’s article let’s examine a few bread crumbs that “SPOTLIGHT: A Series to Inspire Engaging mark the path:
50 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT FUTURE 10 THEMES & UNFOLDING FOCUS POINTS TO WATCH IN 2020 AND ONWARD
■ Facebook for Education announced itself held as a crucial success and satisfaction recently. And while numbers of educators factor and likewise very rarely deemed to have been creating Facebook groups and be sufficient and, until now, adequate to inviting colleagues to join them there for the deep need for it. We see tremendous professional sharing of ideas and more for growth in this area in the emergence of some time, statements like the following better resources, more sophisticated illustrate how the platform itself has practices in using them and their become self-aware about this important integration into professional lives, and in purpose: “Our Story - Our mission at the levels of adoption. Facebook is to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. We believe education is the backbone to this mission. …Facebook 3 Education was created to bring the world Education makes some solid closer together by growing the knowledge moves toward fostering student economy, through access and equity in educational opportunities for all learners. creativity (and it’s about time!) …This page and its connected groups will allow educators to come together to share http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2018/09/ ideas, explore new ones, and collaborate pisa_to_add_creative-thinking_test_ACT.html to tackle challenges.” (https:// www.facebook.com/pg/education/about/? ■ The article, “A Test to Assess Creativity? ref=page_internal ) It's in the Works” appeared in Education Week in late 2018 stating “When ■ Other resources, too, are making teenagers all over the world take the PISA educator professional development an exam in 2021, they could face a new kind important part of their overtly stated of test: one that aims to measure their mission. Here’s a quote from ZOOM’s creativity. And the maker of a major U.S. guide titled “ZOOM for K-12 Schools & college-admissions exam—ACT—will build Districts” - “K-12 Education Use Cases it. ..” It is said the Organization for Professional development teams virtually Economic Co-operation and observe a teacher’s classroom for annual Development, the Paris-based agency critique and feedback.” that administers the PISA exam, chose ACT to design a “creative thinking ■ Synchronous professional development assessment” for worldwide use in 2021. webinars, generally provided a- synchronously as well via recordings, after ■ More recently (December 2019), the the events; real-time stream of inspiration LEGO Foundation’s blog ran the article, tweeting of events, publications, media “Teaching creative thinking in schools - items and resources along with following PISA 2021 will offer some clues” stating, “In those entities that promised to three years’ time, education systems will consistently provide value and interest, be much better placed to understand, and and more are literally redefining PD, an tackle, the challenge of developing aspect of the field of education perennially creativity skills in schools.”
51 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT FUTURE 10 THEMES & UNFOLDING FOCUS POINTS TO WATCH IN 2020 AND ONWARD
Clearly, as this area of human intellectual wonder that a 2020 update and expansion development has never been made a high of the report is already underway. Yes, priority part of the core business of 2019 did turn out to be the “Year of schools, there may be much pressure to Student Robotics.” forestall the inevitable inclusion of what educational theorists and workplace When done well, this is an area of learning spokespersons continue to identify as a that involves kids in solving problems, key, critical area of learning in the 21st including real-world problems. It’s one of Century. And whether PISA opts to include the original eSports, with competitions like Creativity in the alarmingly close those produced for kids around the world administration of its assessment in 2021, by the organization FIRST (see EdTech this is an idea that not only won’t go away, Digest’s coverage of FIRST this past year – but that has a slowly (painfully) emerging 1) A World Built Better Together and 2) and broadening presence in education. What Was Dean Kamen Thinking? ) We’ve seen a number of hopeful indicators of movement … Since these articles and the report though, Editor-at-Large Mark Gura has turned his ■ Smart Brief’s (December 2019) article, A attention to a more recent-to-appear peek into 2020, “Who’s learning through application of robotics in the lives of creation, who’s not—and why? – today’s students, which he discussed in EdTech Digest’s first panel discussion at the ■ The 2020 Driving K-12 Innovation Report recent FETC (Future of Education by CoSN identifies “learners as creators” as Technology Conference) in Miami Beach. the number one accelerator for innovation in schools…”
■ In EdTech Digest’s ISTE Conference 2019 round-up article, ”Ba-Boom! EdTech!” 4 Apple’s resource, Everyone Can Create, was highlighted. Apple continues with this Teaching robots / digital important work! teaching and learning assistants. Much More from Robotics Few educators are as yet aware of this Just a few months back, EdTech Digest unfolding development, one that promises offered eager readers its first special to truly disrupt Education, let alone report, “The State of Student Robotics understand it with an eye toward figuring 2019”. In opening this 90-page free e-book, out how to integrate it into their the piece states, “The popularity and professional lives and practices. complexity of Student Robotics has grown A number of worthwhile reflections on so quickly and massively over the past few this, still to hit the radar screen, years that it’s time to take stock and phenomenon have appeared relatively reflect.” The field of resources and body of recently, a couple of examples are: practice has continued to expand. Small
