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WHY E-TEXTBOOKS HAVEN’T TAKEN OVER SCHOOLS

E-textbooks have not replaced paper books at schools. There are many reasons why e-textbooks are not taking off. Let’s look at a few of them. Even when they have bought an e-textbook, many students print it out so they can make notes and highlight important parts of the text while they are studying. An e-book is not interactive in this way. With a pen or pencil in hand, marking off or circling text and making notes, students feel that they are actually working and learning. This is surprising but true. Traditionally, schools bought textbooks and then used them for a couple of years for successive classes. But with e-textbooks, the school must buy a license, or “copy” every year. That’s expensive for schools. These kinds of decisions by publishers, plus the high cost of e-readers like the iPad and Kindle, make e-textbooks expensive. Also, when a student decides to rather rent an e-book, they can’t sell them back. How fair is that?

Spotlight

Strictly Education Ltd

Strictly Education exists to make the management and administration of educational establishments easier and less stressful. Our aim is to free up time and deliver best value, letting you focus on teaching and learning. We know the education market inside out, but we also bring business acumen and commercial flair to our approach.Focus on improving learning without getting bogged down in running payrolls, dealing with performance issues or spending hours on data input, finance or systems. Hundreds of schools, colleges and academies have chosen to outsource vital elements of school management to Strictly Education. And the result? A more efficient approach that can save money and free up school leadership teams'​ time.

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Education Technology

THE ROLE OF AI IN YOUR EDTECH APP

Article | July 15, 2022

If you’re designing an edtech app, think about the role AI will play in your design. Artificial intelligence is support teachers and students expect to have. When done right, it’s engaging. Finally, it’s already in use in instruction. Both teachers and their students benefit from using apps that include AI. Artificial intelligence supports instruction with chatbots, grading, and taking attendance. These are tasks that can limit teacher interaction time with students. AI frees up the teacher to focus on instruction with students. Artificial intelligence also supports students by maintaining and analyzing their academic histories and setting learning objectives and timelines.

