EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Paper | March 15, 2023
On March 14, 2023, Paper, the education support system (ESS), announced the acquisition of Readlee to address the literacy crisis. It would use Readlee's innovative learning tool, artificial intelligence and speech recognition technology to improve learners' reading skills.
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress report, about one-third of 4th and 8th graders cannot read the basic achievement level, which is the test's lowest level. The National Center for Education Statistics data shows that about 34% of American high school students graduate with reading proficiency. Unfortunately, this proficiency decreases further to 18% for recent graduates. This data shows that the literary crisis has become a systemic issue, and there is a flaw in the current educational approach.
Master teachers collaborated with Harvard researchers to design Readlee for better learning outcomes, and it would become 'Paper Reading' after complete integration into Paper's ESS. This tool will listen to students' reading, give real-time feedback with individualized support, and measure their success. With AI and speech recognition, it approaches reading through learning science, showing that reading aloud improves vocabulary, memory, and confidence. It aims to support students throughout their academic journey and after graduation.
Co-Founder and CEO of Paper, Philip Cutler said, "This acquisition reflects our commitment to providing the academic support that empowers students throughout every stage of their learning journey. Improving literacy proficiency is an essential component of our mission, and we believe research-backed technology and repeated practice are the keys to addressing the mounting literacy crisis." He added, "We are excited to join our forces and aligned missions to have an even bigger impact on students. Our teams are already working together to change the future of education. Our mission is to help create a world where everyone has the ability to read, learn, and become a success."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
About Paper
Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Paper, an e-learning solutions provider, offers services for personalized learning, tutoring, essay review, academic and student support, homework help, teacher support, remote education, teacher assistants, and virtual tutoring. It develops confidence in every student with its educational support system. It serves over 3 million students from different school districts across the United States and Canada. It provides individualized support to every learner to solve their problems and discover different ways of learning. It helps teachers and administrators review student activity and track their progress with its data-driven insights and metrics. It instantly connects students with tutors for support in their tests and assignments.
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TALENT DEVELOPMENT
Catapult Learning | February 09, 2023
On February 8, 2023, Catapult Learning, a provider of student intervention programs and professional development solutions for instructors in K-12 schools, announced that it was chosen by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) to deliver professional development (PD) and coaching services to educators in K-12 schools to enhance student outcomes. The four-year state contract contains a one-year renewal option for a fifth year.
MDE will provide at least 25 new instructional math coaches in collaboration with Catapult Learning. The first group will serve educators in Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School Districts and Jackson Public at seven elementary and middle schools. Throughout the year, MDE will incorporate additional schools.
Catapult Learning's experienced math coaches provide online, in-person, or job-embedded coaching, in-person modeling and co-teaching, individualized action plans, classroom observations, professional development, lesson plan development, and summer enrichment for administrators. Additionally, it provides PD for over 500 school districts annually on vital education topics such as mathematics, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), literacy and The Science of Reading, social-emotional learning, inclusive practices, and mental health.
Scalable and adaptable, the company's PD addresses the requirements of schools and districts of all sizes through online, face-to-face, and job-embedded support. PDNow, the company's online platform, offers asynchronous learning in addition to workshops and coaching, allowing educators and leaders to benefit from over 200 hours of online workshops, community interaction and just-in-time resources.
About Catapult Learning
Catapult Learning, a division of FullBloom, provides K-12 schools with experienced coaches who implement intervention programs for students and PD solutions for teachers. The company's PD services enhance the capacity of educators and administrators to increase and maintain student achievement. Its intervention programs support struggling students with individualized instruction based on their specific needs. By partnering with over 500 school districts nationwide, the company promotes academic and professional growth outcomes. Catapult Learning is accredited by Cognia and has been awarded the System of Distinction honor in 2022.
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ONLINE EDUCATION
edX | February 08, 2023
On February 7, 2023, Southern Methodist University (SMU) and edX, a major global online learning platform from 2U, Inc., announced a new partnership to boost SMU's current offerings in data science on edX.org. SMU plans to introduce two new Professional Certificate programs focusing on data science in the spring of 2023. In addition, SMU has renewed its contract with 2U for its online Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) program through 2027.
Since commencing its partnership with 2U in 2014, SMU has provided many online learning options that have played a significant role in the institution's ongoing strategic plan. The university also introduced a credit waiver last year that allows learners with a bachelor's degree to apply for credit towards the MSDS program after completing its data science boot camp available on edX. The addition of Professional Certificate programs gives students opportunities to acquire valuable skills.
Data scientists are in high demand in the United States. As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data scientist employment is expected to increase by 36 percent from 2021 to 2031, resulting in approximately 13,500 job openings annually. More than 500 students have graduated from the MSDS program to date, and over 1,400 students have cleared its data science boot camp.
Andrew Hermalyn, President of Partnerships at edX, shared, "edX and SMU are mission-aligned in recognizing the need for innovative and affordable educational programs that serve the evolving needs of learners and employers." He added, "As the need for data scientists continues to grow, programs like those offered by SMU will play a key role in developing, upskilling, and reskilling talent."
(Source – PR Newswire)
About edX
Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, edX is a global online learning platform designed to help all learners realize their full potential. The company has united over 40 million learners, many of the world's top-ranked universities, and industry leaders on a global online learning platform that assists learners at every stage. It provides thousands of open and free courses, professional certifications, boot camps, credit-bearing micro-credentials, and undergraduate and graduate degrees across several disciplines. The organization is ceaselessly working towards a world where every learner can access education, regardless of cost or location.
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