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■ First, Education Elements’ piece “Robots encourage students to get involved with Are Not Taking Over Teachers' Jobs” and causes they support can further their second, Voice of America’s contradicting understanding of activist movements article, “South Korean Students Learn English and events. from Robot Teacher.” Teaching students both critical thinking Stay tuned! So much more to do before skills and how to be engaged in their this one becomes clearer! communities is an important step in https://www.edelements.com/blog/robots-are- bringing subjects like civics and social not-taking-over-teachers-jobs studies to life…real-world experience not https://www.voanews.com/east-asia/south- only inspires learning, it deepens korean-students-learn-english-robot-teacher connections and encourages retention.” (Source: Education Dive) https://www.educationdive.com/news/ student-led-initiatives-tie-civic-action- 5 advocacy-to-social-studies-lesson/569219/ Student social action / citizenship as a real-world learning platform. 6 The traditional model of Education calls Facing new pushback against for students to participate in activities that edtech (and taking smart steps are away from the real world, activities that have them considering facts and skills in a to avoid it). purely instructional context and divorced from actual application in the real world. So much progress has been made in the development of edtech resources and Today’s kids however crave direct practices and the transformation of participation in their world, one in which traditional classrooms of yesterday to they are surrounded by digital/social today’s and tomorrow’s “Digital Learning media. A logical next level of learning Environments.” Why, then, are so many activity, then involves Social Activism, teachers reacting against edtech and its something that today’s kids find ultra- integration across the curriculum? The engaging. Teachers can capitalize on sentiment is out there; teachers see tech students experience in this area, using it to as isolating, representing a further engage and guide students in traditional barrier between student and teacher, as areas of learning like Writing. posing threats to learning and challenging the development of critical, Here is an item of note picked up along independent thinking. this path: ■ “Student-led initiatives tie civic Alas, it is likely also the case that those action, advocacy to social studies teachers who feel resistant to tech lessons - Curricula that adoption gravitate toward published
53 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT FUTURE 10 THEMES & UNFOLDING FOCUS POINTS TO WATCH IN 2020 AND ONWARD
articles, especially their headlines, and use these to justify their position of resistance. 7 By understanding these considerations and Fully recognizing and addressing mis-apprehensions, those concerned with the human needs of learners. pushing the Digital Shift further and more successfully would be wise to familiarize While Bloom’s Taxonomy, a hierarchically themselves with the phenomenon and depicted cataloging of the common address it by sharing their understandings varieties of learning classically addressed of the transformational benefits of in school, is something that virtually all technology adoption. educators are familiar with, what most never learn in their teacher education Some items we’ve seen recently: programs is that it represents only a portion of the work of its originator, ■ “Isolation: A Pitfall of Online Benjamin Bloom. Among other things, he Learning” (PBS Education) addressed, in addition to the commonly known, Cognitive Domain, is the Affective ■ “Technology in the classroom can be a Domain, in which the realm of feelings is distraction“ (Source “Technology in the considered as a crucial part of learning. It’s Classroom in 2019: 6 Pros & Cons” TopHat) highly noteworthy that including the https://tophat.com/blog/6-pros-cons- Affective and related realms, has been a technology-classroom/ trend picking up speed for a number of years now. Here are a few examples of ■ Why Students Can’t Write — And Why things noted that point increased interest Tech Is Part of the Problem (Source: and effort in this area in 2020 and beyond. EdSurge) https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-04-02-why-students- ■ “Mindfulness instruction makes a big can-t-write-and-why-tech-is-part-of-the-problem? impact on learning” and “What is nature utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaig deficit disorder?” (eSchool News – n=Issue:%202019-04-03%20K-12%20Education%20Dive November 2019) %20Newsletter%20%5Bissue: 20192%5D&utm_term=Education%20Dive:%20K12 ■ “How Tech is Taking Social Emotional Learning out of its Silo” (EdSurge – July ■ OPINION: ‘Programs that give every student a computer instead of time 2019) with a teacher are misguided’ (Source: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-07-06-how- Hechinger Report) tech-is-taking-social-emotional-learning-out-of-its-silo https://hechingerreport.org/opinion-programs- that-give-every-student-a-computer-instead-of- ■ “Trauma-Informed Teaching time-with-a-teacher-are-misguided/ Strategies” (Educational Leadership – October 2019) http://www.ascd.org/publications/ educational_leadership/oct19/vol77/num02/ Trauma-Informed_Teaching_Strategies.aspx