Read More
Education Technology

Top 7 Features to Look for in a Classroom Management Platform

Article | August 4, 2022

Modern classrooms have evolved into digital learning spaces. Even though schools have re-opened, online education is gaining pace. Anywhere classrooms are not just limited to higher education courses and educational institutes need to be able to keep up with the demand for hybrid learning. However, even though online learning models aren’t new, they haven’t been implemented extensively like never before. Hundreds of learners are empowered to attend classes. This in turn has made the student-to-teacher ratio redundant. Modern education is now underlined by the need for accessibility, and online learning tools are making it easier to help retain knowledge. It still begs the question, are schools and high-ed institutes fully equipped for this new phase of education? Smart classroom management is now a need of the hour. At any rate, technology is at the helm of this transformation for the education industry. Edtech has contributed massively to the transition towards mass hybrid learning. With so many tools, teachers and learners may just be able to achieve the ideal learning environment online that simulates the interactivity, collaboration, and social elements that traditional classrooms are known for. One way to accomplish a richer anywhere classroom is by implementing a classroom management solution. Classroom management solutions assist educators in delivering a meaningful classroom experience. How Classroom Management Software Address Learning Challenges? eLearning has become a mainstream educational concept. In the age of remote learning. Today, students are accessing the classroom through a multitude of devices, and educators must be able to accommodate, encourage, and foster learning in the face of the many challenges that come with it. Classroom management tools ensure that the learning experience isn’t hampered. It offers tools that enable teachers to keep attendance, plan courses, draft lesson plans, and implement teaching strategies, track student progress, and so much more. In this article, we explore how the right classroom management platform enables smart classroom management. We also talk about the benefits of classroom management software, the features of classroom management software that are must-have for effective learning, and what tools address the most common hurdles in online learning. Eliminate Paperwork Paperwork is a big challenge for many educators and administrators. From documenting student information to managing and storing student grading, assessment, and exam information, paperwork takes up a significant portion of day-to-day tasks. Classroom management platforms enable educators to reduce paperwork and any repetitive tasks associated with documentation. Manage Overuse of Personal Gadgets Excessive screen time is a major deterrent to engaged learning. Even though screen times will increase due to eLearning, teachers will have the ability to manage distractions during classes with classroom management platforms. Evaluate Students With the increasing gap between teachers’ to students’ ratio, there is no doubt that the educators are burdened and stressed. Evaluating each student and giving her the attention she needs to perform well is affected. Classroom management comes in to assist teachers to monitor students with classroom management and review details like their attendance, leaves, assignments and more. Maintain Class Records Maintaining class records and class progress is just one of the many responsibilities of a teacher. It isn’t wrong to say that it takes up a huge chunk of the teacher’s time. However, these records are essential in order to track student progress and keep an eye on individual as well as group performance. The 7 Best Features that Address Classroom Management Challenges Student Performance Management How students perform, their attendance details, grade and assignment history are all administrative duties that good educators understand they must track. Classroom management platforms offer easy and digitalized access to all this information. It allows educators to track their collective class progress as well as individual performance. This in turn helps in managing the class better and enhancing learning activities. Teachers and professors can store the data and access it at any time. This also allows them to identify individual students who are lagging, areas of learning that the class finds difficult. It empowers educators with the information they need to bring them up to speed while also encouraging other students to improve. Virtual Whiteboard A whiteboards is a classroom essential. Online classrooms may not completely accommodate them, but they can be a powerful fixture. Many smart classroom management tools offer virtual whiteboards that simulate the classroom setting. They are known to be an effective aid in helping students retain information and concentrate in class better. Virtual whiteboards go one step further. They can be downloaded, saved, and even printed. Some tools also allow educators to gamify the classroom experience through quizzes, videos, and other interactive formats. Traditionally, whiteboards were used to project images, presentations and even movies to keep the class engaged. Today’s virtual whiteboard help in doing the same but without restricting a classroom to four walls. Browser and mobile support Accessibility is fundamental to online learning models, and making classroom management tools easy to use on basic systems is key to ensuring inclusivity. If they are too complex or cause technical difficulties, they aren’t serving their purpose. Mobile support is one way to enforce accessibility. Remote learning classroom management solutions that take cross-device support into account offer a classroom experience for both educators and learners that isn’t hampered by technicality. Since they are designed to integrate smoothly with any device as well as the most popular browsers, they ensure parents don’t have to configure their systems or buy new devices for their children to learn online. Being able to use their existing devices allows both privileged and underprivileged students to easily continue their education. Course Planning and Management Digital tools have been able to change the game completely for educators. Some smart classroom management platforms boast features like course planning and management that encompass lesson planning, course content management, grading schema creation, assessment scheduling and much more. It allows for teachers to better plan their course as well as individual lessons. In addition, it empowers the assessment process and scheduling by ensuring one is conducted at regular intervals. The resulting grades reveal insights on the class’ progress and retention of the course material. Communication and Collaboration Classrooms offer the ability for learners to interact with their peers and their educators. The easy collaboration allows for ideas to thrive and facilitates them to grasp difficult concepts quicker while retaining information. The one-on-one interaction with educators is significant for many students. A collaborative classroom management platform that offers seamless ways to communicate provides a thriving environment where all parties are able to discuss new ideas, spark conversations, share feedback, team up with peers, and learn social and interpersonal skills. While some students may have more questions than others, teachers are better able to spread their attention across the class while answering, to individual queries. Unlike in a traditional classroom, one student’s question doesn’t keep the whole class waiting but provides a controlled forum for such discussions to take place. Blended Learning Options Hybrid models are becoming common in education and especially so in higher-ed. With both online and offline learning in the mix, flexibility and enrolment is off the charts. Blended learning allows students to interact with the coursework in a myriad of ways. Many classroom management tools provide support for tracking both online and offline learning journeys. This ensures students overcome stagnation and monotony, while teachers can follow their students’ progress. From registering for classes to conducting workshops and other interactive sessions, support for blending learning lets students and educators take control of their learning journey. Reporting and Analytics Data analytics is one of the best areas of tech to have happened to decision making. With digitalization, classrooms are now a huge source of data that empowers educators with the information they need to enhance the classroom and the remote leaning classroom management approach. Reporting capabilities combined with data analytics tools, educators are able to uncover insights at a granular level and make informed decisions about the course, lessons, grading, and assessments. Some tools offer dashboard functionalities that allow both students and teachers to be on the same page about the class, assignment submissions, deadlines, and exam dates. Conclusion Education is evolving as the cradle of learning, and classrooms need to follow suit. Now that learning is rapidly becoming a hybrid experience, classroom management software is more essential now than ever. With the complete classroom sometimes accessing lectures online, educators and school administrators have a responsibility to ensure that learners have the right tools, resources, and know-how to attend online classes. In addition, they must ensure that all technical abilities receive troubleshooting in time. A remote learning classroom management software will contribute to an anywhere classroom that enables learning no matter where the educators and learners are located. With documentation, tracking of student progress, lesson planning, attendance mapping, and other features of classroom management software, educators and administrators can save a lot of time and money. With an abundance of options to choose from, the features in this article will help schools find the right classroom management platform for them without making a dent in the school’s technology budget. Frequently Asked Questions How much does classroom management software cost? Many classroom management systems offer pricing on per-seat basis. This means schools can easily scale their software as required by adding one or more seats whenever students enrol. How is a classroom management platform implemented? Classroom management platforms offer custom implementation as well as standard implementation of their software. Do classroom management platforms integrate with other classroom software? Most classroom management platforms are designed to integrate with a host of other classroom solutions used for communications and collaboration, like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and more.

