IBL News

Author: IBL News

  • IXL Learning Purchased Emmersion, Developer of AI-Powered Language Assessments

    IXL Learning Purchased Emmersion, Developer of AI-Powered Language Assessments

    IBL News | New York

    San Mateo-headquartered EdTech IXL Learner announced this week its acquisition of Emmersion, a developer of AI-powered language assessments firm, for an undisclosed amount. Emmersion‘s cofounders, Brigham Tomco and Dr. Jacob Burdis will remain with the company.

    This purchase expands IXL Learning’s line of language and literacy products, which include brands such as Rosetta Stone, IXL English Language, Arts, Vocabulary.com, SpanishDict, inglés.com, and Fluencia.

    Emmersion’s AI-powered Speaking and Writing Assessments conduct pre-employment language screenings so that companies can hire the perfect candidates for the right roles.

    The verbal exam is the world’s first fully automated speaking assessment and covers nine languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Tagalog.

    Utah-based Emmersion includes as clients The World Bank, Randstad, Columbia University, Brown University, and the University of Pennsylvania, among others.

  • Scholastic Acquired the A2i System for Literacy Instructional Assessment

    Scholastic Acquired the A2i System for Literacy Instructional Assessment

    IBL News | New York

    The world’s leading publisher and distributor of children’s books Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL), announced this month the acquisition of Learning Ovations, the creator of A2i, for an undisclosed amount.

    The A2i (“Assessment to Instruction”) system provides educators with easy-to-administer, data-driven guidance for instructional planning for both small-group and individualized learning in comprehension and decoding.

    It’s backed by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Tier 1 evidence of efficacy.

    “Carol Connor [creator of A2i] was a teachers’ teacher, dedicated both to helping every child learn to read – regardless of background, disadvantage, or learning challenge – and to supporting teachers with tools that are both deeply rigorous and easy to use,” said Rose Else-Mitchell, Executive Vice President and President of Scholastic Education Solutions.

    The integration of Learning Ovations technology and the team will allow the New York-based 100 years old Scholastic to advance its literacy platform.

  • Around 771 Million People Lack Basic Literacy Skills Today

    Around 771 Million People Lack Basic Literacy Skills Today

    IBL News | New York

    Today, September 8, the educational community celebrates International Literacy Day (ILD).

    This celebration has taken place annually since 1967 to remind the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.

    This year’s International Literacy Day is celebrated under the theme, Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces.

    Despite progress in the last year, the challenges persist, with at least 771 million young people and adults lacking basic literacy skills today, according to Unesco.

    In addition, an estimated 53% of ten-year-old children in low and middle-income countries are not able to read and understand a simple story.

    Worldwide, at least 31% of students couldn’t be reached by digital and broadcast remote learning programs.

    In the aftermath of the pandemic, nearly 24 million learners might never return to formal education, out of which, 11 million are projected to be girls and young women.

    UNESCO officials said that this International Literacy Day is “an opportunity to rethink the fundamental importance of literacy learning spaces to build resilience and ensure quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all.”

    At the global level, a two-day hybrid international event will be organized on September 8th and 9th, 2022, in Côte d’Ivoire.

    This year’s outstanding programs and literacy practices will be announced at the 2022 UNESCO International Literacy Prizes award ceremony.

     

     

  • Testing and Assessment Prometric Acquires Finetune Learning

    Testing and Assessment Prometric Acquires Finetune Learning

    IBL News | New York

    Testing and assessment Baltimore – based, EdTech company Prometric recently announced the acquisition of Finetune Learning, which specializes in hybrid AI-human solutions for content generation. The purchase amount was not disclosed.

    Headquartered in Boston, Finetune commercializes products that use Natural Language Processing (NLP) transformer models to power AI-driven content generation and classification in tandem with subject matter experts while greatly improving quality.

    Roy Simrell, President and CEO of Prometric LLC, highlighted that Finetune would allow improving its support to test takers.

    Meanwhile, Steve Shapiro, CEO of Finetune, said that the transaction would allow scaling its solutions and continuing to invest in emerging technologies that serve the wide cross-section markets.

