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Esports Can Increase STEM Equity in Higher Education

June 27, 2019 | 36 views

Some experts speculate that esports could be a powerful way for universities to invigorate science, technology, engineering and math program enrollments, narrowing the racial and gender gaps persisting in STEM education. According to recent data from the American Council on Education, African American and Hispanic students were the least likely to enroll in and complete their degree programs, accounting for just 12 and 17 percent, respectively, of all STEM graduates. Similarly, while the number of female STEM graduates is increasing, women are still globally outnumbered 2 to 1 in related fields, according to the most recent findings from UNESCO.

Spotlight

Indigo Education Company

Our mission is to help all schools, educators, and students realize their full potential through non-academic data and personalized education. Schools thrive when students are engaged, leadership is motivated, and educators construct the bridges for change. Indigo provides schools the consulting, training, and data they need to align these key stakeholders and ultimately drive personalized learning.

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ONLINE EDUCATION

Online Schooling: What Is It and How Does It Work?

Article | July 19, 2022

In the past couple of years, online schooling has proved its advantages for students in a number of ways. Experts have already highlighted its prospects in the years to come. As India’s online education market is expected to grow to USD 1.96 billion at a CAGR of 52% (over the next five years), online schooling can extend better educational opportunities for all – students, teachers, and parents. Let’s understand the structure and functionality of this schooling choice to help you understand how it works! WHAT IS ONLINE SCHOOLING? An online schooling platform allows students to study through the internet. Students make use of home computers and access the study material through an online portal. Just like a traditional school, an online school must have a trained teaching staff, specialized in teaching online. These teachers conduct online classes and supervise the student’s performance. The digital schooling option is highly flexible and convenient for the students as it allows the handholding of educators through online classes (synchronous learning) while simultaneously allowing self-paced independent study duration (asynchronous learning).

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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

The Art and Science of Balancing Screen Time for Online Learners

Article | July 20, 2022

In 2021, Class, a virtual classroom app that combines with Zoom, neared unicorn status after receiving funding from SoftBank Vision Fund II. But, with just 10 months and a string of top edtech U.S. investors to back it up, the app’s spectacular rise only speaks to the boom in online education in the past two years. Online learning has changed. It went from centering around accessibility to becoming the primary delivery method almost overnight. So when it comes to screen time, this newest addition to our already screen-filled lives is uninvited. Especially for children, it only meant that screen time was highly monitored during lockdown. And that change came with struggles. Between configuring the technicalities of accessing online classrooms and figuring out how to engage students, teachers have faced an uphill battle all along. There is plenty of research to suggest that too much screen time has negative health implications, but education has to continue at all costs. 2021 was full of stories of students finding creative ways of avoiding classes or not attending them. One 8-year-old found a loophole in Zoom’s app last year that locked her out of her Zoom class. Even Zoom’s technical team failed to find the issue. It led to a goose chase into discovering that the child was locking herself out by inputting the wrong password over 20 times. Screen Time Vs Screen-Tied Screen time has five types: television, video games, social media, music, and reading. The key is not just to regulate screen time but also the content that is being consumed. Technology may have evolved, but our ability to use it for long durations and to conduct sensory tasks like learning over the internet hasn’t. Between education, video-games, social media and TV, distribution meant calibrating what type of content should be consumed in order to reduce the negative impact. Approximately 75% of all teenagers own a smartphone today. In addition, a majority of young adults report video games as their go-to activity in their free time. While research on the use of video games may be inconclusive, prolonged exposure is nevertheless known to rewire developing brains. There’s also a high risk to susceptible minds with regards to unfiltered and harmful messages from social media, which is a massive source of increased screen time for children and teenagers. All these issues call for a meaningful control of screen time. But in a sea of endless information and uninterrupted content, how do you identify the right balance? Culling Unnecessary Content For educators, the aim is clear: to balance screen time so precariously that children do not lose their will to learn or play. Parents and educational institutions must identify the following objectives through the content they are letting their families consume: Developing digital skills to prepare children for higher education and digital careers Raising digital citizens that use online mediums to contribute to their communities Exposing learners to new ideas and concepts in a safe context Acquiring creative skills, interpersonal expression, and etiquette for engagement online There is no dearth of educational content online, but it is important to achieve a balance between the educational and the entertainment consumption of learners. On occasion, both can be combined through interactive shows and programs that do not expose learners to addictive behaviors. Designating screen-free times, activities, and even locations like meals, traveling, or bedrooms can help learners build a habit of controlling their screen time. To Wrap It Up There is no doubt that the pandemic provided online learning with a much-needed shot in the arm. This also means that screen time has exponentially increased. Thanks to both virtual schools and a complete lockdown on going outside, young learners were left with no option but to turn to their screens. Whether to connect to their peers, attend classes, or spend their free time, learners are faced with a barrage of screen time that can affect their ability to navigate a post-pandemic world. Parents and educators must take it upon themselves to lay down the guidelines that drive the harmonious use of electronics without encouraging total dependence on them.