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Education Technology

Advancing racial equality in higher education

Article | July 14, 2022

The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked protests across the world, bringing to the fore the numerous ways structural racial inequalities persist in Western countries. Testimonials and mounting data have shone a light on these inequalities across many aspects of life. The UK higher education sector is not immune to these inequalities. Significant and well documented racial disparities persist: Black students face a 26 per cent attainment gap when compared with their white counterparts; continuation and progression rates have similar gaps; there are very few Black professors or senior leaders (and few of them are women); and structures for reporting racial harassment are often underdeveloped.

Read More
Education Technology

3 Ways to Recession-Proof the Education Technology Department

Article | July 14, 2022

Schools are an integral part of society, with roots entrenched in the economy and an unquestionable role to play in building the future of the country. The Great Recession in the mid-2000s demonstrated that while federal stimulus can promote the adoption of technology in public education budgets, during recessionary periods it becomes a challenge to continue building and maintaining technologically well-equipped schools. As we move into another recession, educational technology leaders will have many tough decisions to make as they attempt to keep the impact of an economic slowdown away from the classroom. Technology leaders in schools must understand that the surge in demand for technology to maintain remote learning will not mitigate the decision to cut costs. To avoid affecting critical pieces of the technology department, here are three ways to recession-proof the technology department. Outline the Costs Well in Advance Technology isn’t cheap and it can make a dent in your education budget if not planned for. This is why it’s necessary to outline the costs, and maintain a budget for the renewal of standard hardware and software in order to leverage bulk buying discounts later. Determine the Must-have Tech Positions An economic slowdown will undoubtedly lead to some difficult conversations about which positions are crucial for the school. To avoid making the wrong moves, develop a clear blueprint of the roles and responsibilities of the positions that support every program. This will ensure you are able to anticipate the impact of a budget cut on the IT team. Avoid Yearly Renewal Contracts During a recession, many tech vendors experience an increase in operating costs that are then passed on to schools and districts. Consider signing multi-year contracts to lock-in costs at stable pricing. You might want to think about multi-year contracts for tech partnerships in areas like data management systems, assessment and student information, and teaching programs. The recession is inevitably causing uncertainty, and the technology budget will remain a live wire, especially considering the fiscal aftermath left by the pandemic. For technology leaders, the goal must be to avoid the lasting effect of budget cuts on the technology department. Investing in multi-year pricing contracts, identifying critical team roles, and budgeting for renewals well in advance can alleviate some of the impacts.

Read More
Education Technology

3 Pillars of SEL that Every Educator Must Embody

Article | July 15, 2022

If you’re designing an edtech app, think about the role AI will play in your design. Artificial intelligence is support teachers and students expect to have. When done right, it’s engaging. Finally, it’s already in use in instruction. Both teachers and their students benefit from using apps that include AI. Artificial intelligence supports instruction with chatbots, grading, and taking attendance. These are tasks that can limit teacher interaction time with students. AI frees up the teacher to focus on instruction with students. Artificial intelligence also supports students by maintaining and analyzing their academic histories and setting learning objectives and timelines.