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8 9 Evolving literacy. Preparing real kids for real futures. In 2018, The Atlantic ran a major article, “Why American Students Haven't Gotten Better Pointing out that our schools continue to at Reading in 20 Years,” detailing conflicting prepare students today in order to enter a views of traditional approaches to Literacy world of work that increasingly no longer instruction as background to reading exists has already become an expected scores being essentially flat since 1998. staple discussion point among forward thinking educators. A strong trend in 2019 and into 2020 is improvement of student literacy skills What to do about this and how to do it, through non-traditional approaches and though, are rarely offered as follow up to the focused application of technology to those statements about the dangerous provide new learning opportunities. Here irrelevance of current instructional are some examples of what’s shaping up programs. This understanding and some and presenting itself in literacy instruction. solid thinking to flesh it out continues to emerge though. ■ “How the Latest Technologies Help Improve Literacy Skills” (Source: Pro Good thing, because readiness to hear it also Literacy blog 2019) seems to be showing up. A few examples: https://proliteracy.org/Blogs/Article/399/How-the- Latest-Technologies-Help-Improve-Literacy-Skills ■ “How Educators Can Prepare Students for the Workforce” (on-demand ■ “4 ways podcasts help improve webinar) (Source: Industry Dive – 2019) student literacy” (Source: eSchool https://resources.industrydive.com/education- News) in-an-era-of-human-agility? https://www.eschoolnews.com/2020/01/03/4- utm_source=EDK12&utm_medium=NL1-0113& ways-podcasts-help-improve-student-literacy/ utm_campaign=KellyServices&FirstName=&Last [email protected] ■ “Digital game-based learning &Company=&utm_term=20577&utm_content= enhances literacy” (Source: New Jersey ad-TOP&client=Kelly Education Association, 2019) %20Services&location=TOP&newsletter_schedul https://www.njea.org/digital-game-based- e_id=20577&opportunity_id=INHOUSE learning-enhances-literacy/ ■ “How to Integrate Entrepreneurship ■ “10 Ways to Use Technology to Build into the Classroom” (Source: Vocabulary” (Source: Reading Rockets, Tech&Learning – 2019) 2019) https://www.techlearning.com/how-to/how-to- https://www.readingrockets.org/article/10- integrate-entrepreneurship-into-the-classroom? ways-use-technology-build-vocabulary utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_c
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ampaign=10585&utm_content=Tech%26Learning which includes computerized exams +11%2F27%2F19+&utm_term=1272672&m_i=wo throughout the year that offer FO%2Brsf03XkGEKroAsotbu5_b3Zo9e achievement data to teachers…” %2BF0mvgorrHNTOC1JPR69_aHLFzZ6%2Bv7lXJhT mYR6B1H7PTOlwpwPoBAdDNQpC6YwwwK&M_B The Marietta district, one of nine in T=810043649812 Georgia that, will begin using a computer- based assessment that adapts to students’ ■ “Preparing Students Today for the responses. The new system will collect Careers of Tomorrow” (Source: Laurel achievement data throughout the year Springs School – 2019) reflecting students’ growth as well as their https://laurelsprings.com/preparing-students- proficiency levels. Source: Education Dive today-for-the-careers-of-tomorrow/ (October 2019) https://www.educationdive.com/news/is-this-the- ■ “Preparing students for jobs that end-of-end-of-year-testing/565850/ don't exist” (Source: ISTE blog – 2019) https://www.iste.org/explore/ISTE-blog/ ■ Re-Humanizing the School Experience Preparing-students-for-jobs-that-don%27t-exist Time to Play: More State Laws Require Recess “Unstructured playtime is making a comeback in schools as frustrated teachers, parents, and advocacy groups demand legislative action… 10 Against a backdrop of teacher strikes aimed at A few fingers-crossed systems that feel unresponsive to teachers and students, an effort to pass laws predictions. mandating recess for elementary-age children has picked up steam…The Research Says the 2019 brought evidence of serious benefits of a break in the school day extend movement in improving education. There beyond the value of the time outside… are definitely moves afoot to provide physical activity improved students’ fitness and improved learning opportunities in far brain function, enhancing their accuracy and more human-friendly ways. Here are a few reaction time in cognitive tasks. good news items that indicate things are ’We’ve seen some amazing changes in our moving in the right direction with students…Their creative writing has improved. increasing velocity: Their fine motor skills have improved, their [body mass index] has improved. Attention in ■ Elimination of Traditional the classroom has improved.” Standardized Testing (or at least a Source: Edutopia (March, 2019) lessening of it to a more healthful level) https://www.edutopia.org/article/time-play- “Georgia and Nebraska are adopting a new more-state-laws-require-recess "through-year" assessment approach -- aimed at phasing out traditional end-of- ■ AI will positively transform teaching year tests -- as part of the Every Student and learning Succeeds Act's Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority. The model,
56 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT FUTURE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
■ “The Machines Are Learning, and So Are the Students New Year’s Resolutions Artificial intelligence is starting to take over ✔ Engage all students in learning robotics. repetitive tasks in classrooms, like grading, and is optimizing coursework and Support providing all kids a student revolutionizing the preparation for college robotics experience, ideally in their regular, entrance exams…real progress has been daytime instructional program; even better, made. Slowly, algorithms are making their robotics integrated across the curriculum. way into classrooms, taking over repetitive tasks like grading, optimizing coursework Make understanding the shift to an to fit individual student needs and automated world a prominent part of the revolutionizing the preparation for College curriculum. Students are maturing in an Board exams like the SAT. A plethora of increasingly robot-saturated world and online courses and tutorials also have should spend time reflecting on changes in freed teachers from lecturing and allowed their lives they will continue to experience. them to spend class time working on problem solving with students instead…” ✔ Let’s have greater clarity on the Source: New York Times (December 2019) purpose and projected usefulness of https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/education/ coding activities. artificial-intelligence-tutors-teachers.html ◼ As impressive as the quick, broad adoption