Read More
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

3 Inclusive Classroom Strategies to Use for Higher Student Enrollment

Article | July 12, 2022

In 2021, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported that student enrollments were at an all-time low. Community college enrollment dipped by 11% while post-secondary enrollment saw a dip of 4.2% year-on-year. The impact of the last two years’ events clearly demonstrates the strain faced by all levels of educational institutions. The shift to the virtual classroom setup also saw parents and students recognize the importance of teaching and learning online. The significance of a virtual classroom is emphasized more than ever. It has forced schools to improve their online teaching infrastructure so that they can keep growing. But this has also affected inclusivity. According to UNESCO, school closures during the pandemic affected 1.2 billion children in 186 countries. In this article, we discuss why virtual learning is in dire need of inclusivity and inclusive learning practices. Why Does Inclusive Learning Matter in the Era of Zoom Classes? Edtech is a booming industry. In 2019, edtech investments reached a whopping US $18 billion. Further, the online education market is estimated to cross the $350 billion mark by 2025. There is no doubt that learning institutions are investing heavily in online learning. But inclusivity is still lagging far behind. The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) found that 25% of secondary school-aged students from underprivileged backgrounds lack a computer. The writing on the wall is clear. Virtual learning is bound to widen the divide, and its impact will be felt most by underprivileged students. For educational institutions, delivering a positively inclusive learning experience online is essential to attracting students who do have access to educational technology. “In the higher education space, most schools were, and still are, predominantly focused on that in-person campus visit to do all those same things, but it’s expensive and it means only students and parents who travel to campus can get that real-life feel and experience.” - Matthew Pellish, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at CampusReel Bringing Personalization to the Virtual Classroom Although virtual learning has stripped away the human touch that accompanies a classroom setting, there are ways to make it more engaging and meaningful. Engage students even before the class starts. This can be done by setting an agenda for the session beforehand and asking students to send in their queries and expectations from the session. Turning the greeting into a short discussion is a great way to engage everyone right off the bat. Tools like Zoom make it simpler to personalize every class with features like backgrounds and notes. Use the chat feature generously. Teaching and learning online has to be a one-sided flow of information for it to be effective. However, the chat feature empowers teachers to break the monotony. The best way to keep students attentive is through personalization. Attentiveness can be achieved by asking many questions, even if they are simply yes-or-no questions. It enables teachers to keep a check on engagement and pivot when needed. Simulating a Sense of Community A discussion on an inclusive learning environment is incomplete without mentioning student community building. Online teaching and learning is limited in its ability to provide a sense of community. Since students are physically separated from their peers, one-on-one connections are lacking. Despite the distance, there are a few solutions you can use to reduce the distance virtually. Identify the type of community you want to develop. Whether you’re offering synchronous or asynchronous courses, it is crucial to keep the student-peer-instructor link active. Create a loop of feedback between teachers and students to enable community building. Modern tools offer a number of ways to seek feedback that provides insight on teaching style and the general classroom environment. Create a classroom forum online. Forums offer the best of two-way interactions with a platform outside of the online class. This ensures constancy and inclusive learning even after the class is over. For those who weren’t able to attend due to technical difficulties or poor connectivity, they never lose track of what’s going on. Cultivating Two-Way Interaction Two-way interactions are an integral part of engaging learning experiences. Inclusive classroom activities online may not completely replace them, but much can be done to build a more involved form of communication. One way to design such activities is to use the Kanevsky and Keighly framework to engage students with the five Cs: choice, challenge, control, complexity, and care. Use screen sharing and remote access tools. Physical classrooms offer avenues for students to present to their peers. In a virtual classroom setting, this can be achieved with screen sharing. Empower students to retain better by making them present their perspective and understanding of different concepts. This gives other students the impetus to do the same. Initiate group discussions through your course management system. Inviting students to design the resources and collaborate on group projects will jumpstart in-depth discussions. Many course management systems allow students to share their notes with each other. This creates inclusive learning environment. Finally: Why Will the Online University Experience Will Attract More Students Although learning institutions are beginning to open up for the in-person learning experience, the effectiveness of a virtual classroom is undeniable. Like remote working, remote learning is gaining ground, and inclusive online teaching is inevitably important. A Cengage survey revealed that 68% of students prefer hybrid learning: a combination of online and offline course delivery. In addition, the Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) found that the number of students who enrolled in online-only programs rose from 3.5 million during the fall to 5.8 million. Fostering meaningful, hands-on learning similar to that in a classroom is difficult. Even though student enrollment in online courses is rising, learning institutions are facing the challenge of delivering a highly engaging learning experience. But with an understanding of the learning outcome and the right tools, institutions can develop robust, inclusive classroom activities that every student will want to benefit from. Frequently Asked Questions Do students and teachers prefer online teaching and learning? According to a recent survey by Cengage, about 73% of students prefer some courses to be delivered fully online. In addition, 57% of teachers said they prefer teaching hybrid courses over online-only courses. Is online teaching and learning a growing trend? Yes. Online learning platform Coursera experienced a huge spike in enrollments. In 2021, enrollment increased by 32% and peaked at 189 million. What are the principles of inclusive education? The principles of inclusive education are: Togetherness Participation Acceptance Equality

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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

