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Thanks for Making the Vision K-20 Survey a Success!

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:17

The Vision K-20 Survey comes to a close today and SIIA could not have had another successful survey launch without the help of our partners. We are on track to match or exceed last year’s all time high of 1600 respondents. This year we have also opened up the survey to international educators to see how educators around the world rate themselves on the Vision K-20 technology goals.

Our major partner in the Vision K-20 Survey project this year has been MMS Education. They have helped us host, analyze, and present the results of the survey. The team at MMS has been a great benefit to this project.

Key development partner Sue Collins of CollinsConsults has provided guidance and industry expertise to the development of the survey. She has also played a big role in report writing and presentations at various industry events.

Stay tuned for a NEW version of the Vision K-20 Survey later this month! We are launching a BETA version that improves upon the current survey and will allow for more detailed and accurate results. With all of the new developments SIIA and our partners hope to provide more information in more meaningful ways to our members and the ed tech industry on the whole.

A big thanks to our promotional partners who have helped us spread the word about this important survey: Campus Technology, CoSN, Curriki, Digital Learning Day, District Administration, eCampusNews, edWeb, eSchoolNews, Global SchoolNet, ISTE, iPoPP, NISOD, SmartBrief, SXSWedu, TechLearning.com, The Big Deal Book, THE Journal, Today’s Catholic Teacher, University Business, and We The Teachers.

 

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division.

SIIA Announces Education Finalists for 2013 CODiE Awards

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:41

Today SIIA would like to announce the 148 finalists in Education categories for the 2013 SIIA CODiE Awards. These finalists represent applications, products and services from developers of educational software, digital content, online learning services, and related technologies across the K-20 sector.

This year’s program features 23 Education categories, several of which are new or updated to reflect the latest industry trends and business models. New this year, Best Personalized Learning Solution was the program’s most popular category. Due to its popularity, the category was split into Best PK-12 Personalized Learning Solution and Best Postsecondary Personalized Learning Solution.

Winners will be announced during a special awards dinner at the nation’s leading education technology conference, the Ed Tech Industry Summit, in San Francisco on May 6.

The SIIA CODiE Awards are the industry’s only peer-reviewed awards program. Educators and administrators conduct the first-round review of all education nominees. The judges are responsible for selecting the CODiE Awards finalists, and SIIA members then vote on the finalist products. The scores from both rounds are tabulated to select the winners.

Details about each finalist are listed at http://siia.net/codies/2013/finalists.asp. For more information on the Ed Tech Industry Summit, attending the CODiE Awards dinner, and to see a full schedule of events, visit http://www.siia.net/etis.

2013 CODiE Awards Education Finalists

Best Classroom Management Solution

Best Corporate Learning/Workforce Development Solution

Best Cross-Curricular Solution

Best Education Community Solution

Best Education Game or Simulation

Best Education Reference Solution

Best Educational Use of a Mobile Device

Best Instructional Solution in Other Curriculum Areas

Best K-12 Course or Learning Management Solution

Best K-12 Enterprise Solution

Best Mathematics Instructional Solution

Best PK-12 Personalized Learning Solution

Best Postsecondary Course or Learning Management Solution

Best Postsecondary Enterprise Solution

Best Postsecondary Learning Solution

Best Postsecondary Personalized Learning Solution

Best Professional Learning Solution for Education

Best Reading/English/ELL Instructional Solution

Best Science/Health Instructional Solution

Best Social Sciences Instructional Solution

Best Solution for Special Needs Students

Best Student Assessment Solution

Best Virtual Learning Solution

Karen BillingsKaren Billings is Vice President for the Education Division at SIIA. Follow the SIIA Education Team on Twitter at @SIIAEducation

February’s What’s New in Common Core Standards & Assessments?

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:26

In February data and pilots for the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) became available. As the implementation date creeps closer, more decisions are being made, steps taken and information made available. To help SIIA members better track the details and trends, SIIA has created a monthly report for SIIA members on the newest and most relevant information, aggregated and summarized.

Highlights from this month include more information on accommodation regulations, an example of curriculum selection in New York, and pilot tests. These are all in the February CCSS document with summaries and links to more information for member companies and links to share with their client schools as they prepare for the transition.

The SIIA monthly series will contain information on both the major assessment organizations, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), as well as on the standards definitions and implementation.  This will provide a comprehensive archive for members to access and reference.

Look for more updates by SIIA Education Policy in a month!

Meanwhile, SIIA members can review past SIIA webinars on CCSS, SBAC and PARCC, as well as register for SIIA’s Ed Tech Government Forum, April 9-11 in Washington, DC featuring several sessions addressing these issues.