of Coding in our classrooms has been, the narrative about why there is so much “Artificial enthusiasm for it and its value to students intelligence is is not fully clear. A broader discussion about why this skill set is of value to starting to take over students, how educators should repetitive tasks in understand its place in their future lives, classrooms, like how it impacts and contributes to their grading, and is success as learners, and more will afford optimizing much greater and empowering clarity around this area of instruction. Hopefully, coursework and we’ll see much done on this in 2020. revolutionizing the preparation for ✔ STEAM for all: revitalize The Arts by re- college entrance contextualizing them, leveraging technology to implement in all classrooms. exams...real progress The tools and understandings are has been made.” available; Visual Art, Music, Drama/ Literature, and more can be introduced into the lives of today’s kids who are hungry for them. A wide variety of digital resources can support this through online
57 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT FUTURE FINAL WORDS, COMING ATTRACTIONS—AND AN INVITATION TO PEEK AT WHAT’S OVER THE HORIZON
tutoring, and enabling student production Final Words, Coming of arts products (graphics, recordings, etc.). Above, all the body of insight, shared Attractions—and an experience, and resources now available invitation to peek at can make the integration of this learning across the curriculum easy and structured What’s Over the Horizon in ways to enhance the various subjects in which The Arts can be integrated. At the recent FETC (Future of Education Technology Conference) in Miami Beach, ✔ Foster student creativity and EdTech Digest presented its own panel, innovation in our classrooms. Welcome to the Probing Edge: Looking at Acknowledged now as key ways of thinking Education’s Future, Today! Moderated by and applying knowledge in the unfolding Victor Rivero, Editor-in-Chief of EdTech 21st century, instructional programs that Digest, the panel consisted of: target these bodies of skills and understandings are still either not offered Rachelle Dean Poth: Author, educator, and in any significant way in schools, or are President, ISTE Teacher Education Network; ancillary and tangential. Sufficient bodies of Don Wettrick: Former teacher, President at guiding material exist for districts and state The STARTedUP Foundation; and Mark Gura: departments of education to begin guiding Author/Journalist, and Professor of EdTech schools in the adoption of practices that Leadership at Touro College and New York address this, as yet, largely unmet need. Institute of Technology, and Co-chair, ISTE Literacy Network. ✔ Have a fresh look at actually preparing today’s kids for tomorrow’s world of work Don spoke on the future of curriculum and how and professional life. technology provides a platform for it, Innovation, All schools should be able to justify what’s Entrepreneurship, Open Resource Learning and being taught with reasons that square with more. Rachelle, on the future of teacher actual needs over tradition. At a minimum, preparation in support of the way Teaching, a broad-based discussion throughout the itself, is evolving. And Mark talked about how field that fosters taking a fresh look, instruction must accommodate the rapid reflecting on purpose and relevance, and emergence of Robotics in the world our students on planning to adjust programs to bring are preparing to live the bulk of their lives in. them in line with relevance would make a great platform from which to move Rather than conjuring up a ‘won’t that be cool!” forward. EdTech Digest is enthusiastic about vision of a possible future for Education, the platforming the conversation and providing parameter set, one that resonated with the background materials to support educators audience, was identifying changes that are to engage and profit themselves and their already appearing in the world of teachers and students; those that are actionable in the students by engaging in it. ◼ sense that through informing themselves about them, today’s educators can, through
58 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT FUTURE FINAL WORDS, COMING ATTRACTIONS—AND AN INVITATION TO PEEK AT WHAT’S OVER THE HORIZON
the application of the ‘Connecting Robotics, Digital Teaching and Learning Technologies’, to a significant degree Assistants, STEM/STEAM, Digital Content, influence the future they will live, in the not- and Fostering Student Creativity and too-far future—and choose the one they Innovation. Stay tuned and (word to the want to live. This is a radical shift in wise) don’t get too comfortable in your understanding and relationship to the understanding of Education, how it’s future, one that is presenting itself to us defined, the goals it takes aim at, and how right now. Further exploration of this shift it will be accomplished. We’re looking in perception will drive an appreciable forward to an appropriately exhilarating amount of what’s planned for EdTech Digest and transformational wild ride over the in 2020. There’ll be more on Student next year. You’re invited to join us! ◼
“Our vision ... is a world where every student graduates confident and prepared. Having our platform recognized by EdTech Digest is a testament to the work and commitment that the Course Hero team demonstrates every day to help make that vision a reality.”
—Andrew Grauer, Co-founder and CEO, Course Hero
Course Hero, an online learning platform curating over 25 million course-specific study resources, won EdTech Digest’s Cool Tool Award for Best Product/Service. Learn more about The EdTech Awards.