Remote Working is Shaping the Future of Schooling

Article | May 11, 2022

For so long, we have deeply embedded technology in our everyday lives. Working and learning from home complement each other, creating an ecosystem of solutions. Even as organizations continue to lean towards remote offices and hybrid working, the same may not be possible with learning. Businesses worldwide have blazed the trail for remote working. The past two years have seen both, formal education, and work taking a big virtual leap. While virtual learning has been around for some time, we have thrust it into the mainstream only because of the events following the pandemic. Remote work is no longer a trend or the domain of freelancers and tech workers. While organizations learned to maintain their productivity even as their workforce was scattered, schools and learning centers weren’t far behind. Schools could shift learning online using the principles and technology businesses were using to stay productive. Working and Learning from Home, Together Zoom classrooms are no match for the physical learning environment provided by a school.Although online education existed as a part-time alternative, traditional schooling has always been a holistic, on-premise experience. Virtual schooling cannot be dismissed, as proven by the last two years. It is especially significant in today’s remote work era and as a precursor to it. While there were mixed feelings about accepting the new normal, families enjoyed several benefits including lowered education costs, zero travel time, children’s safety, and a newfound work-life balance. Virtual schooling has become the norm. It worked only because parents could also stay back and help create a learning environment at home while they worked. They have now become integral to their kids’ learning and growth. “In the higher education space, most schools were, and still are, predominantly focused on that in-person campus visit to do all those same things, but it’s expensive and it means only students and parents who travel to campus can get that real-life feel and experience.” - Matthew Pellish, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at CampusReel Cultivating the Workforce of the Future Virtual learning will provide children with the bandwidth they need to become competent in a world where remote working is the standard. They will have already conquered the learning curve. Remote learning will equip learners with the technical understanding, attitude, and collaborative spirit needed to excel in a technology-driven world. In addition, it will prepare them not just for hybrid workplaces but for a hybrid life that promotes work-life balance. Just as remote work enables easy access to talent worldwide, remote learning will help students access elusive academic programs and high-quality education in a flexible setting. Final Word The future has been transformed forever, and virtual schooling is gaining traction. It also looks set to follow the footsteps of remote working, a concept that is now solidifying in the form of hybrid workplace policies. Higher education institutes are realizing the advantages of virtual learning. They are incorporating a remote angle into their course delivery to make it faster, efficient, and more accessible. Will hybrid learning be the future of schooling? Looking at the course that online learning is set upon, it will.

Read More
ONLINE EDUCATION

Creating SEL Awareness Among Parents

Article | July 19, 2022

In the past couple of years, online schooling has proved its advantages for students in a number of ways. Experts have already highlighted its prospects in the years to come. As India’s online education market is expected to grow to USD 1.96 billion at a CAGR of 52% (over the next five years), online schooling can extend better educational opportunities for all – students, teachers, and parents. Let’s understand the structure and functionality of this schooling choice to help you understand how it works! WHAT IS ONLINE SCHOOLING? An online schooling platform allows students to study through the internet. Students make use of home computers and access the study material through an online portal. Just like a traditional school, an online school must have a trained teaching staff, specialized in teaching online. These teachers conduct online classes and supervise the student’s performance. The digital schooling option is highly flexible and convenient for the students as it allows the handholding of educators through online classes (synchronous learning) while simultaneously allowing self-paced independent study duration (asynchronous learning).

Read More
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

6 Technology Trends That Redefine Data Analytics in Higher Ed

Article | July 20, 2022

In 2021, Class, a virtual classroom app that combines with Zoom, neared unicorn status after receiving funding from SoftBank Vision Fund II. But, with just 10 months and a string of top edtech U.S. investors to back it up, the app’s spectacular rise only speaks to the boom in online education in the past two years. Online learning has changed. It went from centering around accessibility to becoming the primary delivery method almost overnight. So when it comes to screen time, this newest addition to our already screen-filled lives is uninvited. Especially for children, it only meant that screen time was highly monitored during lockdown. And that change came with struggles. Between configuring the technicalities of accessing online classrooms and figuring out how to engage students, teachers have faced an uphill battle all along. There is plenty of research to suggest that too much screen time has negative health implications, but education has to continue at all costs. 2021 was full of stories of students finding creative ways of avoiding classes or not attending them. One 8-year-old found a loophole in Zoom’s app last year that locked her out of her Zoom class. Even Zoom’s technical team failed to find the issue. It led to a goose chase into discovering that the child was locking herself out by inputting the wrong password over 20 times. Screen Time Vs Screen-Tied Screen time has five types: television, video games, social media, music, and reading. The key is not just to regulate screen time but also the content that is being consumed. Technology may have evolved, but our ability to use it for long durations and to conduct sensory tasks like learning over the internet hasn’t. Between education, video-games, social media and TV, distribution meant calibrating what type of content should be consumed in order to reduce the negative impact. Approximately 75% of all teenagers own a smartphone today. In addition, a majority of young adults report video games as their go-to activity in their free time. While research on the use of video games may be inconclusive, prolonged exposure is nevertheless known to rewire developing brains. There’s also a high risk to susceptible minds with regards to unfiltered and harmful messages from social media, which is a massive source of increased screen time for children and teenagers. All these issues call for a meaningful control of screen time. But in a sea of endless information and uninterrupted content, how do you identify the right balance? Culling Unnecessary Content For educators, the aim is clear: to balance screen time so precariously that children do not lose their will to learn or play. Parents and educational institutions must identify the following objectives through the content they are letting their families consume: Developing digital skills to prepare children for higher education and digital careers Raising digital citizens that use online mediums to contribute to their communities Exposing learners to new ideas and concepts in a safe context Acquiring creative skills, interpersonal expression, and etiquette for engagement online There is no dearth of educational content online, but it is important to achieve a balance between the educational and the entertainment consumption of learners. On occasion, both can be combined through interactive shows and programs that do not expose learners to addictive behaviors. Designating screen-free times, activities, and even locations like meals, traveling, or bedrooms can help learners build a habit of controlling their screen time. To Wrap It Up There is no doubt that the pandemic provided online learning with a much-needed shot in the arm. This also means that screen time has exponentially increased. Thanks to both virtual schools and a complete lockdown on going outside, young learners were left with no option but to turn to their screens. Whether to connect to their peers, attend classes, or spend their free time, learners are faced with a barrage of screen time that can affect their ability to navigate a post-pandemic world. Parents and educators must take it upon themselves to lay down the guidelines that drive the harmonious use of electronics without encouraging total dependence on them.

Read More
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

How to Counter Teacher Burnout in Education?

