EdTech

M itch Weisburgh, founder of Games 4 Ed, discusses the market for games in education and the obstacles to reach current curriculum models. Weisburgh also talks about “game jams” and other ways to engage teachers in the process of game development and deployment within classrooms.

Photo credit: BuzzfarmersBy Chris BerdikFacing some of America’s biggest education challenges, Benjamin Castleman thinks small. In his new book, The 160-Character Solution: How Text Messaging and Other Behavioral Strategies can Improve Education, the University of Virginia education professor argues that the humble text message can boost student achievement, improve study habits and help students stay on track in the transition from high school to college.Read the rest of the story at The Hechinger Report.

Ed Tech guru Richard Byrne offers general advice and three common scenarios on what to buy when classroom and teachers budgets are tight.

edCircuit recently caught up with Chad Ratliff, Director of Instructional Programs for Albermarle County Public Schools, to learn more about the district’s Startup Weekend.  Here’s our Q&A.Dr. Berger: Why organize a Startup Weekend for your teachers and what was the initial response to the idea from both teachers and administrators?

Photo credit: urban_databy Christopher PappasExploring a learning topic from a whole new perspective is a rare opportunity. Fortunately, TED talks offer the chance to dive into the minds of other educators, subject matter experts, and eLearning professionals. In this article, I’ll introduce 10 talks that are definitely worth a watch.Read the rest of the story at eLearning Industry.

Photo credit: Dan Spencerby Pragati VermaTechnology is reshaping how we teach, connecting classrooms and shaking up the fundamental business model of the education industry.The disruptive potential is evident in the flow of capital investment. Venture funding to education tech companies jumped 55 percent last year to $1.87 billion, with several firms closing in on $1 billion valuations, according to venture capital research firm CB Insights.Read the rest of the story at Forbes.

Photo credit: Jon Limby Barbara KurshanThe topic of women in technology has been much discussed over the last few years; more precisely, the problem of not enough women in technology has been much debated. Some cite the pipeline as the issue; others argue culture (particularly “brogrammer” culture) is the major barrier to more women entering and sticking with tech as a profession. Unfriendly maternity policies — both those put in place by “brogrammers” as well as those sanctioned by the US’s generally family-unfriendly culture — also make a huge contribution (many agree) to women leaving technology careers. Be that as it may, this debate is pretty stale at this point — probably the safest conclusion is that it’s a little bit of everything hampering the rise of female rank-and-file technologists as well as female CIOs.Read the rest of the story at Forbes.

Photo Credit: The Gold Guys Blogby Kyle VanhemertIF YOU WANT to teach your kid about ecology, sustainability, or the future of interactive education, take them to the New York Hall of Science and head for the giant virtual waterfall. Read the rest of the story at Wired.

Investments in educational training, media and services, also known as edtech, grew to $367.4 million across 24 deals in the second quarter of 2015, a record for venture dollars flowing to the sector in a single quarter, according to Dow Jones VentureSource data, Lora Kolodny reports for VentureWire. Tory Patterson, an investor and board member of edtech companies, including LearnZillion,Newsela and MasteryConnect, says that startups in this field have a chance to unseat incumbents in a massive, for-profit business because of the introduction of broadband Internet, mobile and social technology in schools.Read the rest of the story at The Wall Street Journal Venture Capital Dispatch.