 

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division. Follow the Education team on twitter at @SIIAEducation

State of the States: What Governors are Saying about Digital Learning

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:09

State policies, budgets and regulations have a significant impact on school implementation of educational technology.  Since the beginning of the New Year, governors across the country have been delivering their State of the State speeches and presenting their budget proposals for the next fiscal year. As outlined in a new SIIA members-only report, education including technology was a key theme for many governors.

Many governors spoke of the importance of literacy and competency by 3rd grade, and some proposed additional spending for that goal. Common Core transition was less mentioned. There was more funding proposed for scholarship funds than for internal investments in higher education institutions and systems. Performance based funding was also a hot topic amongst the governors, and many proposed shifting of more funds into performance based formulas, especially in higher education. Flexible funding was another topic that many governors focused on and proposed in both speeches and budget proposals.

Specific digital technology funding and initiatives came from the speeches and budget proposals. Both Ohio and Arizona proposed $20 million in funding for 21st century assessments (PARCC & SBAC). Increased IT infrastructure funds were mentioned in budgets by Georgia, Arizona, & Florida. STEM education initiatives were proposed by Virginia, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Many governors encouraged in speeches or through funding the continued development of virtual higher education resources.

SIIA has produced a summary of the policy agendas and budgets from governors of the 15 most populous states, with a focus on their proposals regarding education technology.  SIIA members can download the SIIA State of the States summary document for a state-by-state breakdown with links to the budget proposals and speeches. The importance of state funding is another topic to look for at the SIIA Ed Tech Government Forum April 9-11 in Washington DC, members should register to learn more.

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division.

New SIIA California State Report Highlights Impact of Prop 30 and Other California Programs

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:42

After many years of budget crisis, California schools and colleges are expecting a much needed funding increase after voter passage in November of California Proposition 30.  The measure increases taxes on the highest earners in California and distributes those funds into the “Education Protection Account.” A per-pupil increase of at least $200 is expected, though it is unclear if funds will simply go into the general education fund or will be earmarked for specific programs.  In recent years, school districts have received funding flexibility in light of funding cuts, freeing up many previously restricted funds to be used for many locally-determined purposes, including for technology, content and software.  SIIA’s recently released California State Report includes details of key state programs and funding.

Governor Brown released his budget plan in January 2013, calling for continued and increased funding of education mostly through additional flexible funds provided through Proposition 30.  Look for an upcoming SIIA State of the States report for a summary of proposals by Governor Brown and governors in the 15 largest states.

The SIIA California State Report is the first in a new SIIA series of reports detailing the educational programs within the largest states.  As the more populous state in the U.S. and the home of Silicon Valley, California is certainly one of the major education technology markets. While funding for education initiatives has been generally tight in California, this report contains valuable information to help companies navigate these murky waters.  This report summarizes the key funding that local districts rely on, including for educational technologies and instructional resources.  It also outlines the state agency structure with specialized programs, contact information, links, and descriptions of certain key policies and procedures such as around instructional materials.

This report is designed to be a one-stop navigation tool for member companies interested in operating within California.  The California State report is available to SIIA members only.  Look for more State Reports and updates from SIIA on our Education Policy Page.  We also encourage members to register for SIIA’s Ed Tech Government Forum, April 9-11 in Washington, DC which will also address the role the of the state in education policy and funding.

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division.

SIIA at TCEA

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:59

Last week in Austin over 8,000 educators, district leaders, ed tech companies, and other industry insiders gathered at the 2013 TCEA conference.  With a busy show floor and sessions, the event was a great opportunity for the various groups to interact and connect.  Several SIIA members had booths on the show floor and many more were in attendance.  The show floor was busy and many members had productive and busy booths.

SIIA’s own Karen Billings was a featured speaker and hosted a session on the Vision K-20 project on Thursday, February 8th. This session focused on the development of the Vision K-20 goals and metrics as well as the results of the 2012 survey. The 2013 survey was launched on February 7th and educators in attendance were encouraged to participate in the sixth survey cycle.  This session also allowed SIIA to share valuable data with the TCEA community.

SIIA also hosted its member breakfast on Thursday February 8th and had a turnout of over 25 people who were able to hear about the latest SIIA initiatives, network and enjoy a hearty breakfast. The results of the 2011 Market Survey were presented and the attendees were given a chance to view the full report. Members are encouraged to participate in the 2012 iteration of the survey for a free copy of the report.  The breakfast also highlighted the launch of the Vision K-20 survey and encouraged companies to help us get the word out about the survey to educators.  Opportunities and upcoming events were also highlighted including the Ed Tech Government Forum and the Ed Tech Industry Summit. We hope to see you at the next SIIA member breakfast or event!

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division.

What’s new in Common Core Standards & Assessments?

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:34

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) continue to be a core driver of educational policies and practice, including for education technology and digital learning. As the deadline inches closer, more decisions are being made, steps taken and information made available. To help SIIA members better track the details and trends, SIIA is launching a new series of monthly reports for SIIA members on the newest and most relevant information, aggregated and summarized.

