ONLINE EDUCATION
ASU Prep Digital | July 19, 2022
ASU Prep Digital, an accredited online K-12 school offered through Arizona State University, has partnered with Google Public Sector, to make remote immersive learning technology more accessible to students across the United States and around the world. ASU Prep Learning Cloud is a streaming solution that empowers schools to deliver innovative and interactive 3D learning experiences to students using low-bandwidth devices. The technology was developed on and is powered by Google Cloud.This new platform invites students to solve challenges by immersing themselves in interactive settings made possible by technology. For example, students can watch geologic formations emerge through simulations rather than reading about it in a textbook. Students can also explore human organs in 3D or examine a plastic mannequin. This brings topics like erosion, hydrolysis, and human anatomy to life.
To successfully complete a lesson, students must think critically about the concept, explore it, and learn through discovery. Real-time, instructive feedback also helps contribute to a more individualized learning experience.
“We’re turning students into explorers by embedding learning into the digital formats that students love, We spark curiosity by asking students to navigate 3D worlds, hypothesize, and discover knowledge by manipulating game-like simulations to solve real-world problems.”
-David Sudarma, ASU Prep’s chief technology officer
Advancing Accessibility
The ASU Prep Learning Cloud represents an important step toward accessibility for students in rural areas, with limited broadband access, and districts where limited technology funding makes it difficult to deliver cutting-edge learning opportunities. This immersive cloud-based education technology can be experienced from mobile devices or Chromebooks, increasing accessibility for all learners, anytime, anywhere. Removing those barriers is especially important for a program like ASU Digital Prep, which can be instrumental in bridging gaps for districts where resources are slim.
ASU Prep Digital has allowed us to partner and advance educational opportunities for thousands of K-12 students who might not have otherwise had access to the courses, credits, mentors, and teachers we offer, said Arizona State University President Michael Crow, who is widely known as a pioneer of online education.
Crow’s vision has created a tech-enhanced learning environment across ASU, inclusive of pre-collegiate students via ASU Prep Digital. A key element of that vision is expanded opportunities in online education, which offers a path to higher education for students who are otherwise hindered from pursuing their education goals. In addition to its rapidly expanding K-12 enrollment, ASU Prep Digital’s School Partnerships continue to grow. The program supports entire school districts in states like Utah, Louisiana and Ohio, as well as schools in 22 states and 12 countries.
Powerhouse Partnerships
In addition to the full- and part-time students who enroll directly with ASU Prep Digital, the school also teams with private schools, public schools, and districts worldwide to offer a K-12 curriculum and one-on-one instruction in a virtual environment. The program’s latest suite of courses, which will be available this fall to partner schools via the ASU Prep Learning Cloud, powered by Google Cloud, can be used in compliance with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
As pioneers in their respective industries, ASU Prep Digital and Google Public Sector worked to develop the platform, which is based on game engine technology. The ASU Prep Learning Cloud features responsive design optimized for the most commonly used devices (e.g., Chromebooks, mobile phones) using Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
“Our partnership with ASU Prep Digital has the ability to unlock new and innovative academic opportunities for learners across the country, We’re unleashing the power of Google Cloud to help make individualized, digital, and interactive learning the new standard in education.”
-Steven Butschi, director of Education, Google Public Sector
Courses integrate seamlessly into existing learning management systems, while supporting robust interactive features that personalize learning. The platform currently supports ASU Prep Digital partner schools, but in the future, could be rolled out to other educational institutions.
As immersive technologies become more widely adapted in education, 3D learning environments such as augmented reality and virtual reality offer great potential for engagement and retention, Our collaboration with Google Public Sector is a terrific first step in expanding access to immersive solutions across many devices, and we’re working together to explore ways immersive technologies can be made even more universally available to eager learners.
To preview a snapshot of ASU Prep Learning Cloud courses, visit: https://vimeo.com/623494408 or take a deeper look at the immersive platform here: https://vimeo.com/689344144/795e785a7c
About ASU Prep Digital
ASU Prep Digital is an accredited online K-12 school that offers a single online course or enrollment in a full-time, diploma-granting program. Because it is part of Arizona State University, ASU Prep Digital offers an accelerated path toward college admission and the chance to earn concurrent high school and university credit. For more information, visit asuprepdigital.org.
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ONLINE EDUCATION
EVERFI, Inc. | July 22, 2022
EVERFI, Inc., a leading Impact-as-a-Service™ education innovator, today announced that it will be bringing highly sought after crypto and web3 digital education to high school students across the United States at no-cost this fall.