Article | July 12, 2022

In 2021, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported that student enrollments were at an all-time low. Community college enrollment dipped by 11% while post-secondary enrollment saw a dip of 4.2% year-on-year. The impact of the last two years’ events clearly demonstrates the strain faced by all levels of educational institutions. The shift to the virtual classroom setup also saw parents and students recognize the importance of teaching and learning online. The significance of a virtual classroom is emphasized more than ever. It has forced schools to improve their online teaching infrastructure so that they can keep growing. But this has also affected inclusivity. According to UNESCO, school closures during the pandemic affected 1.2 billion children in 186 countries. In this article, we discuss why virtual learning is in dire need of inclusivity and inclusive learning practices. Why Does Inclusive Learning Matter in the Era of Zoom Classes? Edtech is a booming industry. In 2019, edtech investments reached a whopping US $18 billion. Further, the online education market is estimated to cross the $350 billion mark by 2025. There is no doubt that learning institutions are investing heavily in online learning. But inclusivity is still lagging far behind. The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) found that 25% of secondary school-aged students from underprivileged backgrounds lack a computer. The writing on the wall is clear. Virtual learning is bound to widen the divide, and its impact will be felt most by underprivileged students. For educational institutions, delivering a positively inclusive learning experience online is essential to attracting students who do have access to educational technology. “In the higher education space, most schools were, and still are, predominantly focused on that in-person campus visit to do all those same things, but it’s expensive and it means only students and parents who travel to campus can get that real-life feel and experience.” - Matthew Pellish, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at CampusReel Bringing Personalization to the Virtual Classroom Although virtual learning has stripped away the human touch that accompanies a classroom setting, there are ways to make it more engaging and meaningful. Engage students even before the class starts. This can be done by setting an agenda for the session beforehand and asking students to send in their queries and expectations from the session. Turning the greeting into a short discussion is a great way to engage everyone right off the bat. Tools like Zoom make it simpler to personalize every class with features like backgrounds and notes. Use the chat feature generously. Teaching and learning online has to be a one-sided flow of information for it to be effective. However, the chat feature empowers teachers to break the monotony. The best way to keep students attentive is through personalization. Attentiveness can be achieved by asking many questions, even if they are simply yes-or-no questions. It enables teachers to keep a check on engagement and pivot when needed. Simulating a Sense of Community A discussion on an inclusive learning environment is incomplete without mentioning student community building. Online teaching and learning is limited in its ability to provide a sense of community. Since students are physically separated from their peers, one-on-one connections are lacking. Despite the distance, there are a few solutions you can use to reduce the distance virtually. Identify the type of community you want to develop. Whether you’re offering synchronous or asynchronous courses, it is crucial to keep the student-peer-instructor link active. Create a loop of feedback between teachers and students to enable community building. Modern tools offer a number of ways to seek feedback that provides insight on teaching style and the general classroom environment. Create a classroom forum online. Forums offer the best of two-way interactions with a platform outside of the online class. This ensures constancy and inclusive learning even after the class is over. For those who weren’t able to attend due to technical difficulties or poor connectivity, they never lose track of what’s going on. Cultivating Two-Way Interaction Two-way interactions are an integral part of engaging learning experiences. Inclusive classroom activities online may not completely replace them, but much can be done to build a more involved form of communication. One way to design such activities is to use the Kanevsky and Keighly framework to engage students with the five Cs: choice, challenge, control, complexity, and care. Use screen sharing and remote access tools. Physical classrooms offer avenues for students to present to their peers. In a virtual classroom setting, this can be achieved with screen sharing. Empower students to retain better by making them present their perspective and understanding of different concepts. This gives other students the impetus to do the same. Initiate group discussions through your course management system. Inviting students to design the resources and collaborate on group projects will jumpstart in-depth discussions. Many course management systems allow students to share their notes with each other. This creates inclusive learning environment. Finally: Why Will the Online University Experience Will Attract More Students Although learning institutions are beginning to open up for the in-person learning experience, the effectiveness of a virtual classroom is undeniable. Like remote working, remote learning is gaining ground, and inclusive online teaching is inevitably important. A Cengage survey revealed that 68% of students prefer hybrid learning: a combination of online and offline course delivery. In addition, the Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) found that the number of students who enrolled in online-only programs rose from 3.5 million during the fall to 5.8 million. Fostering meaningful, hands-on learning similar to that in a classroom is difficult. Even though student enrollment in online courses is rising, learning institutions are facing the challenge of delivering a highly engaging learning experience. But with an understanding of the learning outcome and the right tools, institutions can develop robust, inclusive classroom activities that every student will want to benefit from. Frequently Asked Questions Do students and teachers prefer online teaching and learning? According to a recent survey by Cengage, about 73% of students prefer some courses to be delivered fully online. In addition, 57% of teachers said they prefer teaching hybrid courses over online-only courses. Is online teaching and learning a growing trend? Yes. Online learning platform Coursera experienced a huge spike in enrollments. In 2021, enrollment increased by 32% and peaked at 189 million. What are the principles of inclusive education? The principles of inclusive education are: Togetherness Participation Acceptance Equality