59 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT FUTURE EDTECH1000: COMPANIES TRANSFORMING EDUCATION
In the fall of 2020, we will highlight a handful of companies from The EDTECH1000 List. Watch for them on www.edtechdigest.com
STATE OF EDTECH A Group Effort These companies are making a big difference in shaping the future of learning.
By VICTOR RIVERO
TRENDSETTERS: Founded in 2014, VR Education Holdings is a VR/AR software firm dedicated to changing how educational content and corporate training are provided and consumed. Winner of The EdTech Trendsetter Award as part of The EdTech Awards 2019 presented by EdTech Digest, the UK-based company’s ENGAGE platform is making ripples worldwide.
Intent on transforming learning, these dedicated is: that, if you can identify a need and create a companies and organizations form The EDTECH1000 solution that goes above and beyond to truly help List. The leading-edge, trendsetting innovators here answer that call, and really contribute to represent every type of outfit, from small startups to authentically advancing the goals of learning, then large, established firms across K-12, higher you will rightfully take your place among the most education, workforce learning and upskilling sectors. successful edtech companies in the world. The ones The individuals that make up these stellar teams all that ultimately last are those transformative share in common a determination to make a companies that are most determined to put learners difference for learners and leaders everywhere, and first. Worldwide, there are more than just a continue to shape the future of learning. While today thousand, some are winners of The EdTech Awards there are but a handful of billion-dollar companies, including the Cool Tool, Leadership, and Trendsetter by 2025, some estimates show that there may be awards—but all of them are driving forward into the over 100 unicorns in this space. For those listening future and get up in the morning with a purpose to closely to students, teachers, parents, employers, help better the current state of education. Here is employees and learners of every variety—the lesson but a small tip of the hat to those brave teams!
60 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT EDTECH1000 10 COMPANIES TO WATCH & WHY
COMPANIES TO WATCH
1 2U. Currently pushing ‘Edtech with a human touch’ — they continue to power world-class online education and now, in- person boot camps. They are going beyond traditional learning management systems in using technology, people, 360 Alumni Arma Partners and data to help top universities transform in the digital era—but their shift in 3A EDucation Aruba (HPE) 3Doodler ASCD emphasis toward the working adult space is something to keep an eye on. 3M Assembly 500 Startups ASU+GSV A.D.A.M. Atomic Learning 2 Aakash Educational Audio Essentials Services Pvt. Ltd. Authentica Solutions Cengage. Serving higher education, K-12, ABC-CLIO Autism Expressed professional, library and workforce ABPathfinder Autodesk training markets worldwide, the Boston- Abl Autodesk Tinkercad Academic Progress Avaya based company undergoing a merger Accelerate Learning Aver USA with educational publisher giant Accel Partners AWE Learning McGraw-Hill Education is part of a reshaping and digital shifting of the college Accuplacer awe Media Achieve3000 AwesomeStories textbook landscape promising improved affordability, extended choice, and AchieveTheCore AWS (Amazon) high-quality products for faculty, institutions, and students. ACT Axonify Activate Instruction BankersLab Adaptemy BCG Adaptive Curriculum Because Learning! 3 Ad Hoc Academic Limited Bedrock Learning Coursera. An edtech unicorn, the AdmitSee Belkin Education company offers courses, certificates, and Adobe Bell Tower Schoolhouse degrees online from universities and ADTRAN Benetech Advancement Courses Benq companies; they collaborate with nearly 200 of them, and from a 2019 AEFOL EXPOELEARNING BenchPrep Coursera Learner Outcomes Survey, “87% of people learning for professional Aeris Partners BeRobot development report career benefits like getting a promotion, a raise, or starting Aerohive BETT Affirm BiblioNasium a new career.” Age of Learning Big Word Club AirWatch BigBlueButton Inc. Albert BirdBrain Technologies 4 AlchemyVR Blackbaud Alcoa Foundation Blackboard Guild Education. Redefining the future of work Alive Studios BloomBoard and adult education with tuition reimbursement, Alma Bloomz online programs and degrees for working adults AltSchool Bloxels EDU Alumnifire BNC —the female-founded, venture-funded, mission- Amazon Education BocaVox led firm has the more than 30 million working Amplify Book Creator adults without a high school diploma in its sites, plus the 70% of the US Andela BookNook population that doesn’t have a college degree. Employee tuition benefits is A Pass Ed. Group Bookopolis App Ed Review BookPagez their pathway. Apperson Inc. BoomWriter Appleton Boulder Learning Arcademics Boundless Ardusat Boxlight Mimio Arivanza Brain Hive more next page >>
