Where will tomorrow’s personalized edtech go?

Before the pandemic, the trend for more personalized, learner-centric experiences in education already existed—the resulting lockdowns merely accelerated digital transformation, which continues to gain momentum across industries.

Dubbed the “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” our entire world is rapidly digitizing, which means jobs—and the knowledge and skills they require—are changing faster than ever. As a result, the half-life of the newest technology is shrinking rapidly, and the skills gap is widening with potentially detrimental effects.

Today’s workers must continuously learn and evolve throughout their careers, making the need for upskilling and reskilling more vital. While technology continues to advance, a single degree or credential will not sustain the average worker, as today’s younger generations switch jobs and industries far more than their parents and grandparents did.…Read More

CoderZ Names Tony Oran as Chief Executive Officer

DERRY, N.H. – CoderZ, the award-winning, gamified, cloud-based robotics and STEM platform, has announced that Tony Oran is joining the company as its CEO in the USA.

Oran has extensive experience in sales, marketing as well as business leadership and development. He comes to CoderZ from Festo Didactic, the technical education equipment and solution provider where he held several executive positions, most recently vice president of sales for the company’s North America division. Before that, Oran was also director of strategic business development and partnerships.

Previously, Oran held multiple management roles at Festo Didactic’s parent company Festo Group, a worldwide supplier of automation technology, equipment, and solutions for industrial and technical education. Before Festo, he served as an operations leader for various companies.…Read More

Epson Now Shipping New 5,200 and 7,000 Lumen Laser Projectors with 4K Enhancement Technology

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide,1 today announced the new PowerLite® L570U, L770U and L775U are now available, adding 4K Enhancement Technology2 and PixAlign™ Camera support to the compact and portable PowerLite L line up. Built with easy installation and creative tools, along with 5,200 and 7,000 lumens of equal color and white brightness,3 the new projectors offer convenience and a premium viewing experience at any distance. The new 3-chip 3LCD laser projectors elevate entertainment and education spaces and facilitate more equitable and collaborative meeting experiences with easy operation from start to finish.

Visual technology artist, Jeff Dobrow, understands the value of high-quality projection with 4K enhanced imagery along with built-in tools for easier setup, content management and multi-projection installs. Dobrow notes, “The quality of projection content can be significantly improved with 4K Enhancement3 where higher pixel density is necessary. This increase in clarity and detail will allow for a rich viewing experience, especially when indoors where everything is within reach.”

Lightweight and compact, the 7,000-lumen3 PowerLite L770U (white), PowerLite L775U (black) and 5,200-lumen3 PowerLite L570U laser projectors are adaptable, offering strikingly clear and extremely bright displays across a range of environments – classrooms, conference rooms, museums, and beyond. The new models are also compatible with Epson’s attachable PixAlign camera (sold separately), providing access to advanced projection capabilities that help simplify complex multi-projector installations and make achieving sophisticated projection applications easy.…Read More

Turnitin Turns On AI Writing Detection Capabilities for Educators and Institutions

OAKLAND, Calif. – Starting tomorrow, Turnitin – a leading provider of academic integrity solutions globally – will activate its AI writing detection capabilities. The technology identifies the use of AI writing tools including ChatGPT, with 98 percent confidence, enabling educators to analyze and review the authenticity of academic work.

Turnitin began working on detection capabilities for GPT3, the underlying technology on which many AI writing applications are based, nearly two years prior to the release of ChatGPT. Built to help educators and academic institutions identify AI-generated text in student-written submissions, Turnitin’s AI writing detection capabilities are integrated into existing Turnitin systems and accessible through learning management systems, and does not require additional steps for current Turnitin educator users to access. Over 10,700 institutions and more than 2.1 million educators will be able to quickly and easily evaluate a submission for the presence of AI-generated text and provide feedback to students in their current Turnitin workflows.

Turnitin’s AI detector provides an evaluative measure of how many sentences in a written submission may have been generated by artificial intelligence, which educators can use to determine if further review, inquiry or discussion with the student is needed. Turnitin’s AI writing detection capabilities are available within existing products and solutions, including: Turnitin Feedback Studio (TFS), TFS with Originality, Turnitin Originality, Turnitin Similarity, Simcheck, Originality Check and Originality Check+.…Read More

Why aren’t female students sticking with STEM?

Female middle and high school students have a high aptitude fit with, but low interest in, STEM careers, such as technology, manufacturing, and architecture, among others, according to the 2023 Female Student and STEM Career Exposure Gap Report from YouScience.