Read More
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

Remote Working is Shaping the Future of Schooling

Article | May 11, 2022

For so long, we have deeply embedded technology in our everyday lives. Working and learning from home complement each other, creating an ecosystem of solutions. Even as organizations continue to lean towards remote offices and hybrid working, the same may not be possible with learning. Businesses worldwide have blazed the trail for remote working. The past two years have seen both, formal education, and work taking a big virtual leap. While virtual learning has been around for some time, we have thrust it into the mainstream only because of the events following the pandemic. Remote work is no longer a trend or the domain of freelancers and tech workers. While organizations learned to maintain their productivity even as their workforce was scattered, schools and learning centers weren’t far behind. Schools could shift learning online using the principles and technology businesses were using to stay productive. Working and Learning from Home, Together Zoom classrooms are no match for the physical learning environment provided by a school.Although online education existed as a part-time alternative, traditional schooling has always been a holistic, on-premise experience. Virtual schooling cannot be dismissed, as proven by the last two years. It is especially significant in today’s remote work era and as a precursor to it. While there were mixed feelings about accepting the new normal, families enjoyed several benefits including lowered education costs, zero travel time, children’s safety, and a newfound work-life balance. Virtual schooling has become the norm. It worked only because parents could also stay back and help create a learning environment at home while they worked. They have now become integral to their kids’ learning and growth. “In the higher education space, most schools were, and still are, predominantly focused on that in-person campus visit to do all those same things, but it’s expensive and it means only students and parents who travel to campus can get that real-life feel and experience.” - Matthew Pellish, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at CampusReel Cultivating the Workforce of the Future Virtual learning will provide children with the bandwidth they need to become competent in a world where remote working is the standard. They will have already conquered the learning curve. Remote learning will equip learners with the technical understanding, attitude, and collaborative spirit needed to excel in a technology-driven world. In addition, it will prepare them not just for hybrid workplaces but for a hybrid life that promotes work-life balance. Just as remote work enables easy access to talent worldwide, remote learning will help students access elusive academic programs and high-quality education in a flexible setting. Final Word The future has been transformed forever, and virtual schooling is gaining traction. It also looks set to follow the footsteps of remote working, a concept that is now solidifying in the form of hybrid workplace policies. Higher education institutes are realizing the advantages of virtual learning. They are incorporating a remote angle into their course delivery to make it faster, efficient, and more accessible. Will hybrid learning be the future of schooling? Looking at the course that online learning is set upon, it will.

Read More
MORE ARTICLES

Spotlight

Indigo Education Company

Our mission is to help all schools, educators, and students realize their full potential through non-academic data and personalized education. Schools thrive when students are engaged, leadership is motivated, and educators construct the bridges for change. Indigo provides schools the consulting, training, and data they need to align these key stakeholders and ultimately drive personalized learning.

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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

Cariloop Launches New Capabilities to Help Employees Navigate the Education System

Cariloop | July 21, 2022

Cariloop, the Caregiver Support company that pairs caregivers and their families with dedicated Care Coaches as they plan for and manage the health and well-being of their loved ones, is launching an entirely new education support offering in response to the demands from employers and employees during the pandemic. “In the early days of 2020, we began helping employees and their families with more pediatric care cases, and then COVID-19 brought this incredible need to assist with finding child care options as school closures as well as daycare and babysitter availability changed daily,” said Wendy Whittington, Chief Care Officer of Cariloop. “We realized that we had discovered an untapped need amongst employees in helping them navigate the complexities of the education system more effectively. Similar to the healthcare system, the education landscape presents its own challenges and requires a deep level of expertise in understanding it.” To provide the highest quality of service for employees navigating the education system, Cariloop assembled a Center of Excellence with Education Coaches who all have highly relevant backgrounds, credentials and experiences, including masters and doctoral level educators, guidance counselors, school social workers, school nurses, school administrators, and subject matter expertise in ESL and special education. In addition to coaching members and answering general education-related questions, the Cariloop Education Coaches will be more hands-on as they navigate the education landscape alongside the families. For example, they can attend IEP and 504 meetings as a companion to the parent; assist members with the application process and provide insight into approaching college application essays; finding available scholarship opportunities or financial options; and provide more customized support or care options for children with specific learning challenges or behavioral difficulties. This will allow working family members to stay more focused and productive at work, and relieve the burden of caregiving related to educational needs that contribute to mental stress and well-being issues. “Over the last several years, millions of working parents have been forced to become education system experts with a vast majority of them worried about the long-term development plans for their children. “With these new capabilities online, we are now equipped and stand ready to help provide that peace of mind to all parents, students and caregivers who have been trying to solve these challenges totally and completely alone. ” Michael Walsh, CEO of Cariloop In addition to its new education support offering, Cariloop can also help working caregivers navigate the healthcare system with its team of Care Coaches specializing in pediatrics, adult and elder care support. About Cariloop Cariloop provides a human-powered Caregiver Support Platform to help working caregivers and families plan for and manage the care of their loved ones. The Platform pairs caregivers with a dedicated, experienced Care Coach who guides families through the many decisions they make over the length of their caregiving journey, all while collaborating on a digital care portal that helps families securely communicate across all their devices and store important health, financial and legal documents.

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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

iD Tech and Harvard Business Publishing Bring University Business Content to the K-12 Market