61 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT + COMPANIES TO WATCH 10 COMPANIES TO WATCH & WHY
COMPANIES TO WATCH 5 KnowBox. The Chinese K-12 online collaborative learning platform serving primary and secondary education teachers Brainly ClassWallet and students closed over $150 million in BrainRush Classworks Breaking the Barrier Clearpath EPM funding and is another edtech unicorn. The company is looking to artificial Brett E Shelton Clever intelligence (AI) as they move forward, and its teaching tools and AI-enabled Bridge Int’n’l Academies CoCubes Technologies adaptive learning services for students is of particular interest. Bridge U Code Avengers BrightBytes CodeCombat Britannica Digital Learning CodeHS bulb digital portfolios CodeKey Inc. 6 Buncee Codementor PowerSchool. Having Busuu CodeMonkey Byju’s CodeREV completed its acquisition of C. Blohm & Associates CogBooks Schoology, the company is Califone Cogent Education “Creating the most Callido Learning Cognero comprehensive unified classroom solution to empower teachers with Cambium Learning Cognii Campus Suite Cognotion personalized learning functionality, improving education outcomes for all Canary Learning Collabco students.” All 45 million, to be exact. The company is now in 80+ countries, and Capstone Digital College Ave employs nearly 2,000 people. Capti Voice College Board Career Power CollegeVine CareerInSTEM Colvard Learning Carolina Biological Common Caches 7 Carrot Rewards Communications Unacademy. Billing themselves as Castle Rock Research Strategy Group Catalyst Compass Learning “India’s Largest Learning Platform” Catapult Learning Connected Data the Bangalore-based edtech CatchOn Connections Academy company with a new $110 million in funding from among others, Facebook, Cengage Connections Education CEV Multimedia Content Technologies, Inc. started as a YouTube channel before launching its own platform and app. With Chalkable Copia Interactive 1 million videos and over 10 million downloads, they’ll now be looking to move Chalkup CoSN into test prep as well as bringing on leading educators. ChatterHigh Course Base Civitas Learning Course Hero Checkmate Foundation Coursera Chegg Inc Creation Crate 8 Chrome Warrior CreatieLIVE Skyward. A software company specializing in Chronus Creya Learning & K-12 school management, they’ve been CIOapplications Research Cirkled In Cricksoft around since 1980 and while they’ve kept Cisco CSG PR current, their values have remained the same CLANED CSI Literacy in serving over 1900 school districts and 7 ClassCraft Cudoo ClassDojo Cuppla Technology million students with their solutions. EdTech Classera Curiosityville Digest named Skyward ‘Company of the Year’ for 2019. Classkick Curious World ClassLink Curriculet ClassLoom Curriculum Associates Classroom Inc Curriculum Crafter more >>
62 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT + COMPANIES TO WATCH 10 COMPANIES TO WATCH & WHY
COMPANIES TO WATCH
9 BuzzMath. This impressive little Canadian company (Scolab Inc is the company; Curriki EdTechX their flagship product is Buzzmath), offers a beautifully-done e-learning CyberFlow Analytics Edthena CYPHER LEARNING Education Curb resource for math students in elementary and middle schools. They offer more CZI Education Data Solutions than 10,000 interactive activities and are setting a great example of how to D2L Education Elements really engage learners through smart, beautiful content. DaDaABC Education Perfect Data Resources Inc. Education Technology Dayton Johnson Exec Search Associates Declara Education.com 10 Defined Learning Educational Consulting Flinn Scientific. In 1977, Lawrence Flinn Jr. Defined STEM Services, LLC Degreed EducationSuperHighway quit his job and started a business that Delightex EDUCAUSE focused on science teachers and their needs. Dell EduChange, Inc. The science classroom supply company has DFRobot Educurious seen continued growth and has evolved to offer a half dozen high quality DigiExam Edufolios Dig-It! Games Edulastic digital resources as well, including FlinnPREP and FlinnSTEM. Digital Theatre Plus EduOne Dinan Capital Advisors EduOnGo Direct Services eduPad Disaster Records Eduplanet 21 Discovery Education Eduporium Docebo EduSystem DocentEDU EduTechGuys DoctoralNet edWeb DonorsChoose eDynamic Learning DOT digital group Elesapiens Essential Spanish Vocabulary Firecracker DreamBox Learning Ellevation Education Flashcards First Round Dremel ELMO USA European Leadership University Fishtree DubLabs Embibe Event Leadership Institute