Based on nationwide data gathered from the test results of more than 225,000 female middle and high school students who completed the Aptitude & Career Discovery assessment from YouScience Brightpath in 2022, the key findings show that female students have:

  • More than 11x the aptitude for Advanced Manufacturing careers than interest
  • 8x more aptitude for Computers & Technology careers than interest
  • Nearly 4x more aptitude for Agriculture & Natural Resources than interest
  • Nearly 3x more aptitude for Architecture & Construction careers than interest

Additionally, the report found that female students have greater interest than aptitude for careers in Human Services, Law and Public Safety, Teaching, and Arts & Media.…Read More

BenQ Board RP03 Series Recognized as First Smart Board to Achieve Eyesafe® Certification for Low Blue Light

COSTA MESA, Calif. — BenQ, an internationally renowned provider of visual display solutions, is helping to minimize blue light emission with the Eyesafe® Certification of its latest interactive display, the BenQ Board RP03. The industry’s only interactive display to meet the safety standard, BenQ Board RP03 features built-in EyeCare™ technologies that have been tested and certified to protect users’ eyesight by reducing high-energy blue light while maintaining optimal color performance.

“Blue light may contribute to visual discomfort and sleep problems,” said Bob Wudeck, senior director of business development at BenQ Education. “Our built-in blue light technology and Eyesafe Certified screen effectively reduces the potential risks from blue light. Together with our other EyeCare technologies — flicker free and antiglare features, germ-resistant screen and accessories, air-quality sensors, and air ionizer, schools and other organizations can feel confident that the increased screen time that comes with the demand for greater interaction and engagement doesn’t come at a risk to users’ health.”

Minimizing Blue Light is Critical…Read More

New Epson PowerLite and BrightLink Lamp-Free Laser Displays Now Available

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – Providing technology that seamlessly merges with today’s “always-on” classrooms and hybrid workplaces is imperative in today’s display market. Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide,1 today announced 10 of its new PowerLite® and BrightLink® lamp-free laser displays are now available. Powered by Epson’s proprietary 3-chip 3LCD technology, the new models offer 4,000 to 4,600 lumens of equal color and white brightness2 to deliver big, bright images. The new lamp-free laser displays also come equipped with built-in enterprise level wireless connectivity, convenient collaboration tools, value-added software, and ultra-wide options to ensure all participants can see, interact and be seen.

“As display technology continues to develop rapidly across different environments, Epson remains devoted to advancing its technology to align with the growing industry trends,” said Remi Del Mar, senior product manager, Epson America, Inc. “Aiming to provide smaller and more user-friendly, lamp-free laser display technology, Epson continues to focus on flexibility, compatibility and large, impactful images. The current lineup integrates new tools for seamless collaboration, simpler one-on-one student device connectivity, easier setup, and moreover enable wall-size images from a single display that is conducive to student engagement.”

Transform ordinary walls into giant interactive tablets with almost 85 percent more display area than a 75-inch flat panel. Epson’s new BrightLink 760Wi and BrightLink 770Fi ultra-short throw interactive lamp-free laser displays deliver big, bright, colorful images for dynamic digital collaboration. Designed for ease-of-use in collaborative learning environments, educators can easily access interactive whiteboard tools with flexible installation options or use BrightLink’s built-in pen-based interactivity and optional touch functionality. Wireless connectivity with casting capabilities from PCs, Mac® computers, Chromebooks, and Android and iOS® devices,3 making it even easier for teachers and students to wirelessly display up to four screens simultaneously. The new BrightLink interactive displays are also compatible with frequently used software applications, including Office 365® and Google Workspace, and are equipped with split screen support4 and whiteboard sharing to make collaboration easier. Additionally, educators regain access to their whiteboard when the projectors are not in use with the ability to display on a common whiteboard.…Read More

Introducing YouScience® Brightpath: A New Platform That Enables the Convergence of Education-to-Career to Better Prepare Students for Success in School and Life

AMERICAN FORK, Utah /PRNewswire/ —  YouScience®, the leading technology provider dedicated to solving the skills gap crisis for students and employers, announced today the launch of  YouScience ® Brightpath. This comprehensive education-to-career platform is designed to help students prepare for academic and career success. It uses decades of research and a proprietary artificial intelligence engine to deliver personalized education and career pathways.

Education leaders need innovative, proven solutions to make education more meaningful and provide students with the necessary support for their educational and career success. Recent   research has revealed that a staggering 75 percent of high school graduates do not feel confident or prepared enough to make decisions about college or their careers once they graduate. In addition, the troubling   nationwide high school dropout rate persists, and college  enrollment and retention rates are declining for our most vulnerable populations, further highlighting student disengagement.

At the same time, business and industry leaders are facing significant challenges in hiring a workforce that possesses the required skills, experience, and aptitude for today’s and tomorrow’s job roles. In fact, the threat of a talent shortage – which has tripled in the past 10 years – is estimated to reach a  total of 85.2 million by 2030.…Read More