iD Tech | February 28, 2022

Today iD Tech, the world leader in youth STEM education, announces that it is now the exclusive K-12 education partner of Harvard Business Publishing Education, the not-for-profit with a mission to improve the practice of management in a changing world. This partnership provides access to a unique collection of over 55,000 business learning materials including case studies, simulations, and articles designed to grow learners’ business knowledge and professional skills. This marks the first strategic partnership spearheaded by Emeritus, the global leader in making high-quality education accessible and affordable to individuals, companies, and governments around the world, which acquired iD Tech in 2021. The curriculum, which has been developed by iD Tech, enables students to develop business and entrepreneurship fundamentals in courses like, “Build Your Business: Think It, Make It, Sell It” and “Disruption: Breaking the Rules of Business.” iD Tech and Harvard Business Publishing have committed to funding full-scholarships for at least 10% of students participating in the courses, ensuring underrepresented students from all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to the program. iD Tech serves as a clear pathway to educational and career success, with 97% of iD Tech students going on to attend a 4-year college. Higher levels of education are generally associated with a greater likelihood of employment, and those with higher levels of education are more likely to be employed in higher paying jobs. With 8 in 10 kids wanting to be their own boss one day, students have even more avenues to future success with the engaging learning material from Harvard Business Publishing. “Between hybrid learning adjustments and curriculum challenges, parents are turning to supplemental learning options to best position their kids for future success,” says Pete Ingram-Cauchi, CEO of iD Tech. “Like wealth, education should improve with each generation. We are positioned to possibly miss that goal largely due to inequitable access to quality instruction. We are honored to partner with Harvard Business Publishing to ensure our future leaders have an environment to learn, explore, and build on their interests.” The opportunity gap in college admissions, and ultimately career success, is taking a front seat after a tumultuous year in education. The number of total college applications submitted increased by 22% in 2021. However, just 5% of applicants came from the bottom quintile of neighborhoods [Common App Estimate]. Additional learning methods, such as this iD Tech program, serve to close this gap, and create more ways for all students to have an equal opportunity at fulfilling their dreams. “As we celebrate the centennial of the case method pioneered by Harvard Business School, Harvard Business Publishing is pleased to partner with iD Tech to bring this learning to a pre-college audience. Our impactful case studies, simulations, Harvard Business Review articles and other learning materials will help these students develop important leadership and entrepreneurship skills that will benefit them throughout their lives,” said Ellen Desmarais, Senior Vice President of Higher Education for Harvard Business Publishing. “This strategic partnership is an impactful way for iD Tech’s incredible expertise in youth education and our existing university partnerships to work together. iD Tech’s partnership with Harvard Business Publishing combines the best of each organization to further build on our mission of providing access to high quality educational content for learners of all ages around the world.” Ashwin Damera, CEO and co-founder of Emeritus As one of the first purpose-driven companies out of Silicon Valley, iD Tech believes you cannot dream what you cannot experience. Together with Harvard Business Publishing, iD Tech is bringing an evolution to how students gain access to world-class instruction to ignite their passions. About iD Tech iD Tech is the world leader in STEM education where kids and teens learn from the best. With live learning and mentorship from experienced instructors, iD Tech converts real-world interests into lasting STEM careers. Curriculum developed in partnership with professors from top universities and tech entrepreneurs covers topics like coding, 3D modeling, artificial intelligence, robotics, game design, and entrepreneurship. Family-founded 23 years ago, iD Tech is one of the first purpose-driven companies to come out of Silicon Valley, granting life-changing educational experiences to underrepresented communities. In 2021, iD Tech was acquired by Emeritus, the global leader in making high-quality education accessible and affordable to adults, companies, and governments, in order to facilitate a lasting learning pipeline to prepare individuals of all ages to succeed in the workforce. About Emeritus Emeritus is committed to teaching the skills of the future by making high-quality education accessible and affordable to individuals, companies, and governments around the world. It does this by collaborating with more than 50 top-tier universities across the United States, Europe, Latin America, India and China. Emeritus’ short courses, degree programs, boot camps, and senior executive programs help individuals learn new skills and transform their lives, companies and organizations. Its unique model of state-of-the-art technology, curriculum innovation, and hands-on instruction from senior faculty, mentors and coaches educates more than 100,000 students per year across 80 countries. Founded in 2015, Emeritus, part of the Eruditus Group, has more than 1,000 employees globally and offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Shanghai, Singapore, Palo Alto, Mexico City, New York, London, and Dubai. The company has raised over $160 million in capital and is backed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Sequoia India, Leeds Illuminate, and Prosus Ventures. About Harvard Business Publishing Harvard Business Publishing is a not-for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvard University, reporting into Harvard Business School. Our mission is to improve the practice of management in a changing world. This mission influences how we approach what we do here and what we believe is important. HBP serves as a bridge between academia and enterprises around the globe through its publications and platforms for content delivery. The company is comprised of three divisions: Higher Education, Corporate Learning, and Harvard Business Review.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION

South American Education Program Expands Utilization of PowerSchool Solutions to Nearly 1 Million Uruguayan Students

PowerSchool | February 19, 2022

PowerSchool, the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America, today announced that Plan Ceibal, Uruguay's ambitious 1-to-1 instruction program, has expanded its utilization of PowerSchool Unified Classroom® Schoology Learning as its primary learning management system to now serve 800,000 students countrywide. Through Schoology Learning, Plan Ceibal has seen improvements in creating more tailored curriculums, student-teacher collaboration, and facilitating instruction through blended learning environments. “PowerSchool’s Schoology Learning has played a key part in helping Plan Ceibal's mission to ensure Uruguayan educators and students have access to education technology,” said Mauro Carballo, Manager of Educational Technologies, Plan Ceibal. “PowerSchool’s implementation team has been with us each step of the way for nearly a decade, and their passion toward providing intuitive software solutions for schools around the world is the reason we continue to invest in this reliable education technology platform.” Since 2014, Plan Ceibal has utilized Schoology Learning to enhance regular instruction and student-teacher engagement, which has proven to be especially impactful throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the initial challenges schools around the world faced when quickly pivoting to online instruction in 2020, Plan Ceibal was prepared for the rapid shift thanks to Schoology Learning, which resulted in over 93% of students and 94% of teachers in Uruguay utilizing the platform that year. Since then, more than 800,000 students and 45,000 teachers within the Plan Ceibal program are now regular Schoology Learning users. “Plan Ceibal’s utilization of Schoology Learning is a true example of the expanded capabilities school systems can benefit from by implementing this type of software into regular instruction. We’re proud to be long-time supporters of Plan Ceibal and their mission toward providing more technology access to Uruguayan students and educators. Plan Ceibal’s mission is a strong testament to the positive impact education can bring to communities around the world; we can’t wait to see what they do next.” Maulik Datanwala, PowerSchool Chief Operating Officer Founded in 2007, Plan Ceibal is a Uruguayan initiative dedicated toward creating more equitable solutions for students by supporting Uruguayan educational policies with technology. Since its implementation, the program has evolved to ensure every child who enters the public education system in any part of the country has access to a computer for personal use with free internet connection at school. Additionally, Plan Ceibal has grown to provide an expanded array of educational programs and resources for both Uruguayan educators and students, including training courses to enhance methods of teaching and learning. About PowerSchool PowerSchool is the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America. Its mission is to power the education ecosystem with unified technology that helps educators and students realize their full potential, in their way. PowerSchool connects students, teachers, administrators, and parents, with the shared goal of improving student outcomes. From the office to the classroom to the home, it helps schools and districts efficiently manage state reporting and related compliance, special education, finance, human resources, talent, registration, attendance, funding, learning, instruction, grading, assessments and analytics in one unified platform. PowerSchool supports over 45 million students globally and more than 13,000 customers, including over 90 of the top 100 districts by student enrollment in the United States, and sells solutions in over 90 countries.

