Online Education

BackTo.Biz Launches to Provide Free Online Learning Tools to Help Small Businesses Pivot, Recover and Grow

BackTo.Biz | August 31, 2021

A coalition of leading businesses and non-profits today partnered with Howard Schultz, the emes project, and CreativeLive to announce the launch of BackTo.Biz: a free online learning program created to help small businesses develop knowledge and skills to accelerate their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring a collection of 400+ individual video lessons, articles and tools from a diverse and renowned set of innovative entrepreneurs, the BackTo.Biz program is designed to help small business owners expand their knowledge and skills on a wide range of topics, including: hiring talent, selling online, building their brands, pivoting business models, creating new revenue streams, finding their ideal customers, managing stress and more.

The BackTo.Biz program was funded by former Starbucks ceo and chairman emeritus Howard Schultz and the emes project, and co-created with CreativeLive, a global leader in online learning. To reach as many small businesses as possible and share additional best-in-class learning resources from top tier brands, BackTo.Biz has teamed up with a coalition of non-profit and business leaders to raise awareness of the program, including: Ascend, Chase, Community Reinvestment Fund USA (CRF), Facebook, Grow with Google, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Intentionalist, Main Street America, Microsoft, Reimagine Main Street, Salesforce, Starbucks, Shopify, and CO— by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"Small businesses, the very fabric of our communities, are struggling due to seismic changes in consumer behavior and the economy that have been unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Howard Schultz, former Starbucks ceo and chairman emeritus and founder of the emes project. "BackTo.Biz provides valuable lessons and skills to help small businesses adapt, pivot, and thrive in this critical moment."

"Online learning has the power to help small businesses develop actionable skills to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic," said Chase Jarvis, ceo of CreativeLive. "The free content taught by a diverse group of renowned entrepreneurs on BackTo.Biz will help small business owners recover and grow stronger than ever before."

ABOUT BACKTO.BIZ
BackTo.Biz is a free online learning program created specifically for small business owners brought to you by CreativeLive, a global leader in online learning. Featuring a collection of 400+ individual video lessons, articles and tools from a diverse and renowned set of innovative entrepreneurs, the BackTo.Biz program was developed to support, inform and inspire small business owners as they navigate the seismic shifts to the economy and consumer behavior caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spotlight

Join Professor Brian Hallett, an expert in Visual Communication and Branded Content, as he unveils the transformative power of AI in education at IE University. Discover how IE University empowers students to embrace AI as a valuable tool for creativity and critical thinking. Witness real-life examples where AI enhances students' inventions and analyses, raising the bar for excellence. Experience the future of personalized learning, where AI and humans collaborate to create a dynamic and enriching academic environment. Hit play now and unlock your true potential with AI-enhanced education at IE University! IE University

Spotlight

Join Professor Brian Hallett, an expert in Visual Communication and Branded Content, as he unveils the transformative power of AI in education at IE University. Discover how IE University empowers students to embrace AI as a valuable tool for creativity and critical thinking. Witness real-life examples where AI enhances students' inventions and analyses, raising the bar for excellence. Experience the future of personalized learning, where AI and humans collaborate to create a dynamic and enriching academic environment. Hit play now and unlock your true potential with AI-enhanced education at IE University! IE University

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Talent Development

Age of Learning and AASA Create Partnership to Advance Evidence-Based Solutions in Early Education