  • An edX Course Created as Peace Project Between Israel’s Jewish and Arab Cultures Makes a Global Impact

    An edX Course Created as Peace Project Between Israel’s Jewish and Arab Cultures Makes a Global Impact

    IBL News | New York

    Learners from 69 countries have enrolled in “The Hook, the Bait, and the Fish: Approaches to Teaching Thinking”, an awarded, video-driven course launched on edX.org in November 2020 and created as a peace project to bring closer Israel’s Jewish and Arab cultures.

    This MOOC was created by the Al-Qasemi Academy, a small teacher college in Israel. This 8-week, online, free class follows the purpose stated in the classic adage, “give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.”

    It teaches students educational and philosophical thinking by providing students motivational tool tools to enhance their creativity and develop lifelong learning skills.

    The course, a finalist for the 2021 edX Prize, is led by Professor at Al-Qasemi Academy and book author Yoran Harpaz [in the picture above], whose educational theories comprise the teachings of the course. “Giving people the tools to become independent thinkers sets them on the path to fulfillment,” he said.

    To explain concepts connected to thinking, Professor Harpaz wrote light-hearted videos shot in locations like a zoo, a library, and his own kitchen. Storytelling is one of the reasons for the success of the class.

    Developed in three languages—Arabic, Hebrew, and English—the course is a significant cultural achievement for IsraelX, the international arm of Campus-IL, the flagship project of the National Digital Agency and Council for Higher Education in Israel.

  • Confidence In the Teaching Profession Continues to Decline in the U.S.

    Confidence In the Teaching Profession Continues to Decline in the U.S.

    IBL News | New York

    Confidence in the education profession continues declining, and 76% of educators feel negative about the state of the teaching job in the U.S. The Educator Confidence Index now sits at 40 out of 100, the lowest rate in the report’s history—down from 42.7 in 2021 and 49.0 in 2020.

    These are the main conclusions extracted from the 2022 Educator Confidence Report, released by learning technology, Boston-based company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) this month. The study surveyed over 1,000 K-12 teachers and 125+ administrators in May and June.

    These are the key findings of the report:

    • 73% of educators feel that technology is significantly more integrated into the classroom now than pre-pandemic, with tools to communicate between teachers and parents and tools that deliver interactive learning opportunities to students most favored among teachers. Even more, 68% of educators said EdTech has become essential to the classroom.
    • 81% report the experiences of the last two years have moved education closer to fully realizing the potential of technology in teaching. Educators are most excited about easy-to-use technology that can be used in-classroom and remotely (63%).
    • 78% of educators state that their top concern is the mental health of their peers. The majority also need more aid in the classroom, with 64% saying they need adequate funding for classroom supplies and resources.  According to today’s educators, improved salary and benefits (90%) and more support for educator well-being (67%) would make the profession more appealing to new educators.
    • 79% of educators say customized learning based on what students know and what they need would most transform learning and teaching in the future. The future of the classroom is personalized—for both students and teachers, with data-driven, personalized EdTech solutions making it possible to meet everyone where they are.
    • Community support for teacher compensation is key for not only retention but the future of the profession. Teachers are looking for more appreciation, respect, and trust in their experience.
  • Students Name the Best Colleges in the U.S. in Princeton Review’s Annual Survey

    Students Name the Best Colleges in the U.S. in Princeton Review’s Annual Survey

    IBL News | New York

    The Princeton Review released its 31st annual Best Colleges ranking lists and guidebook last month after surveying 160,000 students attending 388 schools and reflecting their experiences.

    The New York-based company ranks the top 25 colleges in 50 categories for 2023, including a new category titled Green Matters, which names the schools with the most robust commitment to the environment and conservation on their campus.

    Categories span academics, amenities, school services, campus culture, extracurriculars, and others. Available on the website, these are some of the best-ranked universities.

    • Best Professors — Reed College (OR)
    • Most Accessible Professors — Williams College (MA)
    • Best-Run Colleges — Rice University (TX)
    • Great Financial Aid —Vanderbilt University (TN)
    • Best Career Services — Clemson University (SC)
    • Best Health Services — United States Air Force Academy (CO)
    • Best Student Support and Counseling Services — United States Military Academy (NY)
    • Best Science Lab Facilities — Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (IN)
    • Best College Library— University of Denver (CO)
    • Most Beautiful Campus — University of San Diego (CA)
    • Best College Dorms — Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
    • Best Campus Food — University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
    • Green Matters: Everyone Cares About Conservation — College of the Atlantic (ME)
    • Most Politically Active Students — Hampden-Sydney College (VA)
    • Most Conservative Students—College of the Ozarks (MO)
    • Most Liberal Students—Bennington College (VT)
    • Most Religious Students— Thomas Aquinas College (CA)
    • LGBTQ-Friendly — Mount Holyoke College (MA)
    • Lots of Race/Class Interaction — Rice University (TX)
    • Happiest Students—Tulane University (LA)