Flipgrid DuoLingo Empow Studios Eventbrite FlipIt EasyUni.com Energized Minds EventTracker Flocabulary eBackpack EnGenius Technologies EverFi FLVS Edbacker English Central EVO 40 Cart from LockNCharge Follett EdCast Engrade EvoText, Inc. ForClass Edco Enhance Knowledge Examity Forward Thinking EDU EdFutures Services Pvt Ltd Excent FourierEDU Edgenuity Enrollment Rx ExecOnline FreshBiz Game EdioLabs EON Reality Explain Everything FreshGrade Edmentum Epic! ExploreLearning Frontline Education Edmodo Epiphany Learning Extension Engine FrontRow EdNET Epraise Limited EZ Vidya Private Limited FSR Edovo (Jail Education Epson FableVision Fuel Education Solutions, d/b/a Edovo) ERPScan Faria Education Group Fulcrum Labs EDpuzzle eSchoolView Fast ForWord Full Measure Education Edsby eSpark FastBridge Learning FundersClub EdTechAfterDark eSplice FETC Funds For Learning EdTechLens EssayTagger Fidelis Education FutureLearn EdTechTeam Essence Associates, LLC FieldTripZoom, LLC Gadget Software Filament Games Galvanize Labs
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63 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT + COMPANIES TO WATCH EDTECH1000: COMPANIES TRANSFORMING EDUCATION
Gather Education iKeepSafe Knowledge Notebook, Inc. Lightspeed Technologies GCI Education IKIDSFUTURE KnowStory Lingo Live General Assembly Illumeo, Inc Kokoa Standard Lion's Heart Generation YES Illuminate Ed Kramer Listen Current GetSmarter Impero Software Kuder LiteracyTA Getting Smart Infinite Campus Kurzweil Literatu Globaloria ingram L Wolfe Communications Literatu Pty Limited GoConqr Insight Education Group Lab4u LiveBinders GoEnnounce InstaEDU Labster LivingTree GoGuardian Instructure Lambda Solutions LockNCharge Gojimo Intellatek Language Cloud LongLeaf Solutions GoNoodle intelliVOL Languagenut Lore Google for Education Interfolio LapCabby LTG Exam GoReact IO Education LaptopsAnytime Lumerit Education GPA Learn iontuition Laureate Education Lumos Learning Gradeable iPracticeMath Lea(R)n L Wolfe Communications GradeHub IStation LeadID Mac to School Grammarly ISTE Learn2Earn Magic Leap GrandKeyEd Itslearning Learn Capital MajorClarity Gridstore iTutorGroup Learning Ally MakeBlock Griffin Technology ITWORX Education Learning A-Z Makers Academy Groupwerk, Inc. IXL Learning Learning Bird Makey Makey Grovo J Harrison PR Group Learning Coach Central MangaHigh GSV Capital JAMF Software Learning Curve Mansfield Sales Partners LLC Guidebook Joomla LMS Learning Evolution Marbotic GuideK12 JoyTunes Learning Games Studios, Inc. MaRS Discovery District Hanover Research Junction Education Learning Upgrade LLC MasterClass Hapara Junyo Learning.com Masters and DoctoralNet Harbinger Knowledge Products Jupiter Ed Learning Counsel MasteryConnect Harris School Solutions K12 LearningBird Mathletics Hatch Early Learning K12 Insight Learnist MathWorks Helix Education Kaltura LearnLaunch Matific Her Interactive Kaizen PE Learnosity Mawi Learning Hero K12 Kaplan LearnPlatform McGraw-Hill Education Higher Learning Technologies Kapor Capital Learnsprout MCH Strategic Data HireEducation Kaseya LEARNstyle Ltd MDR Education HMH Marketplace KDSI LearnUpon ME Education Hobsons KEH Communications LearnWithHomer ME Group of Companies Holberton School Kickboard LearnZillion Measured Progress Hootsuite Kidaptive LEGO Education MediaCore Horizon DataSys KidPass Lerner Publishing Group MEL Science HotChalk Kids Discover Online Lesson Planet Meru Networks Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Kishmorr Productions Lenovo Metiri Group House of EdTech Kiwa Digital Ltd Lexia Learning Metria Learning HoverCam Knewton Library For All MIDAS Education HUE Knomadix Corporation Lifeliqe Middlebury Interactive i-Clicker KnoteSter LightSail Milestone Documents IBM Knovation Lightower Mimio Identity Automation Knowledgemotion Lightspeed Systems Mind Research
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64 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT EDTECH1000 EDTECH1000: COMPANIES TRANSFORMING EDUCATION
MIT Education OOHLALA Mobile PR with Panache Ruckus Mobile Beacon Open Assessment PrepMagic RUSHWORKS MobyMax Technologies PREPMYFUTURE Said Business School Modern Teacher Open English PresenceLearning Salesforce Trailhead Modest Tree Media OpenED Primo Toys Samsung School Modo Labs OpenStax ProctorU Sapling Learning Mojo Enforce Optolexia Prodigy Scenario Learning MooreCo ORIGO Education Prodigy Game Schell Games Mosaic451 Osmo Promethean Scholastic Motivating Systems, LLC Otus proprep Scholastic Library Motivis Learning Outcert Proversity Scholastico Movenote Outschool PR with Panache School Improvement Network Mozaik Education Owl Ventures PublicSchoolWORKS School Specialty Mrs. Wordsmith Packback Qualtrics Schoold Muzzy Lane Software Padcaster Qubed SchoolMessenger