EDITORIAL OVERVIEW – ISSUE 24
6 REASONS WHY TEACHERS DON’T USE TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM — WHAT CAN EDTECH COMPANIES LEARN?
The Reimagine Education Steering Committee has a number of aims, but one is to foster an international, interdisciplinary, inter-sectoral network of groups, individuals, institutions, and companies passionate about innovation. In four short years, this ambition has seen Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Apple, Harvard, IBM, The Wharton School, and many others join our initiative. We continue to reach out to, and respond to, those who care about the relationship between education, new technology, and better learning – and, as a consequence, we’re now delighted to introduce our newest partner in innovation: Setapp, who also oversee the EdTech World publication.
Setapp embodies Reimagine Education’s spirit of disruptive creativity: their software development teams aim to build highly innovative, highly effective bespoke software applications for many domains, including web, mobile, and virtual reality. Setapp has delivered solutions for media, entertainment, aviation, and education industries. One of their significant achievements includes leading the largest Episerver migration in the world and supporting the aviation industry by creating a complex airport platform which will be used by more than 80 million passengers annually.
In EdTech, Setapp is working with Learn Teach Explore to develop a bundle of apps under the brand name Shapes. The first app Shapes is aimed at primary and middle school teachers to teach students 3D geometry. The app received numerous accolades including the “Appward 2014” for Best Mobile Application and was featured in the App Store as the “Best New App” in more than 100 countries. In July, the new AR version of the app went live, and kids can now augment 3D objects directly onto virtual spaces such as tabletops or the floor. Also, Setapp’s work with the EdTech World publication makes clear their keen interest in the ways that their software might benefit educational institutions; while it is also easy to see how the functionalities of their apps and enthusiastic talent of their team might be transferred to the teaching and learning experience.
EdTech World also shares Reimagine Education’s focus on the way that the marriage between education and technology can lead to better learning outcomes. Their content includes explorations of various EdTech ecosystems around the world, including the Nordic EdTech sector, with recent articles focusing on Finland and Denmark. They also cover topics that ensure teacher concerns and preferences are represented as EdTech plays an increasingly-central role in the classroom.
Over the coming months, they’ll be frequent contributors to the Reimagine Education newsletter, offering unique and thoughtful perspectives on the intersections between technology and education. To introduce you to their work, check out their piece on why technology isn’t always readily adopted by teachers, and what lessons EdTech startups might learn from their reluctance. We also invite you to follow them on Twitter.
Setapp is keen to receive contact from any educational institutions that are seeking to provide novel pedagogical experiences driven by cutting-edge technology. Inquiries can be directed to Krzysztof Wujs, Business Development Specialist at Setapp, who can be emailed at krzysztof.wujs@setapp.pl.