    The Best 388 Colleges is one of more than 150 books developed by The Princeton Review and published by Penguin Random House. The line includes guides to standardized tests, study aids, and other college-related books, including College Admission 101.
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  • Students Say that College Is Worth What They Pay Despite the Financial Struggle

    Students Say that College Is Worth What They Pay Despite the Financial Struggle

    IBL News | New York

    Nearly two-thirds (65%) of students will struggle to shoulder education expenses on their own this academic year. Despite this, the majority of students say college tuition is worth it as it is a gateway to financial independence.

    This is the main outcome of a survey of 1,200 students conducted by education technology giant Cengage, released this month.

    “Despite struggling to keep up with tuition and other costs, students still believe in the power of a college education; students shouldn’t have to make painful tradeoffs when it comes to their education and a path to a better future,” said Kevin Carlsten, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Higher Education Institutional Group at Cengage.

    Around 61% of four-year students are solely paying their education costs, and 29 percent are splitting costs with parents or family, according to the research.
    The survey points out that nearly all students (81%) said schools should spend more money on providing course materials and less on amenities like dorms, facilities, and athletics.
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  • MasterClass.com Issues a Course with Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice

    MasterClass.com Issues a Course with Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice

    IBL News | New York

    MasterClass.com announced the launch of a class on diplomacy with two former U.S. secretaries of state, Condolezza Rice and Madeleine Albright, this month.

    Both politicians — close friends from opposing political parties — will teach how to build trusted teams, reconcile differences, overcome failed decisions and apply diplomacy in everyday life.

    The class culminates with a conversation between Albright and Rice focused on the state of democracy.

    Currently, Rice teaches at Stanford University in the Department of Political Science and the Graduate School of Business. In September 2020, she became the Director of the Hoover Institution.

    This class is part of the “MasterClass Presents the White House” series, in which participate leaders who have influenced American politics and changed the world.

    President Bill Clinton teaches inclusive leadership, while the former U.S. Secretary of State, Senator, and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton lectures on the power of resilience, and President George W. Bush gives a class on authentic leadership.

    The San Francisco-based MasterClass platform features a catalog of 150 classes taught by leaders on leadership, cooking, photography, writing, etc. It offers a membership subscription starting at $15 per month.

    Each class includes around 20 video lessons that are 10 minutes long on average, along with an in-depth workbook. 

     

     

  • Harvard Business School Will Offer Its Two-Year MBA Program for Free to 200 Students

    Harvard Business School Will Offer Its Two-Year MBA Program for Free to 200 Students

    IBL News | New York

    Harvard Business School (HBS) announced this month it will offer free MBA tuition to approximately 10% of its student body which is in the greatest financial need. The school will also offer scholarship support to more students from middle-income backgrounds — around 50% of students.

    This means that HBS will waive annual tuition of $76,000 on its two-year full-time MBA program — about 200 students in its current cohort of 2,000. Students will still be required to cover living costs and insurance, estimated at about $35,000 a year.

    Currently, the school’s annual MBA financial aid budget exceeds $45 million as a result of annual gifts and more than 750 fellowship funds from HBS alumni. In addition, Harvard has the largest overall university endowment.

    “We know that talent is much more evenly distributed than opportunity,” said HBS Dean Srikant Datar. “Harvard Business School should be a place where the most talented future leaders can come to realize their potential. We want to remove the financial barriers that stand in their way and alleviate the burden of debt so they can focus on becoming leaders who make a difference in the world.”

    HBS said that in order to make the MBA Program more affordable held the cost of tuition flat since 2019; launched the Forward Fellowship, and instituted a need-based application fee waiver, among other measures.

    According to the school data, the average annual need-based scholarship in 2021-2022 was $42,000 ($84,000 over the two years of the program).

    Along with Harvard University, some other U.S. universities, particularly the richer ones, are offering improved financial terms. These decisions are helping schools to combat criticism over rising costs.