ONLINE EDUCATION
PRnewswire | April 28, 2023
Intellum, the leader in EdTech for Business, today announced that Reputation-Based Gamification is now part of the core Intellum platform. Intellum is the first education technology company to move beyond the behavioral-focused game mechanics found inside other learning management systems and education platforms. The new capabilities empower clients to better motivate learners by tying the consumption of content and the acquisition of skills and knowledge to peer recognition.
Many businesses adopt gamified learning models in an effort to motivate employees, customers, and partners to complete corporate learning initiatives by awarding digital badges or points. While this approach has been somewhat effective in driving engagement, it fails to tie recognition and reward to what matters most: content mastery and efficacy.
"Engaging learners is critical, but most gamified learning initiatives drive the wrong behavior, encouraging learners to speed through content just to earn a badge, as opposed to motivating them to learn for the right reasons. Over time, we've proven that this type of behavioral engagement has no impact on the success of a business education initiative," said Chip Ramsey, CEO of Intellum. "However, learning science research has now demonstrated that reputation is the best motivator for self-directed learning. Our new approach to Reputation-Based Gamification finally connects the dots for the learner, illuminating the personal benefits of acquiring the right knowledge and motivating them to learn by tapping into everyone's desire to be recognized and respected by their peers."
Intellum has offered industry-leading gamification and social learning functionality for years, and the new Reputation-Based Gamification combines both social motivation and gamified learning experiences in an all-new way. Learners are now encouraged to build reputation by consuming content tied to specific skills and competencies (as defined by the client). Reputation points accrue and are displayed on the learner's profile, skill-by-skill, so learners can easily be identified and recognized for their respective skill sets and expertise. Proven game mechanics like timed challenges and leaderboards keep learners engaged and motivated, and clients can offer awards like shareable credentials for learning achievements.
"Intellum provides a platform where learners are encouraged to challenge themselves and their peers with friendly competition. It is essential in driving continued growth through training, which in turn leads to increased sales and customer satisfaction," shared Alyssa Morris, Associate Director of Design for Cricket Wireless.
Intellum's new approach to gamification includes:
• Skills-based Learning and Reputation Accumulation – earn reputation across key skill competencies after completing relevant content. Share skills acumen on profiles and with peers.
• Credentials Acquisition for Topic Mastery – earn Credentials by completing specific learning paths or sequenced coursework, which can be shared on profiles or through professional and social networks, showcasing subject mastery.
• Timed Challenges and Leaderboards – accelerate skills and reputation building by competing against peers in timed, topic-based Challenges. Climb Challenge Leaderboards and track peers' activity on progress.
• Rewards Store Support – earn "Gold" when finishing courses, completing Challenges, or earning Credentials, and redeem it for prizes.
• Self-Service Admin Settings and Reporting – set up and manage game mechanics, as well as track skills progression, topic mastery, learner engagement, content performance, and "Gold" balances and transactions.
"We're seeing more and more thought leaders and partners in our industry get certified and post on LinkedIn. And those are the people who are going to share their accomplishments and participate in other forums or communities," explained Samantha Parsons, Director of Partnerships Experience Academy at impact.com. "For that reason, we're giving our learners the ability to earn reputation points and add additional credentials while mastering a particular topic. Gamification is a very integral piece of our education initiatives—and a much larger growth strategy for us. That's why we're super excited about Intellum's new reputation-based in-platform capabilities."
About Intellum
Intellum provides the #1 customer, partner, and employee education platform that large brands and fast-moving companies rely on to engage audiences and improve product knowledge, utilization, retention, and revenue. Intellum's scientific, data-driven approach is based on 20+ years of industry experience, and the Intellum Platform includes all of the tools an organization needs to create, deploy, manage, track, and continuously improve highly personalized, engaging educational experiences.
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TALENT DEVELOPMENT
PRnewswire | April 27, 2023
Clever, the platform powering digital learning for more than 75% of U.S. K-12 schools, today announced its new service, Clever MFA+. Designed to help districts facing a growing number of cybersecurity incidents in schools, Clever's new offering protects sensitive data by providing a dual layer of authentication that's easy for administrators and educators to use.
"With the growing sophistication of hackers, we designed this tool to support the realities of schools today, offering busy teachers and staff peace of mind," said Mohit Gupta, Group Product Manager at Clever. "Clever MFA+ helps districts prevent malicious account access, meet insurance requirements, and ensure a safe and secure learning environment."
In a recent Clever survey, one in four administrators said their district had experienced a hack, phishing incident, data breach, or other cyber attack in the past year. The impact, including cost and learning time lost to get systems running again, is high for K-12 education – on average costing schools $1.6M per ransomware incident.