Read More
Education Technology

Smart Classroom Management Can Boost Student Engagement: Here's How

Article | August 4, 2022

Modern classrooms have evolved into digital learning spaces. Even though schools have re-opened, online education is gaining pace. Anywhere classrooms are not just limited to higher education courses and educational institutes need to be able to keep up with the demand for hybrid learning. However, even though online learning models aren’t new, they haven’t been implemented extensively like never before. Hundreds of learners are empowered to attend classes. This in turn has made the student-to-teacher ratio redundant. Modern education is now underlined by the need for accessibility, and online learning tools are making it easier to help retain knowledge. It still begs the question, are schools and high-ed institutes fully equipped for this new phase of education? Smart classroom management is now a need of the hour. At any rate, technology is at the helm of this transformation for the education industry. Edtech has contributed massively to the transition towards mass hybrid learning. With so many tools, teachers and learners may just be able to achieve the ideal learning environment online that simulates the interactivity, collaboration, and social elements that traditional classrooms are known for. One way to accomplish a richer anywhere classroom is by implementing a classroom management solution. Classroom management solutions assist educators in delivering a meaningful classroom experience. How Classroom Management Software Address Learning Challenges? eLearning has become a mainstream educational concept. In the age of remote learning. Today, students are accessing the classroom through a multitude of devices, and educators must be able to accommodate, encourage, and foster learning in the face of the many challenges that come with it. Classroom management tools ensure that the learning experience isn’t hampered. It offers tools that enable teachers to keep attendance, plan courses, draft lesson plans, and implement teaching strategies, track student progress, and so much more. In this article, we explore how the right classroom management platform enables smart classroom management. We also talk about the benefits of classroom management software, the features of classroom management software that are must-have for effective learning, and what tools address the most common hurdles in online learning. Eliminate Paperwork Paperwork is a big challenge for many educators and administrators. From documenting student information to managing and storing student grading, assessment, and exam information, paperwork takes up a significant portion of day-to-day tasks. Classroom management platforms enable educators to reduce paperwork and any repetitive tasks associated with documentation. Manage Overuse of Personal Gadgets Excessive screen time is a major deterrent to engaged learning. Even though screen times will increase due to eLearning, teachers will have the ability to manage distractions during classes with classroom management platforms. Evaluate Students With the increasing gap between teachers’ to students’ ratio, there is no doubt that the educators are burdened and stressed. Evaluating each student and giving her the attention she needs to perform well is affected. Classroom management comes in to assist teachers to monitor students with classroom management and review details like their attendance, leaves, assignments and more. Maintain Class Records Maintaining class records and class progress is just one of the many responsibilities of a teacher. It isn’t wrong to say that it takes up a huge chunk of the teacher’s time. However, these records are essential in order to track student progress and keep an eye on individual as well as group performance. The 7 Best Features that Address Classroom Management Challenges Student Performance Management How students perform, their attendance details, grade and assignment history are all administrative duties that good educators understand they must track. Classroom management platforms offer easy and digitalized access to all this information. It allows educators to track their collective class progress as well as individual performance. This in turn helps in managing the class better and enhancing learning activities. Teachers and professors can store the data and access it at any time. This also allows them to identify individual students who are lagging, areas of learning that the class finds difficult. It empowers educators with the information they need to bring them up to speed while also encouraging other students to improve. Virtual Whiteboard A whiteboards is a classroom essential. Online classrooms may not completely accommodate them, but they can be a powerful fixture. Many smart classroom management tools offer virtual whiteboards that simulate the classroom setting. They are known to be an effective aid in helping students retain information and concentrate in class better. Virtual whiteboards go one step further. They can be downloaded, saved, and even printed. Some tools also allow educators to gamify the classroom experience through quizzes, videos, and other interactive formats. Traditionally, whiteboards were used to project images, presentations and even movies to keep the class engaged. Today’s virtual whiteboard help in doing the same but without restricting a classroom to four walls. Browser and mobile support Accessibility is fundamental to online learning models, and making classroom management tools easy to use on basic systems is key to ensuring inclusivity. If they are too complex or cause technical difficulties, they aren’t serving their purpose. Mobile support is one way to enforce accessibility. Remote learning classroom management solutions that take cross-device support into account offer a classroom experience for both educators and learners that isn’t hampered by technicality. Since they are designed to integrate smoothly with any device as well as the most popular browsers, they ensure parents don’t have to configure their systems or buy new devices for their children to learn online. Being able to use their existing devices allows both privileged and underprivileged students to easily continue their education. Course Planning and Management Digital tools have been able to change the game completely for educators. Some smart classroom management platforms boast features like course planning and management that encompass lesson planning, course content management, grading schema creation, assessment scheduling and much more. It allows for teachers to better plan their course as well as individual lessons. In addition, it empowers the assessment process and scheduling by ensuring one is conducted at regular intervals. The resulting grades reveal insights on the class’ progress and retention of the course material. Communication and Collaboration Classrooms offer the ability for learners to interact with their peers and their educators. The easy collaboration allows for ideas to thrive and facilitates them to grasp difficult concepts quicker while retaining information. The one-on-one interaction with educators is significant for many students. A collaborative classroom management platform that offers seamless ways to communicate provides a thriving environment where all parties are able to discuss new ideas, spark conversations, share feedback, team up with peers, and learn social and interpersonal skills. While some students may have more questions than others, teachers are better able to spread their attention across the class while answering, to individual queries. Unlike in a traditional classroom, one student’s question doesn’t keep the whole class waiting but provides a controlled forum for such discussions to take place. Blended Learning Options Hybrid models are becoming common in education and especially so in higher-ed. With both online and offline learning in the mix, flexibility and enrolment is off the charts. Blended learning allows students to interact with the coursework in a myriad of ways. Many classroom management tools provide support for tracking both online and offline learning journeys. This ensures students overcome stagnation and monotony, while teachers can follow their students’ progress. From registering for classes to conducting workshops and other interactive sessions, support for blending learning lets students and educators take control of their learning journey. Reporting and Analytics Data analytics is one of the best areas of tech to have happened to decision making. With digitalization, classrooms are now a huge source of data that empowers educators with the information they need to enhance the classroom and the remote leaning classroom management approach. Reporting capabilities combined with data analytics tools, educators are able to uncover insights at a granular level and make informed decisions about the course, lessons, grading, and assessments. Some tools offer dashboard functionalities that allow both students and teachers to be on the same page about the class, assignment submissions, deadlines, and exam dates. Conclusion Education is evolving as the cradle of learning, and classrooms need to follow suit. Now that learning is rapidly becoming a hybrid experience, classroom management software is more essential now than ever. With the complete classroom sometimes accessing lectures online, educators and school administrators have a responsibility to ensure that learners have the right tools, resources, and know-how to attend online classes. In addition, they must ensure that all technical abilities receive troubleshooting in time. A remote learning classroom management software will contribute to an anywhere classroom that enables learning no matter where the educators and learners are located. With documentation, tracking of student progress, lesson planning, attendance mapping, and other features of classroom management software, educators and administrators can save a lot of time and money. With an abundance of options to choose from, the features in this article will help schools find the right classroom management platform for them without making a dent in the school’s technology budget. Frequently Asked Questions How much does classroom management software cost? Many classroom management systems offer pricing on per-seat basis. This means schools can easily scale their software as required by adding one or more seats whenever students enrol. How is a classroom management platform implemented? Classroom management platforms offer custom implementation as well as standard implementation of their software. Do classroom management platforms integrate with other classroom software? Most classroom management platforms are designed to integrate with a host of other classroom solutions used for communications and collaboration, like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and more.

