ETIH Newsletter 29.08.24

Hello everyone,

As the new school year begins, we want to extend our best wishes to all the teachers heading back to the classroom. Your dedication and passion for education are truly inspiring, and we hope you have a fantastic year ahead, filled with growth, creativity, and success.

While you're preparing to inspire the next generation, we're here to keep you informed about the latest developments in edtech. Whether you're exploring new tools for the classroom or looking for the latest trends in educational technology, we've got you covered.

Let's dive into this week's top stories!

UK Government unveils AI-powered plan to modernise education and support teachers

The UK Department for Education has unveiled a new plan to integrate artificial intelligence into schools across the country to reduce teacher workloads and enhance students' educational experience.

According to the announcement, the initiative will provide schools access to AI technologies to assist teachers with various tasks, including marking homework, planning lessons, and managing administrative duties. 

The plan is part of a broader effort to modernise education and ensure that teachers have the resources to deliver quality instruction.

Western Governors University partners with Aera Technology to enhance student support with AI-driven Decision Intelligence

Western Governors University has partnered with Aera Technology to introduce a Decision Intelligence ecosystem to enhance student support through personalised learning. 

This collaboration leverages the Aera Decision Cloud platform to help the university improve course completion rates and close equity gaps among its diverse student population.

Joe Dery , Vice President and Dean at WGU’s School of Technology, stated:

"I am genuinely excited about bringing Decision Intelligence capabilities to higher education. We can now bring decision modelling together with a digitised map of the student journey, and the right AI techniques to predict outcomes early, guiding faculty interventions at an individual level to maximise student success."

Aera Technology CEO Frederic Laluyaux commented on the broader impact of this collaboration:

“We are proud to enable market-changing AI innovation that drives human success in higher education. Collaborating with the Western Governors University team, we are demonstrating the amazing power of Decision Intelligence and its ability to enable meaningful student and instructor outcomes and achieve new milestones for AI and human teams.”

Macmillan Learning names Tim Flem as Chief Product Officer to drive digital innovation

Macmillan Learning has announced the promotion of Tim Flem to Chief Product Officer, a move that comes as the company aims to strengthen its focus on digital product development. 

“Since joining Macmillan Learning eight years ago, Tim has been a steadfast advocate for discovery, fully embracing the idea that continuous inquiry is essential for innovation at a learning company. His promotion reflects our commitment to leadership excellence, underscoring our belief in curiosity, learning, and continuous inquiry as a fundamental driver of innovation and progress,” said Susan Winslow , CEO of Macmillan Learning.

Ontario Schools to implement new vaping detection technology through TekStart and Cortex Design partnership

In response to the Ontario Government | Gouvernement de l’Ontario nment's initiative to address cell phone use and vaping in schools, TekStart and Cortex Design have announced a collaboration to enhance student safety. 

The pair have developed the AirStart Air5, a new solution designed to monitor and manage vaping in school washrooms. This initiative is part of the government’s $30 million (CAD) investment in security upgrades and vape detectors outlined in the 2024 Budget.

"We are thrilled to partner with Cortex Design on this vital project. Our technology, combined with Cortex’s design expertise, will provide schools with the tools they need to tackle vaping effectively and maintain a safe environment for all students,” said Howard Pakosh , CEO of TekStart.

“Our team is committed to creating solutions that enhance human experience and quality of life. This partnership with TekStart allows us to apply our design and engineering skills to a pressing issue, ultimately supporting the well-being of students across Ontario,” said Dylan Horvath .

Aura and Givebacks launch programme to train parents as online safety officers in US schools

Aura and Givebacks have launched an initiative to train parents as Online Safety Officers (OSOs) in schools across the USA. 

The project reflects a broader effort to empower communities to actively safeguard children’s online experiences. With technology becoming increasingly integral to everyday life, the need for localised, hands-on approaches to digital safety has grown. Schools, often on the front lines of these challenges, are working with parents in efforts to protect children online.

“Our mission at Aura is to make the internet safer, and doing so requires that we put the power to protect kids back into the hands of parents,” said Hari Ravichandran , CEO and founder of Aura.

UK Quantum Hackathon highlights innovative use of IonQ and Classiq technologies in real-world applications

The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) recently held its annual UK Quantum Hackathon, where participants utilised advanced technologies from IonQ and Classiq Technologies to develop innovative solutions in sectors such as healthcare, energy, and engineering.

Peter Chapman , President and CEO of IonQ, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating:

“We’re delighted that IonQ’s quantum computers were used by the best and brightest quantum computing talent in the UK. It’s inspiring to be part of an incredible event that fosters the next generation of quantum leaders. The fact that the first place winning team – and, in fact, all three winners – used IonQ for their projects is humbling and an incredible honour.”

Dr Michael Cuthbert , Director of the NQCC, emphasised the hackathon's role in advancing quantum computing from theoretical exploration to practical implementation:

 "One of the objectives of our annual UK Quantum Hackathon is to drive the advancement of practical use cases, facilitating the migration of quantum computing from academia to industry,” he said. 

Narrowing the skills divide: Labour’s fresh perspectives for the UKtech sector

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28 Aug

Written By Emma Stokes

In an exclusive for ETIH, Riaz Moola a, Founder and CEO of HyperionDev , examines the pressing skills shortages within the UK tech sector.

He explores Labour’s strategic initiatives to tackle this gap, focusing on the rise of skills-based hiring and the pivotal role of EdTech in preparing the workforce for the future.

Visit the ETIH website to get the latest breaking edtech news and views from around the world.