Clever MFA+ serves as a holistic, all-in-one solution that helps districts easily secure access to critical applications:
• Staff-and teacher-friendly factors: Clever MFA+ offers a variety of authentication options, including app tokens (TOTP), SMS codes, voice calls and hardware tokens, as well as biometric.
• Clever MFA+ into familiar devices and apps: The solution covers Chromebooks and Windows devices, while integrating with Google Workspace, Azure, AD and ADFS and any additional apps available with SAML, OpenIDConnect, or OAuth2.
• One, secure Clever login: This new offering means sensitive applications and devices can be protected behind one secure login and with one familiar, trusted single-sign on partner.
"Our instructional programs all filter through Clever — and some of our most sensitive information is rostered into those programs. Having a second layer of protection is paramount," said Dylan Jones, Instructional Technology and Data Coordinator at Sunflower County Consolidated School District. "Clever MFA+ provides seamless protection for an app that all teachers and staff are used to and familiar with! We already do identity management, rostering, and the single sign-on Portal with Clever — so MFA just made sense."
Clever MFA+ is now available with a low price per staff user per year, and schools benefit from free set-up and support to make adoption seamless and quick. To learn more about Clever MFA+, visit here.
The Clever SSO portal for students remains free of charge. Districts can take advantage of built-in MFA functionality to secure the Clever Portal for users with admin access and the existing Clever Badges + Pin functionality to protect students' accounts today.
About Clever
Clever is on a mission to connect every student to a world of learning. More than 75% of U.S. K-12 schools now use Clever to power secure digital learning experiences. With our platform for schools and a network of leading application providers, we're committed to advance education with technology that works for students everywhere.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
PRnewswire | April 20, 2023
Interplay Learning, the leading provider of online and virtual reality training for the essential skilled trades, announces a partnership with the Temperature Control Institute (TCI), a unique state-of-the-art skilled trades education program helping underemployed youth prepare for careers in the skilled trades.
TCI offers six-month certification courses in HVAC and commercial refrigeration. All students graduate with at least one job-ready certification, such as EPA 608, OSHA 10 and NATE, and use Interplay's training to help prepare for their exams. Graduates are qualified for entry-level employment, offering employers in Memphis, Tennessee and Southaven, Mississippi skilled and job-ready talent. Qualifying students may also receive free tuition through state funding.
"Interplay Learning is like having another instructor," said Edward York, TCI Director. "We get more effective learning done in less time, and we're also seeing less wear and tear on our equipment. That's going to allow us to grow faster, so we can help even more young people acquire essential skills that enable them to turn their lives around."
Interplay Learning's immersive virtual-reality simulations and robust catalog of technical content enhance TCI's classroom engagement and hands-on training programs. The platform includes expert-led video-based training, knowledge checks, and hands-on 3D simulations to help technicians rapidly develop on-the-job skills and practice troubleshooting in a risk-free, familiar environment. The on-demand courses offer game-like training that provides flexibility so students can practice anytime, according to their learning style, using a tablet, computer, or virtual reality headset.
TCI is currently enrolling students at its Southhaven, Mississippi, location conveniently located near Memphis, Tennessee. TCI plans to increase its class size as it expands to a new facility in Memphis later this year and add additional training programs for plumbing, electrical, and building maintenance.
"Our mission is to help institutions build better training, better careers, and better lives," said Doug Donovan, founder and CEO of Interplay Learning. "Temperature Control Institute is a shining example of how simulation-based technology can engage and support the next-generation skilled workforce more effectively. We're proud to partner with TCI to support the young, underemployed community in Memphis with an innovative strategy that addresses the skilled labor shortage."
Interplay Learning builds better training, better careers, and better lives for its customers and their employees. Its award-winning online and virtual reality training for the essential skilled trades, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, multifamily maintenance, and facilities maintenance workforces, is scalable and more effective than traditional training methods. By leveraging immersive learning technology, Interplay's customers can train and practice hands-on learning from a desktop, phone, tablet, or in virtual reality, resulting in a highly trained employee who is job-ready in weeks, not years.
About Interplay Learning
Austin-based Interplay Learning offers scalable and effective training for the essential skilled trades that helps business leaders, educators and their teams build better companies, better careers and better lives. Interplay Learning's immersive online and VR training platform for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, hospitality, multifamily maintenance and facilities maintenance workforces includes expert-led video courses, hands-on 3D simulations, knowledge checks and custom learning paths to upskill advanced technicians and help new technicians be job-ready in weeks, not years.
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