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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

Cariloop Launches New Capabilities to Help Employees Navigate the Education System

Cariloop | July 21, 2022

Cariloop, the Caregiver Support company that pairs caregivers and their families with dedicated Care Coaches as they plan for and manage the health and well-being of their loved ones, is launching an entirely new education support offering in response to the demands from employers and employees during the pandemic. “In the early days of 2020, we began helping employees and their families with more pediatric care cases, and then COVID-19 brought this incredible need to assist with finding child care options as school closures as well as daycare and babysitter availability changed daily,” said Wendy Whittington, Chief Care Officer of Cariloop. “We realized that we had discovered an untapped need amongst employees in helping them navigate the complexities of the education system more effectively. Similar to the healthcare system, the education landscape presents its own challenges and requires a deep level of expertise in understanding it.” To provide the highest quality of service for employees navigating the education system, Cariloop assembled a Center of Excellence with Education Coaches who all have highly relevant backgrounds, credentials and experiences, including masters and doctoral level educators, guidance counselors, school social workers, school nurses, school administrators, and subject matter expertise in ESL and special education. In addition to coaching members and answering general education-related questions, the Cariloop Education Coaches will be more hands-on as they navigate the education landscape alongside the families. For example, they can attend IEP and 504 meetings as a companion to the parent; assist members with the application process and provide insight into approaching college application essays; finding available scholarship opportunities or financial options; and provide more customized support or care options for children with specific learning challenges or behavioral difficulties. This will allow working family members to stay more focused and productive at work, and relieve the burden of caregiving related to educational needs that contribute to mental stress and well-being issues. “Over the last several years, millions of working parents have been forced to become education system experts with a vast majority of them worried about the long-term development plans for their children. “With these new capabilities online, we are now equipped and stand ready to help provide that peace of mind to all parents, students and caregivers who have been trying to solve these challenges totally and completely alone. ” Michael Walsh, CEO of Cariloop In addition to its new education support offering, Cariloop can also help working caregivers navigate the healthcare system with its team of Care Coaches specializing in pediatrics, adult and elder care support. About Cariloop Cariloop provides a human-powered Caregiver Support Platform to help working caregivers and families plan for and manage the care of their loved ones. The Platform pairs caregivers with a dedicated, experienced Care Coach who guides families through the many decisions they make over the length of their caregiving journey, all while collaborating on a digital care portal that helps families securely communicate across all their devices and store important health, financial and legal documents.

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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

iD Tech and Harvard Business Publishing Bring University Business Content to the K-12 Market

