EdTech 10: Tool Time

This week’s round-up of top edtech stories is rich with announcements regarding new tools for schools to explore this spring or summer and to put to work in the fall. We’re excited to see several examples that rest firmly in the “wow, it’s cool to be a learner in 2016” category! Check out other items in the list that acknowledge that the tools are just one part of the equation.

Blended Schools & Tools

1. Google Eyes the Edtech Prize

@Google is about to launch its own VR platform.

Meet Daydream, the ambitious and beautiful successor to Cardboard.https://t.co/DBbGLOnUxN
— Futurism (@futurism) May 23, 2016

Updates to the #GoogleClassroom API let devs automatically sync assignments & grades https://t.co/NXVgUClbeu #io16 pic.twitter.com/cfEU3miIBY
— Google For Education (@GoogleForEdu) May 18, 2016

#Science at Play: Google sponsored @imagination #video project https://t.co/KYHVxonV2L #DeeperLearning pic.twitter.com/1Fx3vT3TCk

— Tom Vander Ark (@tvanderark) May 20, 2016

2. Deeper Learning Dive

Check out this video to see how CraftED Curriculum defines #deeperlearning. https://t.co/IY4SSQDYaL pic.twitter.com/b9AIc6DBkn
— CraftED Curriculum (@craftEDcm) April 23, 2016

3. Machine Learning Contest

@Udacity partners w/ Didi Chuxing on $100K #MachineLearning competition to improve ride share experience: https://t.co/vygB4ojkzC #EdTech10

— Emily Liebtag (@EmilyLiebtag) May 24, 2016

4. Alternative Higher Ed Guidebook

.@codingdojo @NoodleEducation @UnCollege release #college alt guide–College 2.0: New Pathways to Higher Education https://t.co/PouJJZ4Yw2
— Bonnie Lathram (@belathram) May 24, 2016

5. College and Career Readiness

Research shows just under 40 percent of students score at college and career ready levels on NAEP https://t.co/9uaJ3Vt6Rk #edtech10

— Caroline Vander Ark (@cvanderark) May 25, 2016

Only 59% of stu. agree they learn a lot in class on a daily basis. Learn more about stu. feedback on #academicrigor: https://t.co/E1aNHcripy
— YouthTruth (@Youth_Truth) May 18, 2016

Dollars & Deals

6. Kicking Up Funding

KickUp Raised $1.54M to Bring Data Analytics to #PDhttps://t.co/Ay3UGm5hre via @EdSurge #EduVC
— Tom Vander Ark (@tvanderark) May 23, 2016

Stem Gems

7. Kid Power

A kid’s advisory group? Now that’s an idea | @PotusObama wants to hear what kids have to say about #science ed https://t.co/UtDf2A8zQF #STEM
— Megan Mead (@MegMarMe) May 24, 2016

Higher, Deeper, Further, Faster Learning

8. Competency Based Credentials

Extended Transcripts & #CompetencyEducation: IMS Global supports Digital Credentialing https://t.co/A6e1tv3ZFd @LearningImpact #EdPolicy
— Catherine Wedgwood (@C_Wedgwood) May 24, 2016

Policy Pieces

9. Promising Personalized Learning Policies

JUST RELEASED: Promising #State Policies for #PersonalizedLearning https://t.co/iHmOy3Biih @SusanDPatrick @MariaWorthen @DaleKFrost @Shoing
— iNACOL (@nacol) May 19, 2016

The Big “D”

10. Two Education Data Announcements:

IXL Announces Updates to IXL Analytics, in an effort to make classroom data simple and accessible for teachers: https://t.co/x7nVI9fBoj
— Theresa Harrington (@TunedToTheresa) May 23, 2016

Strayer University Sees Success With Predictive Analytics in Online Learning https://t.co/rLXE4b3N3O
— EdSurge HigherEd (@HigherEdSurge) May 21, 2016

Bonus

Our friends at VIF International Education shared a big announcement, too:

VIF Acquires @participatelrn to Enhance Global Collaboration for Educators https://t.co/43dkAnD2Ec @IREXintl @AC_Global @NEAFoundation

— Dave Potter (@GlobalReady) May 25, 2016

For more see:

• EdTech 10: Taking a HigherEd Path
• EdTech 10: Measure Twice, Learn Once
• EdTech 10: Have You Thanked a Teacher This Week?

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