EdBizWatch

Classroom Wearable Tech: What Is It & What Does It Do?

VR devices, “life-logging” devices, brain-sensing, documentation of student learning...

Wearable Technology in the Classroom, David Nield, The Guardian

BrightBytes Raises $33M, Led by Insight Venture Partners

Co offers tools to evaluate how investment in tech affects classroom outcomes. 

BrightBytes Raises $33M, Led by Insight Venture Partners, Gina Hall, SVBJ

Quipper Acquired for $39 Million by Recruit Holdings

Quipper School enables educators to create content and track student performance.

Quipper Acquired for $39 Million by Recruit Holdings, Kay Alexander, Edukwest

Why the Suits at IBM and Apple Are Going Back to School

The first rule of bringing computers into the schools is to hook the teacher first.

Why the Suits at IBM and Apple Are Going Back to School, Phillip Elmer-DeWitt, Fortune

School Field Trips Go Virtual

Virtual class visits to aquariums and zoos save money, but some clamor for the real thing.

School Field Trips Go Virtual, Caroline Porter, Wall Street Journal

Brightwheel Raises $2.2 Million Led by RRE Ventures

Company provides a mobile communication platform for early education.

Brightwheel Raises $2.2M Led by RRE Ventures, Christine Magee, TechCrunch

‘Enormous’ Increase in Classroom Tech for Littlest Learners

More than half of preschool teachers report use of tablets, according to new survey.

‘Enormous’ Increase in Classroom Tech for Littlest Learners, N. Dobo, Hechinger Report 

Edu Purchases to Drive Chromebook Shipments 27% in 2015

In 2014, education accounted for 75% of Chromebook sales.

Edu Purchases to Drive Chromebook Sales 27% in 2015, Joshua Bolkan, The Journal

Zaption Raises $1.5 Million, Led by NewSchools Venture Fund

SR-based start up allows users to add text, images, and annotations to videos.

Zaption Raises $1.5 Million, Led by NewSchools Venture Fund, Allie Gross, Education Dive

LightSail Raises $3.5M, Led by Scott Cook, Intuit Co-founder

Co offers tablet-based libraries of standards-aligned texts, with assessments and comprehension data.

LightSail Raises $3.5 Million for Tablet-Based Libraries, Mary Jo Madda, edSurge

Are We Training Our Students to be Robots?

There may be unintended consequences to bringing technology into the classroom.

Are We Training Our Students to be Robots? danah boyd, Medium

Three Ways to Improve Technology-Assisted Learning

Innovation in education requires cheap iteration, great listening skills, and “exaptation.”

Three Ways to Improve Technology-Assisted Learning, Matt Candler, Medium

iPads < Teachers

Why technology-assisted learning will never, on its own, solve our education crisis.

iPads < Teachers, Peg Tyre, Medium

Kindergarteners Who Share iPads May Perform Better: Study

Kids who shared iPads scored 28% better on literacy tests; kids with own devices improved 24%; kids without iPads improved 20%.

Kindergarteners Who Share iPads May Perform Better: Study, Alexandra Sifferlin, Time

L.A. School District Seeks Refund from Apple for iPad Program

“While Apple and Pearson promised a state-of-the-art technological solution, they have yet to deliver it.”

L.A. School District Seeks Refund from Apple for iPad Program, Howard Blume, L.A. Times

Showbie Raises $2.3M From Point Nine Capital

Co lets teachers easily share assignments & students easily turn in homework online.

Showbie Raises $2.3M From Point Nine Capital, Frederic Lardinois, TechCrunch

Amplify's Joel Klein Responds to Bloomberg News Article

"I believe your piece is riddled with factual errors, inconsistencies and incorrect analysis."

Amplify's Joel Klein Responds to Bloomberg News Article, Joel Klein, Bloomberg

Failures in News Corp’s $1 Billion Plan to Overhaul Education

Tablets and an online curriculum were supposed to help revolutionize schools.

Failures in News Corp’s $1B Plan to Overhaul Education, Laura Colby, Bloomberg

Elite Private Schools Use Wide Range of Ed-Tech Strategies

Digital creation, not consumption, fuels classroom approaches.

Elite Private Schools Use Wide Range of Ed-Tech Strategies, Benjamin Herold, EdWeek

Tales2Go Raises $2.4M From NSVF, Others

Known as the 'Netflix of Children's Audio Books,' company supports early literacy skills.

Tales2Go Raises $2.4M From NSVF, Others, Chris Bing, DCInno