iD Tech | February 28, 2022

Today iD Tech, the world leader in youth STEM education, announces that it is now the exclusive K-12 education partner of Harvard Business Publishing Education, the not-for-profit with a mission to improve the practice of management in a changing world. This partnership provides access to a unique collection of over 55,000 business learning materials including case studies, simulations, and articles designed to grow learners’ business knowledge and professional skills. This marks the first strategic partnership spearheaded by Emeritus, the global leader in making high-quality education accessible and affordable to individuals, companies, and governments around the world, which acquired iD Tech in 2021. The curriculum, which has been developed by iD Tech, enables students to develop business and entrepreneurship fundamentals in courses like, “Build Your Business: Think It, Make It, Sell It” and “Disruption: Breaking the Rules of Business.” iD Tech and Harvard Business Publishing have committed to funding full-scholarships for at least 10% of students participating in the courses, ensuring underrepresented students from all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to the program. iD Tech serves as a clear pathway to educational and career success, with 97% of iD Tech students going on to attend a 4-year college. Higher levels of education are generally associated with a greater likelihood of employment, and those with higher levels of education are more likely to be employed in higher paying jobs. With 8 in 10 kids wanting to be their own boss one day, students have even more avenues to future success with the engaging learning material from Harvard Business Publishing. “Between hybrid learning adjustments and curriculum challenges, parents are turning to supplemental learning options to best position their kids for future success,” says Pete Ingram-Cauchi, CEO of iD Tech. “Like wealth, education should improve with each generation. We are positioned to possibly miss that goal largely due to inequitable access to quality instruction. We are honored to partner with Harvard Business Publishing to ensure our future leaders have an environment to learn, explore, and build on their interests.” The opportunity gap in college admissions, and ultimately career success, is taking a front seat after a tumultuous year in education. The number of total college applications submitted increased by 22% in 2021. However, just 5% of applicants came from the bottom quintile of neighborhoods [Common App Estimate]. Additional learning methods, such as this iD Tech program, serve to close this gap, and create more ways for all students to have an equal opportunity at fulfilling their dreams. “As we celebrate the centennial of the case method pioneered by Harvard Business School, Harvard Business Publishing is pleased to partner with iD Tech to bring this learning to a pre-college audience. Our impactful case studies, simulations, Harvard Business Review articles and other learning materials will help these students develop important leadership and entrepreneurship skills that will benefit them throughout their lives,” said Ellen Desmarais, Senior Vice President of Higher Education for Harvard Business Publishing. “This strategic partnership is an impactful way for iD Tech’s incredible expertise in youth education and our existing university partnerships to work together. iD Tech’s partnership with Harvard Business Publishing combines the best of each organization to further build on our mission of providing access to high quality educational content for learners of all ages around the world.” Ashwin Damera, CEO and co-founder of Emeritus As one of the first purpose-driven companies out of Silicon Valley, iD Tech believes you cannot dream what you cannot experience. Together with Harvard Business Publishing, iD Tech is bringing an evolution to how students gain access to world-class instruction to ignite their passions. About iD Tech iD Tech is the world leader in STEM education where kids and teens learn from the best. With live learning and mentorship from experienced instructors, iD Tech converts real-world interests into lasting STEM careers. Curriculum developed in partnership with professors from top universities and tech entrepreneurs covers topics like coding, 3D modeling, artificial intelligence, robotics, game design, and entrepreneurship. Family-founded 23 years ago, iD Tech is one of the first purpose-driven companies to come out of Silicon Valley, granting life-changing educational experiences to underrepresented communities. In 2021, iD Tech was acquired by Emeritus, the global leader in making high-quality education accessible and affordable to adults, companies, and governments, in order to facilitate a lasting learning pipeline to prepare individuals of all ages to succeed in the workforce. About Emeritus Emeritus is committed to teaching the skills of the future by making high-quality education accessible and affordable to individuals, companies, and governments around the world. It does this by collaborating with more than 50 top-tier universities across the United States, Europe, Latin America, India and China. Emeritus’ short courses, degree programs, boot camps, and senior executive programs help individuals learn new skills and transform their lives, companies and organizations. Its unique model of state-of-the-art technology, curriculum innovation, and hands-on instruction from senior faculty, mentors and coaches educates more than 100,000 students per year across 80 countries. Founded in 2015, Emeritus, part of the Eruditus Group, has more than 1,000 employees globally and offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Shanghai, Singapore, Palo Alto, Mexico City, New York, London, and Dubai. The company has raised over $160 million in capital and is backed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Sequoia India, Leeds Illuminate, and Prosus Ventures. About Harvard Business Publishing Harvard Business Publishing is a not-for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvard University, reporting into Harvard Business School. Our mission is to improve the practice of management in a changing world. This mission influences how we approach what we do here and what we believe is important. HBP serves as a bridge between academia and enterprises around the globe through its publications and platforms for content delivery. The company is comprised of three divisions: Higher Education, Corporate Learning, and Harvard Business Review.

Read More

CONTINUING EDUCATION

South American Education Program Expands Utilization of PowerSchool Solutions to Nearly 1 Million Uruguayan Students

PowerSchool | February 19, 2022

PowerSchool, the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America, today announced that Plan Ceibal, Uruguay's ambitious 1-to-1 instruction program, has expanded its utilization of PowerSchool Unified Classroom® Schoology Learning as its primary learning management system to now serve 800,000 students countrywide. Through Schoology Learning, Plan Ceibal has seen improvements in creating more tailored curriculums, student-teacher collaboration, and facilitating instruction through blended learning environments. “PowerSchool’s Schoology Learning has played a key part in helping Plan Ceibal's mission to ensure Uruguayan educators and students have access to education technology,” said Mauro Carballo, Manager of Educational Technologies, Plan Ceibal. “PowerSchool’s implementation team has been with us each step of the way for nearly a decade, and their passion toward providing intuitive software solutions for schools around the world is the reason we continue to invest in this reliable education technology platform.” Since 2014, Plan Ceibal has utilized Schoology Learning to enhance regular instruction and student-teacher engagement, which has proven to be especially impactful throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the initial challenges schools around the world faced when quickly pivoting to online instruction in 2020, Plan Ceibal was prepared for the rapid shift thanks to Schoology Learning, which resulted in over 93% of students and 94% of teachers in Uruguay utilizing the platform that year. Since then, more than 800,000 students and 45,000 teachers within the Plan Ceibal program are now regular Schoology Learning users. “Plan Ceibal’s utilization of Schoology Learning is a true example of the expanded capabilities school systems can benefit from by implementing this type of software into regular instruction. We’re proud to be long-time supporters of Plan Ceibal and their mission toward providing more technology access to Uruguayan students and educators. Plan Ceibal’s mission is a strong testament to the positive impact education can bring to communities around the world; we can’t wait to see what they do next.” Maulik Datanwala, PowerSchool Chief Operating Officer Founded in 2007, Plan Ceibal is a Uruguayan initiative dedicated toward creating more equitable solutions for students by supporting Uruguayan educational policies with technology. Since its implementation, the program has evolved to ensure every child who enters the public education system in any part of the country has access to a computer for personal use with free internet connection at school. Additionally, Plan Ceibal has grown to provide an expanded array of educational programs and resources for both Uruguayan educators and students, including training courses to enhance methods of teaching and learning. About PowerSchool PowerSchool is the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America. Its mission is to power the education ecosystem with unified technology that helps educators and students realize their full potential, in their way. PowerSchool connects students, teachers, administrators, and parents, with the shared goal of improving student outcomes. From the office to the classroom to the home, it helps schools and districts efficiently manage state reporting and related compliance, special education, finance, human resources, talent, registration, attendance, funding, learning, instruction, grading, assessments and analytics in one unified platform. PowerSchool supports over 45 million students globally and more than 13,000 customers, including over 90 of the top 100 districts by student enrollment in the United States, and sells solutions in over 90 countries.

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