Businesswire | July 21, 2023

Age of Learning, leading education technology innovator and creator of the widely popular ABCmouse® Early Learning Academy, and AASA, The School Superintendents Association, today announced a strategic partnership to support district superintendents in identifying and implementing evidence-based solutions that early childhood educators can use to effectively personalize learning in the classroom. The partnership reflects the commitment of both organizations to prioritize early childhood education initiatives and promote change within districts by facilitating access to best practices and emerging research. AASA’s Leadership Network, the largest and most diverse network of school district leaders in America, is committed to supporting a pipeline of diverse superintendents and educational leaders as they refine the knowledge, skills, and dispositions for highly effective leadership. To forward this purpose, AASA has established several cohorts, each comprised of current and aspiring superintendents, as platforms for leaders to engage in collaborative professional learning. Through this new partnership, Age of Learning will work with multiple cohort leaders to recommend research and case studies for possible use in professional learning activities. The company is partnering on AASA’s Early Learning Cohort, Aspiring Superintendents Academy®, and Aspiring Superintendents Academy® for Female Leaders. “The need for evidence-based solutions for early learners has never been greater,” said Sunil Gunderia, Chief Innovation Officer at Age of Learning. “Through our partnership with AASA, we will work with district leaders to advance evidence-based solutions that support educators with actionable data, and together we will help school leaders and teachers deliver transformative results.” “Early childhood education is a key driver in ensuring students have long term academic success,” said David R. Schuler, Executive Director, AASA. “Age of Learning’s investment in effective early learning solutions makes it great partner for AASA as we work with district leaders to develop the most effective experiences for young learners.” This partnership builds on Age of Learning’s ongoing support for schools via its personalized and adaptive programs, My Math Academy® and My Reading Academy™, solutions that are based on well-established principles of learning science research and are supported by a body of ESSA-aligned research demonstrating their effectiveness. To date, the company has received 10 ESSA-aligned validations for My Math Academy and My Reading Academy. About Age of Learning Age of Learning® is the leading education technology innovator, creating engaging and effective learning resources to help children build a strong foundation for academic success and a lifelong love of learning. The company’s research-based digital education programs have been developed by an experienced team of education experts and have proven efficacy in increasing children’s learning gains. Age of Learning’s flagship product, ABCmouse.com® Early Learning Academy, is an award-winning comprehensive curriculum for children. The company’s school solutions programs include My Math Academy®, an adaptive, personalized program proven to significantly accelerate math learning outcomes, and My Reading Academy™, an adaptive program designed to help young learners build a foundation for reading comprehension and literacy and become fluent readers. With over 10 billion learning activities completed by more than 50 million children worldwide, Age of Learning is a global leader in efforts to advance equity, access, and opportunity for all children. About AASA AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education.

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Education Technology

YuJa Inc. Announces New, Enhanced Features Across its Portfolio of Ed-Tech Solutions

Businesswire | July 10, 2023

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Corporate Learning Systems

ClassLink Makes Secure by Design Pledge at White House Convening for K-12 Cybersecurity

PRnewswire | August 14, 2023

ClassLink, the leading provider of identity and access management products for education, proudly announced today it is participating in the White House's Secure by Design cybersecurity pledge.ClassLink was among the first cohort of leading edtech organizations invited to make the pledge, which encourages solution providers to prioritize cybersecurity in their products and practices to reduce the cybersecurity burden facing K-12 schools. Developed by the White House, the Department of Education, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Secure by Design pledge is the latest step in federal efforts to support K-12 schools in improving cybersecurity. "Keeping our students and our schools safe from cyberattacks comes down to equipping schools with three things – knowledge, resources, and people. This week, the White House worked to do just that - mobilizing funding, cybersecurity fact guides tailored for schools, and cybersecurity teams to visit schools and help them fight ransomware. We appreciate the innovative and meaningful private sector commitments in this ransomware fight, as we work together to keep kids cyber-safe online and in schools." - Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor, Cyber and Emerging Technologies ClassLink CEO, Berj Akian, will make the pledge at the White House convening, 'Back to School Safely: Cybersecurity for K-12 Schools', hosted by First Lady Jill Biden on August 8, 2023. By signing the pledge, ClassLink commits to actively supporting schools in improving cybersecurity by offering secure-by-design and secure-by-default products to ensure data protection. "Let's face it: in today's digital age, our students and their teachers will increasingly use technology in the classroom. Schools have access to more devices and connectivity than ever before, and this technology in education has incredible potential to help students better connect with their learning and achieve, and teachers better engage with their students. But to make the most of these benefits, we must effectively manage the risks. Just as we expect everyone in a school system to plan and prepare for physical risks, we must now also ensure everyone helps plan and prepare for digital risks in our schools and classrooms. The Department of Education has listened to the field about the importance of K-12 cybersecurity, and today we are coming together to recognize this and indicate our next steps." - Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education ClassLink already meets many commitments outlined in the pledge's core principles, including providing security audit logs at no extra charge and embracing transparency through open engagement with customers about identified cybersecurity risks, threats, and vulnerabilities. In addition, ClassLink offers multiple MFA options that help secure student, staff, and administrator accounts at no extra cost. "At ClassLink, privacy and security are at the core of everything we do. Today, we reaffirm our dedication to supporting schools in their journey to a safe and thriving digital learning environment. We are honored to stand alongside the Department of Education and CISA in making the Secure by Design pledge." - Berj Akian, CEO, ClassLink ClassLink continues to invest heavily in privacy and security initiatives. This includes signing and abiding by the Student Privacy Pledge and successfully completing third-party audits like SOC Type II, CSA STAR, and ISO 27001. ClassLink is a member of the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) and complies with many data sovereignty, protection, and privacy guidelines, including FERPA and COPPA. About ClassLink ClassLink is a global education provider of identity and analytics products that create more time for learning and help schools better understand digital engagement. As leading advocates for open data standards, we offer instant access to apps and files with single sign-on, streamline class rostering, automate account provisioning, and provide actionable analytics. ClassLink empowers 20 million students and staff in over 2,600 school systems.

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