EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Texthelp | August 18, 2022
Today, Texthelp, a global leader in literacy and digital learning tools for education, released new survey results on the current state of teaching and learning for students with dyslexia. The survey, concluding in March 2022, reflects insights from more than 3,000 school staff representing thousands of schools across the country. The goal was to identify common problems in student teaching and learning that could be addressed, and to help build better, more inclusive learning environments.
According to nearly half of the teachers surveyed, assistive technology is one of the top approaches that helps students with dyslexia, along with reading and phonemic awareness instruction. With one billion people globally living with a non-visible disability, such as dyslexia, it is critical that all students have the tools they need to understand and learn. How students digest information and communicate their knowledge looks different for everyone. More inclusive approaches to learning, such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), are the future of education. "I have severe dyslexia and looking back, I could have benefited from having early access to assistive technology that was designed for people just like me," said Sierra Goodfellow, a current student. "Instead, I endured many barriers and obstacles while learning. It wasn't until much later that I finally found an assistive technology tool that understood me. I had thought something was wrong with me when really I needed a tool that was made for someone who thinks differently."
"It would be extremely valuable for students like Sierra and teachers of students with dyslexia if the right accommodations were always available from the start, Texthelp. "All students should have a choice in how they learn. For Sierra, that was being able to understand the text by listening to it being read aloud."
Martin McKay, Founder and CEO, Texthelp.
More than 52 percent of teachers surveyed find 'a lot of value' in providing students with dyslexia access to assistive technology tools. However, more than 54 percent of the respondents said their district will only provide accommodations to students who show a need. Providing tools to only those students who 'show' signs of their disability or disclose their learning challenges leaves out many students who are either undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or are afraid to disclose their diagnosis to indicate the support that they need."It is critical that all school districts provide assistive technology tools to every student, whether or not they are neurodivergent, neurotypical, or physically disabled," said McKay. "Providing tools for all students can bolster inclusivity in the classroom and welcomes all types of learners. Students should be attuned to how they learn best. Thoughtful, inclusive practices in the classroom make learning easier and more enjoyable for everyone."
Additional findings from the survey include:
52% find assistive technology tools to be highly valuable for students with dyslexia
Assistive technology tools can benefit all students, especially those with hidden disabilities, such as dyslexia. Providing assistive technology tools with various capabilities that are designed using UDL principles is most effective in supporting student success.
Most districts provide free tools, such as built-in tools (71.73%) and free accessibility apps (54.87%), to students as a source of reading/writing accommodations
Free tools and built-in tools aren't accessible everywhere throughout a students' education journey. When using these tools, students are limited in where they can utilize their accommodations. Oftentimes, users cannot access these tools when taking tests or searching online, which can create more barriers than solutions.
Respondents felt that the best ways to make assistive technology more impactful for students with dyslexia are:
Having the ability to identify student needs and match those with appropriate digital learning tools (55.51%)
Having teachers embrace assistive technology in the classroom (52.10%)
More training for staff (50.55%)
About Texthelp
Founded in 1996, the Texthelp Group is a global technology company helping people all over the world to understand and to be understood. It has led the way in creating innovative technology for the education and workplace sectors for the last three decades.Texthelp believes in a world where difference, disability or language are no longer barriers. It is focused on helping all people learn, understand, and communicate through the use of digital education and accessibility tools.
With over 50 million users worldwide, the Texthelp suite of products includes Read&Write, Equatio®, WriQ®, OrbitNote®, ReachDeck® and FluencyTutor® which work alongside existing platforms such as Microsoft Office and G-suite, enabling them to be integrated quickly into any classroom or workplace with ease.In 2021, Texthelp acquired the Lingit Group, Wizkids and Don Johnston Inc. By combining capabilities and knowledge across the group, Texthelp can now provide a whole suite of literacy and numeracy support to a greater number of end-users across more geographies.
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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
MONEY LION | August 16, 2022
MoneyLion Inc., the go-to destination for personalized financial content, products and advice, and Zogo, a Gen Z-powered financial literacy company, announced their collaboration today that will provide enhanced financial education to over three million MoneyLion users. The partnership offers an essential blend of holistic and technological innovation that for many years has been left out of the banking and education industries. This is Zogo's largest integration with a Fintech platform since its conception in 2018. The two digital-first companies are teaming up to create crucial content and a seamless experience for users via a co-branded design effort of modules. MoneyLion customers can now easily access Zogo's bite-sized education modules within the MoneyLion app's "Today Feed" content.
The Today Feed is a key element on MoneyLion that brings together the power of community, data, knowledge and expertise to help educate and empower customers to find the best products and offers for them. Consumers will be able to make more informed, responsible financial decisions based on the education they receive every day. Skills users can learn from Zogo include, but not limited to: investing, saving, budgeting, credit scores, applying for loans, entrepreneurship, etc. With the implementation of Zogo, MoneyLion is changing the conversation around money, making it a positive one and reaching customers where they are by providing an essential and engaging educational experience.
