EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
PowerSchool | January 31, 2023
On January 30, 2023, PowerSchool, a provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education, released updates for its PowerSchool Unified InsightsTM and PowerSchool Unified Classroom® solutions. The updates include LearningNav and ContentNav, new data-driven personalized learning products, and a new resource library inside Unified Insights MTSS, providing educators with verified, research-backed tools and strategies. The company also announced time-saving software Clouds, designed to give educators a more connected approach to engaging, planning, and monitoring the unique needs of their students.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress's latest "National Report Card" results show the impact of learning disruptions that students have experienced. It illustrates declines in math and reading for fourth and eighth graders in the United States, with math scores experiencing the greatest drop since NAEP testing began in 1990. Each student is at a different stage in their learning journey, indicating that educators require tools and resources to address individual student needs, personalize learning, and optimize their operations.
The updates, expected to roll out in the first half of 2023, provide the following:
LearningNav, an intelligent platform using machine learning and AI to provide personalized learning paths that adjust to the student's needs. An educator can view a student's starting point, select learning goals, and then review a constantly adapting personalized pathway recommendation for that student. Once the pathway is assigned, students can cover it at their own pace.
ContentNav, an update to Unified Classroom, is a one-stop shop for high-quality, pre-approved content that simplifies access to resources such as district-created materials, curated partnership content, and open education resources, which will support teacher instruction.
Resource Library, released by PowerSchool Unified Insights MTSS to help educators address students' individual needs. This library will provide educators with vetted, research-backed strategies and tools.
The company's new Clouds, that are persona-specific options that have been integrated and built to enhance how educators serve their students by bringing all necessary tools into one centralized location. The six Cloud types offered are Student Information Cloud, Personalized Learning Cloud, Educator Recruitment Cloud, Educator Effectiveness Cloud, Student Success Cloud, and Workforce Development Cloud.
About PowerSchool
Based in Folsom, California, PowerSchool provides cloud-based K-12 education software. Its mission is to supply the education ecosystem with unified technology that enables educators and students to fulfill their potential in unique ways. Schools and districts can manage state reporting and related compliance, finance, human resources, special education, talent, registration, funding, learning, instruction, assessments, grading, attendance, and analytics in one unified platform. The company serves around 45 million students worldwide, with 12,000+ customers, and sells solutions in over 90 countries.
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CORPORATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING
StrongMind | March 21, 2023
StrongMind recently earned the 1EdTech™ certification for OneRoster® 1.1 for its StrongMind Rostering product.
With OneRoster, schools can securely and reliably exchange roster information, course resources, and grades between learning tools, platforms and systems, saving educators time in their already busy days. Using OneRoster to reduce the administrative burdens of ensuring the technology works, gives educators the space and time to leverage their tools to create more impactful and personalized learning experiences.
StrongMind is invested in the mission of 1EdTech, as a Contributing Member of the member-led, non-profit ed tech organization that is accelerating the digital transformation of learning. As such, StrongMind prioritizes privacy and security for student data and interoperability among systems, leading to ease of use for StrongMind products by schools.
StrongMind Rostering helps teachers and administrators easily share student information between different education programs, such as class rosters, grades and enrollment data. With StrongMind Rostering, districts and schools can save time and reduce errors because it utilizes the 1EdTech One Roster specification, making it easy to use and ensuring security of student information. Schools can say goodbye to manually transferring data between systems and hello to seamless information exchange with StrongMind Rostering.
"We are excited to announce the adoption of the OneRoster specification for our StrongMind Rostering product, which will enhance our product's interoperability and streamline data management for educators, ultimately improving student outcomes," said Derek Neighbors, Senior Vice President Technology, StrongMind.
"To earn this certification, StrongMind had to put in the work and not only say they complied with the OneRoster standards but prove they made it work," said 1EdTech Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Rob Abel. "With this certification, it will be easier for StrongMind's customers to get the data they need when and where they need it."
About StrongMind
StrongMind partners with schools for forward-thinking solutions to address unique challenges. With engaging digital curriculum and SEL, a suite of edtech tools, services, and clear insights, we maximize student achievement and help schools thrive. With multiple Digital Promise Research-Design certifications and more than 60 awards, we innovate into the future.
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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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