Mwabu (aka iSchool) Pagamo Quill.org SchoolMint myly Panasonic Quizlet Schoolrunner Mystery Science panOpen QwertyTown Schoolzilla n2y Panorama Education Qwickly, Inc. Science Bits Naiku PAPERbasket RaaWee K12 Solutions Science4Us Navigation North Paragon One Radix Scientific Learning Navitas Ventures Parchment Raise.me Seas Education Ncomputing ParentLink Raptor Technologies SecondSite Nearpod ParentSquare ReaderBee SharpSchool Nepris PASCO Reading A-Z Shenzhen Cloudpoint Netmedia Pathbrite Reading Horizons Technology Co., Ltd NETMINO PBS Learning Media Readorium Shmoop Netop PBS Teacherline ReadSpeaker Showbie New Enterprise Associates PD Learning Network ReadWorks Shutterfly New Intelligence Inc. Pearson Ready4 Signal Vine, LLC New Schools Venture Fund Peekapak Realityworks Silicon Mechanics Newsela Penda Learning Redbird Learning Silverback Learning Solutions Newseum ED Penguin RedShelf, Inc SimpleK12 Next Tier Education, Inc. Penveu Reed SKILLS Global NextLesson PeopleAdmin RefME Skookii Noodle Performance Matters Remark Test Grading SkySync NoRedInk Performensation Remind Skyward NovoEd pivotEd Renaissance Skyward, Inc. NS BASIC PlayMada Renaissance 2.0 Media, Inc. Slate Science NUITEQ PledgeCents Renaissance Learning SlideRoom Nureva Plotagon Rethink Education Smart Ants NutKase PLS 3rd Learning Rethink First Smart Horizons NWEA Pluralsight ReUp Education Smart Science Education Inc. Odysseyware Pocket Prep RICOH SMART Technologies OER Commons PocketTutor Rikt AS SmartBrief Ogment Portfolium RoboKind Smarterer OnCourse Systems for Education Portfolium, Inc. RobotsLAB Smartly OnPoint Innovative Learning Powerful Learning Practice ROI Print Manager SmartTerm Environments PowerSchool Rosetta Stone Smithsonian
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65 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT EDTECH1000 EDTECH1000: COMPANIES TRANSFORMING EDUCATION
Smrt English Ltd Synergis Education Tigtag Science ViewSonic SnapComms T4edu Tinkercad VIPKID Snaptech Digital Solutions Tabtor Tinybop Virtual Schools of Excellence Snowflake MultiTeach TAG Assessment Titan K12 VirtualSpeech Social Assurity TakeLessons Tobii Dynavox Virtual Speech Center Social Capital TAL Education Group Tolerance.org Virtway Socratic TALENT Mentoring LLP Tools4ever VitalSource Technologies Inc. Socrative Tales2go Toolwire Vocabulary SpellingCity Sofatutor Tangible Play Top Hat Voxy SoFi TCEA Trading Technologies Voyager Sopris Learning SoftChalk TCS iON (Tata Consultancy) Travels with Music Vretta Software2 TE21 Triad Interactive Waggle Sokikom Teach TCI Trilogy Education Waterford Institute SolarWinds Teacher Gaming Network Tripp Lite WebAssign SolidProfessor TeacherCast Educational Triseum WeVideo Solution Tree Broadcasting Network Triumph Learning WeWantToKnow Soluzione IT Services TeacherLists TrueAbility, Inc. Whetstone Education Sonic Foundry TeacherMatch Truenorthlogic WinjiGo Soomo Learning Teachers Pay Teachers TrueShelf Winter Group Soundtrap Teachers With Apps Turnitin Wisetail Speakaboos Teaching Channel Tuteria Wisewire Sphero Teachscape Tuva Labs Woot Math Splash Math Teachur Twig Workbench SpringBoard Teachwise Tynker Working Voices Ltd Square Panda Tech4Learning Typing Agent World Education LLC Squirrels LLC TechChange Udacity Wowza SRG Tech TechSmith Udemy WriteLab ST Math Teenlife UnboundEd WriterKEY Standard for Success TEKMAN BOOKS Unigo Group WriteSteps Writing Staymobile TenMarks Unimersiv Y Combinator Steelcase Tenpoint Academy University Beyond Youth Digital STEM Revolution Teq UniversityNow Y Soft Corporation Story2 Terrapin University Ventures Yuanfudao StraighterLine The BLE Group Upskill Zaniac Strategy Institute The Bradfield Company Usablenet Zaption StrongMind The Campus Computing Project USATestprep, Inc Zinc Learning Labs Study Hall The Clayton Christensen Institute Utelogy Zoom Study.com The College Board Vantage Learning Zoozil Media, Inc. StudyBlue The Douglas Stewart Company Varsity Learning Tools zSpace Studypool The Edtech Podcast vCloudPoint zero client StudySync/BookheadEd The Game Audio Insitute Vectra Networks Learning, LLC The Renaissance Network Velocify Sungard K-12 The Social Sentinel Verbling SuperMemo World The Virtual High School Verificient Technologies To be part of the Superplus ThingLink Vernier Software & Technology EDTECH1000: Companies Swivl Think Through Math Vernier’s Graphical Analysis for SXSWedu Thought Cycle Chrome Transforming Education Sycamore Education Thread Versal write to: Synclovis Systems Pvt Ltd Through My Window Versifit Technologies [email protected]
66 EDTECH DIGEST - 2020 STATE OF EDTECH: THE MINDS BEHIND WHAT’S NOW & WHAT’S NEXT EDTECH1000 THIS REPORT WAS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM
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