Read More
Education Technology

3 Ways to Recession-Proof the Education Technology Department

Article | July 14, 2022

The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked protests across the world, bringing to the fore the numerous ways structural racial inequalities persist in Western countries. Testimonials and mounting data have shone a light on these inequalities across many aspects of life. The UK higher education sector is not immune to these inequalities. Significant and well documented racial disparities persist: Black students face a 26 per cent attainment gap when compared with their white counterparts; continuation and progression rates have similar gaps; there are very few Black professors or senior leaders (and few of them are women); and structures for reporting racial harassment are often underdeveloped.

Read More
Education Technology

3 Ways to Recession-Proof the Education Technology Department

Article | July 14, 2022

Schools are an integral part of society, with roots entrenched in the economy and an unquestionable role to play in building the future of the country. The Great Recession in the mid-2000s demonstrated that while federal stimulus can promote the adoption of technology in public education budgets, during recessionary periods it becomes a challenge to continue building and maintaining technologically well-equipped schools. As we move into another recession, educational technology leaders will have many tough decisions to make as they attempt to keep the impact of an economic slowdown away from the classroom. Technology leaders in schools must understand that the surge in demand for technology to maintain remote learning will not mitigate the decision to cut costs. To avoid affecting critical pieces of the technology department, here are three ways to recession-proof the technology department. Outline the Costs Well in Advance Technology isn’t cheap and it can make a dent in your education budget if not planned for. This is why it’s necessary to outline the costs, and maintain a budget for the renewal of standard hardware and software in order to leverage bulk buying discounts later. Determine the Must-have Tech Positions An economic slowdown will undoubtedly lead to some difficult conversations about which positions are crucial for the school. To avoid making the wrong moves, develop a clear blueprint of the roles and responsibilities of the positions that support every program. This will ensure you are able to anticipate the impact of a budget cut on the IT team. Avoid Yearly Renewal Contracts During a recession, many tech vendors experience an increase in operating costs that are then passed on to schools and districts. Consider signing multi-year contracts to lock-in costs at stable pricing. You might want to think about multi-year contracts for tech partnerships in areas like data management systems, assessment and student information, and teaching programs. The recession is inevitably causing uncertainty, and the technology budget will remain a live wire, especially considering the fiscal aftermath left by the pandemic. For technology leaders, the goal must be to avoid the lasting effect of budget cuts on the technology department. Investing in multi-year pricing contracts, identifying critical team roles, and budgeting for renewals well in advance can alleviate some of the impacts.

Read More
MORE ARTICLES

Spotlight

Strictly Education Ltd

Strictly Education exists to make the management and administration of educational establishments easier and less stressful. Our aim is to free up time and deliver best value, letting you focus on teaching and learning. We know the education market inside out, but we also bring business acumen and commercial flair to our approach.Focus on improving learning without getting bogged down in running payrolls, dealing with performance issues or spending hours on data input, finance or systems. Hundreds of schools, colleges and academies have chosen to outsource vital elements of school management to Strictly Education. And the result? A more efficient approach that can save money and free up school leadership teams'​ time.