"At MoneyLion, we think about our customers each day and want to provide them with the tools and know-how to become money savvy in a way that's approachable and fun, "Together with Zogo and through MoneyLion's data science and machine learning capabilities, each customer will receive a unique lineup of content and information, and the tools necessary to help them achieve their money goals, and at the same time, have the confidence to improve their financial health with a hyper-personalized in-app feed."
- Tim Hong, Chief Product Officer at MoneyLion
Partnering with a premiere [neobank] such as MoneyLion is a pivotal step toward Zogo's goal to bolster investor education for consumers' prosperous financial futures, This is one of our biggest leaps in the Fintech space, driving us closer to our overall mission of reinventing financial education than ever before, said Bolun Li, CEO at Zogo. Shyam Pradheep, Zogo's Head of Operations adds, It's been unbelievable to watch and be a part of Zogo's growth journey from our roots in dorm rooms and dining halls to now joining forces with a Fintech giant like MoneyLion. Our partnership unlocks opportunities for financial education and success for users across the country, and we can't wait to reach new heights together.
About Zogo
Created in 2018 in a dorm room at Duke University by three college students, Zogo has since flourished into an industry leader in financial education. Its award-winning suite of products offer bite-size modules and tangible incentives to make financial literacy education accessible, fun, and rewarding. Zogo partners with 200+ financial institutions in all 50 U.S. states to help them educate, engage, and empower the next generation of financial decision-makers. Zogo's engaging app has garnered nearly one million users and won numerous industry accolades, including "Best of Show" at Finovate Fall 2019 and the NACUSO 2019 Next Big Idea Competition. Bolun Li, Founder & CEO of Zogo, was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2021. Li recently appeared on NBC News Now and FOX 7 Austin to discuss the criticalness of financial literacy. Li's work has also been featured in Forbes, INSIDER, The Financial Brand, EdTech Digest, The Learning Counsel, and more.
About MoneyLion
MoneyLion is a leading digital financial services and lifestyle content platform. MoneyLion's mission is to rewire the financial system to positively change the path of every hard-working American. MoneyLion uses its proprietary data advantage and technology to empower its customers. MoneyLion engages and educates its customers with daily, hyper-personalized money-related and money-adjacent content that is delivered through each customer's own content feed. MoneyLion provides its customers a full suite of financial and non-financial solutions, bundling its proprietary, low-cost financial products with products that are offered through its marketplace technology and network affiliate partners. MoneyLion also leverages its distinct data, technology, and network advantages to deliver leading embedded finance and marketplace solutions for enterprise customers. Since its founding in 2013, MoneyLion has empowered millions of Americans to take control of their finances and live their best financial life, every day.
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ONLINE EDUCATION
Anthology | August 26, 2022
Anthology, a leading provider of education solutions that support the entire learner lifecycle, today announced that its Blackboard Learn Ultra solution was named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the Postsecondary Learning Management Solution category in the 19th Annual International Business Awards® (IBA). The 2022 IBAs received more than 3,700 nominations from organizations in 67 nations and territories.
"We're continuing to accelerate the development of new features for Learn Ultra with the goal of delivering the premier teaching and learning experience, and we're honored to see that work reflected in this recognition,. "The LMS is at the center of learners' educational journey and our team is focused on delivering innovation that fuels their success while also meeting the needs of faculty and institutions."
JD White, Chief Product Officer at Anthology
Blackboard Learn is Anthology's flagship learning management system, designed to support the student experience while enabling pedagogical best practices for faculty. Blackboard Learn Ultra delivers a simpler, more powerful teaching and learning experience that fosters student self-expression, offers a leading test-taking experience, and delivers the ability to surface actionable data insights that help learners, instructors and institutions meet their goals. With a modern, intuitive, fully responsive interface, Learn Ultra better engages students, removes barriers for instructors and clears the path to success. Last month, Anthology announced a 46 percent increase in the number of courses using Blackboard Learn Ultra, and a 30 percent increase in the number of institutions deploying Learn Ultra courses, year-over-year. Following the merger with Blackboard, Anthology tripled Learn Ultra development resources and increased opportunities for client feedback in the development process. The expanded resources powered the largest Learn Ultra release to date, delivered in July. "Statistics show that the stress and mental health experienced by students over the past couple of years has increased significantly. Products like Blackboard Learn Ultra are an essential tool to 'normalizing' the experience of students and helping them to reduce the mental health load. Congratulations to Anthology for creating a product that is making a significant impact in the lives of generations to come," commented one Stevie Award judge. The International Business Awards are the world's premier business awards program. All individuals and organizations worldwide – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small - are eligible to submit nominations. "We're thrilled that we're able to return to celebrating Stevie winners in person this year," said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. "This year's class of honorees are as innovative, adventuresome, persistent and successful as we've ever had. We look forward to celebrating their achievements with them during our October 15th awards banquet in London.www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.
About Anthology
Anthology offers the largest EdTech ecosystem on a global scale for education, supporting more than 150 million users in 80 countries. With a mission to provide dynamic, data-informed experiences to the global education community through Anthology Intelligent Experiences™, we help learners, leaders and educators achieve their goals by offering over 60 SaaS products and services designed to advance learning.
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