Notable releases from the SIIA January 2013 report include new system framework guidelines and accommodation policies by the two assessment consortia. Also included are studies with data supporting implementation and recommendations to both developers and school districts as they create their plans for the transition to CCSS.

The SIIA monthly series will  contain information on both the major assessment organizations, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), as well as on the standards definitions and implementation.  As information is released, it will be added as well, creating a one-stop resource for SIIA members working to ensure their products and services help meet education common core related needs.

Look for more updates by SIIA Education Policy in a month!

Meanwhile, SIIA members can review past SIIA webinars on CCSS, SBAC and PARCC, as well as register for SIIA’s Ed Tech Government Forum, April 9-11 in Washington, DC featuring several sessions addressing these issues.

 

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division.

10 Reasons Why the Ed Tech Bubble will Continue to Float

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:16

Fueled in part by socially-conscious investors and tech entrepreneurs, investment in the educational applications market has exploded to an extent not seen since the dot-com boom more than a decade ago. While some analysts are predicting this is an era of irrational exuberance that could collapse like the bubble burst in 2000, there are at least 10 reasons why this time is different:

  1. Lower Development Costs: Hardware and software tools have improved and costs lowered, and the savings in application development and delivery means reduced prices and higher marginal revenues. Improvements include simpler and more powerful authoring tools, many of them open source, as well as cloud and other hosted models that enable schools and companies to more easily outsource and scale.  
  2. Apps Market Dynamics: The proliferation of Apps on various mobile devices provides a more welcoming market environment for educational technology companies. Among these factors is the reduced cost of development and distribution on the various mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS and their app stores (though some revenue sharing models do challenge the equation).
  3. Increased Hardware Access & Connectivity: While a digital divide still exists and too many classrooms still rely on a single computer station, student and teacher access (at home and school) has grown many fold over the last decade. Reasons for this include the reduced cost of hardware (driven by Moore’s law), growing support for BYOD (student’s Bringing their Own Device), and recent investments in tablets, electronic whiteboards and other devices.
  4. Touch Tablet Ease of Use: Many educators view the touch interface as a game changer for student learning through technology. School (and home) spending bears that out. The platforms provide a simplified user interface for students, a simplified operating system that eases school technical support costs, and a tactile functionality that is both beneficial to younger learners and provides a key pedagogical differentiator from other print and digital mediums. 
  5. Educators Asking How, Not If: Educators have crossed the tipping point from asking “if?” technology to asking “how, how much and what?” While luddites still exist and we are a long way from robust integration and effective use, teachers, administrators and policy makers recognize the upside of technology and digital learning and are focused on how to realize the power and promise.
  6. The New Normal: Our education system is charged with doing more with less in light of the recent recession and enhanced common, college and career readiness standards. Technology has increased productivity in other sectors, and K12 education is finally looking at technology to supplant and transform, rather than simply to supplement. At the same time, many are leveraging technology for data analytics, customized interventions, and blended learning that shift us from mass-production teaching to the more efficient, mass-customization personalized learning model.
  7. Educators as Digital Natives: Interestingly, in the past, it has been more veteran teachers that have gravitated to technology than younger teachers who grew up with technology. This is likely starting to change as the technology use by the young teachers and administrators in their personal (and learning) lives is much more prolific in today’s world of mobile apps, virtual communities and online everything. The education workforce is shifting over rapidly post baby-boom generation, and their technology use will follow.
  8. Digital Native Students: Not much need be said. Students are too often disengaged not by the lack of technology but instead by rote lectures and static text. They understand they must be engaged and challenged, and allowed to explore and personalize their learning. They see how technology supports them outside of school. Educators are responding to their demand to bring that robust learning environment into their curriculum or risk losing too many more students to boredom.
  9. Expanded Distribution: While the proliferation of channels — technology platforms as well as consumer forums — can be a challenge for developers, these will be outweighed by the benefits. Mobile devices and app stores are increasing access and reducing consumer risk. Formal and informal learning are blending as parents and non-school learning providers gain access to new tools. Teachers are no longer reliant on slow, one-size school or district-wide purchasing decisions, but instead can use a debit account to download a product for just one or a few students. And a number of repositories and social networks are providing single points of information (if not yet a point of sales) for all products (and marketing).
  10. Parental Advocacy: Increased parental exposure to learning technologies at home is driving their demand for use at school. While parents were sometimes the road block to school board investments, they are more often now leading the charge.

These differences do not imply that every new product and company will succeed. For better or worse, there are probably too many products on the market relative to the number of average users required for product success. Whether investment is all flowing to the right solutions and the right entrepreneurs is still an open question, but it is undeniable that there is growing demand and opportunity for technology in education.