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Online Education

Imagine Learning Expands Core Curriculum Offering with Launch of Traverse, A Groundbreaking Digital Social Studies Curriculum

Business Wire | October 17, 2023

Imagine Learning, the largest provider of digital curriculum solutions in the U.S., serving 15 million students in more than half of school districts nationwide, today announced the launch of Traverse, a groundbreaking, innovative, and digital-first social studies, living core curriculum solution for grades 6–12. Traverse, created by a team of Imagine Learning developers and educators, represents a significant milestone for the organization as it expands its comprehensive suite of dedicated and immersive digital core curriculum courses for teachers and students across the country. Gone are the days of large history books that cannot be easily updated. Traverse turns that paradigm on its head and provides an on-ramp to ensuring that our students are taught the most updated information, yet customized to meet the standards of local communities, said Jonathan Grayer, CEO of Imagine Learning. This launch is a significant step forward for Imagine Learning as we now provide thousands of school districts -- large and small -- a complete array of solutions, from supplemental to intervention to core. In today’s evolving world, the demand for teaching social studies appropriately has never been greater. Districts have been searching for a modern curriculum that can adapt to their needs and empower teachers to meet the required content and instructional standards while encouraging critical thinking and civic engagement for students. Pairing advanced technology and engaging media with inquiry-based learning, Imagine Learning developed Traverse to address this market demand with a highly adaptable and engaging curriculum. Mr. Grayer continued, “Traverse represents a real breakthrough in how social studies can and should be taught in this country. In a rapidly changing world where there is a greater urgency placed on teaching our students how to be responsible citizens contributing to the well-being of our society, Traverse solves an enormous problem facing our schools by equipping students with the knowledge and skills to navigate a complex and ever-changing global landscape. Like other Imagine Learning curricula, Traverse shares responsibility for this process with teachers, empowering them to cultivate the active, informed, and engaged citizens our society needs. We are very excited to bring Traverse to market.” For the first time, students will be engaged in a comprehensive learning experience that combines content, inquiry, and skills development. Students are exposed to a wide array of multimedia resources, primary and secondary sources, lessons designed to build their skills, collaborative learning activities, and assessments to deepen their engagement with the subject matter. Traverse will prepare students for civic engagement beyond their classrooms by using a standards-backed, inquiry-based approach to learning. It aligns with the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework and state standards, providing teachers with a cohesive instructional social studies program for grades 6-12. The Traverse Solution Traverse is authored by renowned educators Kathy Swan and Sam Wineburg, and designed by Imagine Learning’s development group, the same team that created the award-winning ELA program StudySync. Its digital-first instructional design allows districts to easily support changing curriculum standards with adaptable courses that are built with powerful media and interactives. Through a combination of video, activities, and tools, Traverse leverages interactive media to enhance engagement in instruction. Aligned to the C3 Framework, Traverse prepares students for college, career, and civic life by connecting the lessons to real-life social issues. Students are further supported through active learning and are encouraged to collaborate with their peers and find answers themselves through careful and critical study of the standards-based resources provided. As part of its modern, new approach to social studies, Traverse: Maximizes student learning by focusing only on the content standards teachers are expected to teach. Enables students to critically evaluate issues, both inside and outside the classroom. Blends technology and multimedia to empower learners. Supports teachers in facilitating an equitable learning environment by providing the necessary resources to create personalized learning experiences. Includes Imagine Learning’s exceptional digital and print implementation support and toolkits that work with districts according to their needs. Offers varied modalities for lessons and is compatible with multiple devices. Traverse is the latest digital-first curriculum to be added to Imagine Learning’s core product line, joining Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics, Twig Science, and Imagine Learning EL Education. It is available for U.S. History: Beginnings to the Civil War; U.S. History: Reconstruction to the Present; World History: Beginnings to the Reformation; World History: Emergence of the Modern World to the Present; World Geography; U.S. Government; and Economics. For more information on Traverse, visit www.imaginelearning.com/traverse. About Imagine Learning Every classroom, every student is bursting with potential. That’s why we pursue relentless innovation at the intersection of technology, people, and curricula. Imagine Learning creates K–12 digital-first solutions fueled by insights from educators, working alongside educators to support 15 million students in over half of the districts nationwide. Our core portfolio includes Twig Science®, Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics®, and Imagine Learning EL Education®. Our robust supplemental and intervention suite equips learners with personalized instruction for English and Spanish literacy, math, coding, and more. Imagine Edgenuity™ is our flagship courseware solution, complemented by Imagine School Services’ Certified Teachers. Imagine Learning. Empower potential. Learn more: imaginelearning.com.

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Online Education

EVERFI Launches Nation's First No-Cost, Digital Crypto Education for High School Students