With the continued rise in popularity and adoption of digital assets and blockchain technology, EVERFI is committed to building the missing learning layer around these new topics for its community of learners. By leveraging its infrastructure and strategic partner network, EVERFI seeks to bridge the crypto knowledge gap at scale – providing students with the education needed to understand these new concepts and to support better decision-making.
"The rapid advancement and adoption of crypto and blockchain technology have created an urgent need for an engaging and interactive education curriculum. "The stakes are high, the concepts are complex, and there is a demand for foundational crypto and web3 education nationwide. Given our vast network in K-12 education, we are the most trusted resource to deliver this critical education to students before they risk making a costly financial decision."
Tom Davidson, founder and CEO, EVERFI
EVERFI's digital education products are used by more than 25,000 schools nationwide, putting the company in a unique position to bring this critical education to millions of students each year. The company is set to launch an Intro to Crypto course for students this fall and will unveil it to more than 6,500 teachers during today's LearnOn educator conference. The interactive course will provide students with a foundational understanding of digital assets, blockchain technology, and the evolving applications of these new technologies in everyday life.
"Our mission has always been to democratize education and ensure everyone has access to critical information that will equip them to make informed decisions as they prepare for their future," said Davidson. "We are continuing to build the missing learning layer and deliver next-generation learning topics to K-12 students nationwide, regardless of their zip code."
About EVERFI, Inc.
EVERFI from Blackbaud is an international technology company driving social impact through education to address the most challenging issues affecting society ranging from financial wellness to mental health to workplace conduct and other critical topics. Founded in 2008, EVERFI's Impact-as-a-ServiceTM solution and digital educational content have reached more than 45 million learners globally. In 2020, the company was recognized as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company and was featured on Fortune Magazine's Impact 20 List. The company was also named to the 2021 GSV EdTech 150, a list of the most transformative growth companies in digital learning. Blackbaud, the world's leading cloud software company powering social good, acquired EVERFI in December of 2021.
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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Coursera | August 22, 2022
Woxsen University announces Extended-Partnership with Coursera, one of the world's largest online learning platforms, to integrate skill-based online learning programs into its curricula across the schools of Business, Technology and Design. This will build critical and new-age skills in students to stand-out in a fast-pacing world. During the first year of its partnership with Woxsen, Coursera for Campus content has delivered robust results with Aided Projects & Add-on Certifications. Learners have clocked more than 12600+ hours of learning and enrolled over 5000+ certifications in areas of Data Analytics, Business Strategy, Fashion Design, HR Analytics, etc. The top courses our students have taken includes- Introduction to Data Analytics, Financial Markets, Corporate Strategy, Innovation Through Design, Models and Frameworks to Support Sales Planning among others. "The collaboration between Woxsen University & Coursera has produced multi-dimensional synergy for mutual success. Coursera provides access to quality content delivered by acclaimed professors from the Top Global Universities, which blends seamlessly with our curriculum design across programs. We are diligently using the same to benefit every layer of Woxsen's community of learners i.e. students, faculty & even rest of the staff," says Vishal Khurma, CEO, Woxsen University. "Woxsen University considers E-learning an essential element in the lifelong process of learners. When it comes to E-learning, quality content means everything, and Coursera certainly aligns with the institutional expectations," says Dr. Raul. V. Rodriguez, Vice President, Woxsen University.
"Institutions in India are looking at new approaches and leveraging platforms like Coursera for Campus to give their students an edge in the job market, Coursera. "We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Woxsen University to help their students develop new-age skills and prepare for the well-paying jobs of the future. It's also exciting to now enable faculty upskilling at the university, empowering them to provide distinguished education that keeps pace with the needs of the digital economy."
Raghav Gupta, Managing Director, India and APAC, Coursera.
About Woxsen University, Hyderabad: Woxsen University, located in Hyderabad, is one of the first private universities of the state of Telangana, India. Renowned for its 200-acre state-of-the-art campus and infrastructure, Woxsen University offers new-age, disruptive programs in the fields of Business, Technology, Arts & Design, Architecture, Law, Liberal Arts & Humanities. With 92+ Global Partner Universities and Strong Industry Connect, Woxsen is reckoned as one of the top universities for Academic Excellence and Global Edge. Woxsen is Ranked #13, All India Top 150 B-Schools by Times B-School Ranking 2022, Rank #16, All India Top Pvt. B-School, BusinessWorld 2021 and features in India's Best B-Schools beyond IIMs by Dalal Street Investment Journal.
About Coursera
Coursera was launched in 2012 by two Stanford Computer Science professors, Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with more than 100 million registered learners. Coursera partners with 275+ leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, Guided Projects, and bachelor's and master's degrees. Institutions around the world use Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, citizens, and students in fields such as data science, technology, and business. Coursera became a B Corp in February 2021.
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