It is also important to note one related potential market challenge — vendor lock-in of content and data. A dynamic market requires minimized barriers to entry such that (school and individual) users are empowered to seamlessly move among existing and new products with minimal risk. SIIA therefore encourages education decision makers and application developers to invest in interoperability. By creating and demanding applications built on common data, content and API standards, information and resources can be more easily shared and exported among any number of proprietary or open applications, thus reducing the risk to educators of a failed product or company. Such standardization is critical for the maturity, and therefore the growth, of the digital learning market, and will ultimately best serve both education and education providers.

These 10 important developments should encourage today’s developers and investors. While the ed tech bubble may not float ever higher, a burst is not likely this time around.

Mark SchneidermanMark Schneiderman is Senior Director of Education Policy at SIIA. Follow the Education Division on Twitter at @SIIAEducation.

Education Technology Innovators Sought for Incubation Program at 2013 SIIA Ed Tech Industry Summit

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 07:42

SIIA is now is accepting applicants for its Innovation Incubator Program. Selected developers of promising new technologies in the K-12 and postsecondary space will be invited to participate in the Innovation Incubator Program at the 10th annual SIIA Ed Tech Industry Summit in San Francisco, May 5-7, 2013. The deadline to apply for the Innovation Incubator Program is March 8, 2013.

The SIIA Innovation Incubator Program identifies and supports entrepreneurs in their development and distribution of innovative learning technologies. Since 2006, the program has provided incubation for dozens of successful products and companies in their efforts to improve education through the use of software, digital content, and related technologies. The program is open to applicants from academic and non-profit institutions, pre-revenue and early-stage companies, as well as established companies with newly developed technologies.

All education technology companies are encouraged to apply – from start-ups to established innovators. A panel of industry professional judges will then select 10 participants and one alternate to present their products during the Ed Tech Industry Summit. One winner and one runner-up will be selected in the Most Innovative and Most Likely to Succeed categories by conference attendees. Educators and administrators from around the U.S. will vote for the Educator’s Choice Award after online presentations from the selected participants. Classroom, Inc. had the distinction of receiving the first-ever Educator’s Choice Award at the Ed Tech Business Forum in New York City last November.

Innovation Incubator Program participants will be selected from the applicant pool based on key selection criteria, including:

The Innovation Incubator winners at last year’s Ed Tech Industry Summit were:

For more information about the Innovation Incubator Program, or to apply, visit http://siia.net/etis/2013/incubator.asp.

Karen BillingsKaren Billings is Vice President for the Education Division at SIIA. Follow the SIIA Education Team on Twitter at @SIIAEducation

Hope for Ed Tech

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:10

On January 16th, DC Ed Tech and YEP DC (Young Education Professionals DC) cohosted an event entitled “Hype or Hope? An Exploration of Emerging Education Technologies” and attended by 80 educators, innovators, and members of the Washington, DC education and technology community. The panel of Dr. Elias Carayannis,  Abbey Goldstein, Laurel J. Horn (Special Education Teacher at Thurgood Marshall Academy), Kijana Mayfield, and Maura Marino discussed innovation and its purpose in education, debating the value of the much maligned and praised role of technology in education. The presentations that followed showed exactly how the innovation was being implemented.

The panelists generally agreed that technology is not a “fad” for education, and as an industry it is important to show how to successfully implement new technologies and methods in schools. Technology is not going away and has a real opportunity to revolutionize education; however it should not be implemented solely because it is technology, but to solve a problem.

There are many problems and struggles in education that would benefit from new solutions, but applying an innovative technology just because it is innovative is generally ineffective. The teacher on the panel mentioned several instances where she was asked to utilize something just because it was new and innovative and it didn’t work. However there were other instances where technology had simplified classroom procedures or created solutions for teaching and learning difficulties. Ms. Horn’s examples of successful technology implementation included the use of Mimio boards, Kindles (used for the reading impaired) and blended school software like Education Elements.

Presentations by DC-based companies Naviance, AlwaysPrepped, LearnZillion, and SchoolForce capped off the evening. These four show-and-tell style presentations gave an opportunity for companies to show off their products to the gathered crowd of education industry enthusiasts. Several of the presentation/discussions allowed teachers and developers the opportunity to interact and understand the role of each in the classroom. Some of the presenters were in fact teachers previously and had developed their products to solve a need within their own classrooms; LearnZillion was created by a principal at a DC school looking to solve communication problems between classroom and the home.

So, is Ed Tech hype or hope? SIIA members say hope, but the key is solving educational problems and making products that teachers and schools need and can use. For the past five years SIIA has run an Innovation Incubator Program that reviews many applicants like those companies who presented at the Hype or Hope event. We see many great products that give hope to students struggling to learn and the industry at large.  Look for the new innovations we find at our Ed Tech Industry Summit in May!

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division.


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