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

National Student Clearinghouse and iDatafy Partner to Build Certified Comprehensive Learner Record Solution on SmartResume Certified Talent Platform

iDatafy | March 01, 2022

iDatafy, an industry-leader in education technology, and the National Student Clearinghouse announced a partnership today that will make it easy for learners throughout the nation to create Comprehensive Learner Records on the SmartResume platform, while also connecting employers with diverse job talent in a new way. Through this partnership, learners using the Clearinghouse’s Myhub digital wallet will be able to connect their credentials to iDatafy’s SmartResume, IMS Global certified, Comprehensive Learner Record solution. The Myhub platform, which is FERPA compliant, provides an educational digital wallet containing verified academic credentials that empowers learners with a single, secure location to curate all achievements from a variety of sources. The SmartResume service will be free for the Clearinghouse’s education partners and learners to utilize. Employers will typically pay a fee to connect, recruit and hire certified job talent on the platform. Students nationwide whose college or university sign up to participate with the Clearinghouse can use this service. US-based learners may access their personal SmartResumes through the Myhub platform. “SmartResume is both the world’s first certified resume issuing platform and employer-to-job talent matching engine combined in one. By partnering with the National Student Clearinghouse, we can scale the value provided by SmartResume to education institutions, job seekers and employers on a national level. We could not ask for a more trusted partner to do so.” Ian Davidson, Chief Growth Officer, iDatafy “We are excited to provide learners throughout the nation another way to control and showcase their skills, abilities, and accomplishments in their comprehensive learner record and to provide our employer partners with a new way to discover certified job talent at the front end of the recruitment process, said Pepe Carreras, Vice President of Education Solutions, National Student Clearinghouse. “This new service is one more way the National Student Clearinghouse serves the education and workforce communities and all learners with access to trusted data, related services, and insights.” About iDatafy LLC iDatafy®, founded in 2011, is a leading education technology company that has created the new SmartResume® certified talent platform. Trusted partners such as education institutions and workforce skill certifiers register academic achievements, leadership experience and certified workforce skills of their current and past student on our permissioned blockchain. The certifications are presented on customized SmartResumes that include links to the digital attestation by the trusted partners. The result is a resume that has been directly certified by a trusted institution and can now be used by the recipient to differentiate them when applying for a job. Employers now also have the ability to search for certified job talent in a way they were never able to do before. Both iDatafy® and SmartResume® are registered trademarks owned by iDatafy LLC. About the National Student Clearinghouse The National Student Clearinghouse, a nonprofit formed in 1993, is the trusted source for and leading provider of higher education verifications and electronic education record exchanges. Besides working with nearly 3,600 postsecondary institutions, the Clearinghouse also provides thousands of high schools and districts with continuing collegiate enrollment, progression, and completion statistics on their alumni.

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Online Education

Imagine Learning Expands Core Curriculum Offering with Launch of Traverse, A Groundbreaking Digital Social Studies Curriculum

Business Wire | October 17, 2023

Imagine Learning, the largest provider of digital curriculum solutions in the U.S., serving 15 million students in more than half of school districts nationwide, today announced the launch of Traverse, a groundbreaking, innovative, and digital-first social studies, living core curriculum solution for grades 6–12. Traverse, created by a team of Imagine Learning developers and educators, represents a significant milestone for the organization as it expands its comprehensive suite of dedicated and immersive digital core curriculum courses for teachers and students across the country. Gone are the days of large history books that cannot be easily updated. Traverse turns that paradigm on its head and provides an on-ramp to ensuring that our students are taught the most updated information, yet customized to meet the standards of local communities, said Jonathan Grayer, CEO of Imagine Learning. This launch is a significant step forward for Imagine Learning as we now provide thousands of school districts -- large and small -- a complete array of solutions, from supplemental to intervention to core. In today’s evolving world, the demand for teaching social studies appropriately has never been greater. Districts have been searching for a modern curriculum that can adapt to their needs and empower teachers to meet the required content and instructional standards while encouraging critical thinking and civic engagement for students. Pairing advanced technology and engaging media with inquiry-based learning, Imagine Learning developed Traverse to address this market demand with a highly adaptable and engaging curriculum. Mr. Grayer continued, “Traverse represents a real breakthrough in how social studies can and should be taught in this country. In a rapidly changing world where there is a greater urgency placed on teaching our students how to be responsible citizens contributing to the well-being of our society, Traverse solves an enormous problem facing our schools by equipping students with the knowledge and skills to navigate a complex and ever-changing global landscape. Like other Imagine Learning curricula, Traverse shares responsibility for this process with teachers, empowering them to cultivate the active, informed, and engaged citizens our society needs. We are very excited to bring Traverse to market.” For the first time, students will be engaged in a comprehensive learning experience that combines content, inquiry, and skills development. Students are exposed to a wide array of multimedia resources, primary and secondary sources, lessons designed to build their skills, collaborative learning activities, and assessments to deepen their engagement with the subject matter. Traverse will prepare students for civic engagement beyond their classrooms by using a standards-backed, inquiry-based approach to learning. It aligns with the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework and state standards, providing teachers with a cohesive instructional social studies program for grades 6-12. The Traverse Solution Traverse is authored by renowned educators Kathy Swan and Sam Wineburg, and designed by Imagine Learning’s development group, the same team that created the award-winning ELA program StudySync. Its digital-first instructional design allows districts to easily support changing curriculum standards with adaptable courses that are built with powerful media and interactives. Through a combination of video, activities, and tools, Traverse leverages interactive media to enhance engagement in instruction. Aligned to the C3 Framework, Traverse prepares students for college, career, and civic life by connecting the lessons to real-life social issues. Students are further supported through active learning and are encouraged to collaborate with their peers and find answers themselves through careful and critical study of the standards-based resources provided. As part of its modern, new approach to social studies, Traverse: Maximizes student learning by focusing only on the content standards teachers are expected to teach. Enables students to critically evaluate issues, both inside and outside the classroom. Blends technology and multimedia to empower learners. Supports teachers in facilitating an equitable learning environment by providing the necessary resources to create personalized learning experiences. Includes Imagine Learning’s exceptional digital and print implementation support and toolkits that work with districts according to their needs. Offers varied modalities for lessons and is compatible with multiple devices. Traverse is the latest digital-first curriculum to be added to Imagine Learning’s core product line, joining Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics, Twig Science, and Imagine Learning EL Education. It is available for U.S. History: Beginnings to the Civil War; U.S. History: Reconstruction to the Present; World History: Beginnings to the Reformation; World History: Emergence of the Modern World to the Present; World Geography; U.S. Government; and Economics. For more information on Traverse, visit www.imaginelearning.com/traverse. About Imagine Learning Every classroom, every student is bursting with potential. That’s why we pursue relentless innovation at the intersection of technology, people, and curricula. Imagine Learning creates K–12 digital-first solutions fueled by insights from educators, working alongside educators to support 15 million students in over half of the districts nationwide. Our core portfolio includes Twig Science®, Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics®, and Imagine Learning EL Education®. Our robust supplemental and intervention suite equips learners with personalized instruction for English and Spanish literacy, math, coding, and more. Imagine Edgenuity™ is our flagship courseware solution, complemented by Imagine School Services’ Certified Teachers. Imagine Learning. Empower potential. Learn more: imaginelearning.com.

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Online Education

EVERFI Launches Nation's First No-Cost, Digital Crypto Education for High School Students

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

National Student Clearinghouse and iDatafy Partner to Build Certified Comprehensive Learner Record Solution on SmartResume Certified Talent Platform

iDatafy | March 01, 2022

iDatafy, an industry-leader in education technology, and the National Student Clearinghouse announced a partnership today that will make it easy for learners throughout the nation to create Comprehensive Learner Records on the SmartResume platform, while also connecting employers with diverse job talent in a new way. Through this partnership, learners using the Clearinghouse’s Myhub digital wallet will be able to connect their credentials to iDatafy’s SmartResume, IMS Global certified, Comprehensive Learner Record solution. The Myhub platform, which is FERPA compliant, provides an educational digital wallet containing verified academic credentials that empowers learners with a single, secure location to curate all achievements from a variety of sources. The SmartResume service will be free for the Clearinghouse’s education partners and learners to utilize. Employers will typically pay a fee to connect, recruit and hire certified job talent on the platform. Students nationwide whose college or university sign up to participate with the Clearinghouse can use this service. US-based learners may access their personal SmartResumes through the Myhub platform. “SmartResume is both the world’s first certified resume issuing platform and employer-to-job talent matching engine combined in one. By partnering with the National Student Clearinghouse, we can scale the value provided by SmartResume to education institutions, job seekers and employers on a national level. We could not ask for a more trusted partner to do so.” Ian Davidson, Chief Growth Officer, iDatafy “We are excited to provide learners throughout the nation another way to control and showcase their skills, abilities, and accomplishments in their comprehensive learner record and to provide our employer partners with a new way to discover certified job talent at the front end of the recruitment process, said Pepe Carreras, Vice President of Education Solutions, National Student Clearinghouse. “This new service is one more way the National Student Clearinghouse serves the education and workforce communities and all learners with access to trusted data, related services, and insights.” About iDatafy LLC iDatafy®, founded in 2011, is a leading education technology company that has created the new SmartResume® certified talent platform. Trusted partners such as education institutions and workforce skill certifiers register academic achievements, leadership experience and certified workforce skills of their current and past student on our permissioned blockchain. The certifications are presented on customized SmartResumes that include links to the digital attestation by the trusted partners. The result is a resume that has been directly certified by a trusted institution and can now be used by the recipient to differentiate them when applying for a job. Employers now also have the ability to search for certified job talent in a way they were never able to do before. Both iDatafy® and SmartResume® are registered trademarks owned by iDatafy LLC. About the National Student Clearinghouse The National Student Clearinghouse, a nonprofit formed in 1993, is the trusted source for and leading provider of higher education verifications and electronic education record exchanges. Besides working with nearly 3,600 postsecondary institutions, the Clearinghouse also provides thousands of high schools and districts with continuing collegiate enrollment, progression, and completion statistics on their alumni.

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