The NZTech Advance Education Technology Summit gathers educators, digital leaders, technologists, and innovators to inspire and empower one another through their shared expertise and insights on education.   The edtech for export stream is the premier networking event for the edtech sector providing both an opportunity to network with each other as well as meet educators.  Meetings at past edtech for export conference have led to new collaborations and innovative products including between Gamelab and NZCER for the educational app Curriculum for the Future: the Digital Game and between Pixelhouse and NZCER for Spell-Write Online.

The Summit will be held at Massey University Albany on 26-27 June 2017. Click here to view the programme and register. There are also opportunities for companies to exhibit or pitch themselves in the “Say it in 5” segment.

ENZ is proud to be partnering with the NZ Technology Industry Association for the fifth year to deliver the edtech for export stream of the Summit. We have a special ENZ rate for education technology providers – to apply for the rate, or to follow up on other edtech matters, please contact Annabel Robertson, Business Development Manager, ENZ: annabel.robertson@enz.govt.nz

Idealog goes back to school to find out how New Zealand is going to take advantage of the brand-new $100 billion tech-ed industry.

With a $100 billion and growing market globally and a wealth of Kiwi innovators eager to fill the space, 2015 is truly the year education technology comes into its own. And with the growth of the mobile learning market and the proliferation of BYOD in schools, there are more trends developing in the digital learning space than you can shake an iPad at.

New Zealand is already making great headway on the world stage as a leader in education technology development. Companies like CodeAvengers (which was recently cited by Huffington Post as one of its top online learning sites to watch in 2015), online tutoring portal Education Perfect, experiential ebook developer Kiwa Digital, and Hapara, a teacher dashboard created in collaboration with Auckland teachers and now exported to 30 countries, shows that Kiwi developers have already identified a lucrative potential market and are making hay while the sun shines.

That emergence is being heralded this week with the EdTech conference, a gathering which will see global investors, industry analysts and local success stories gather at Te Papa to make connections, gather inspiration and, hopefully, prime themselves to take a slice of an industry forecast to grow to $345 billion by 2019.

Frank Catalano, a Seattle-based digital learning tech consultant and analyst who has worked with start-ups and global firms such as Pearson and Apple is one of the keynote speakers at the event, so Idealog spoke with him to get a US view on this most lucrative of trends and to find out just what the potential of the blossoming education technology industry is.

Idealog: Education technology is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors in education with researchers forecasting expenditure in educational technology will reach USD$220 billion by 2017. What’s driving it?

Frank Catalano: Several factors, and they vary globally, but two factors they have in common are that digital tools in learning promise more reach and flexibility than paper textbooks and tests. The first is reach, in that digital instructional materials are easier to rapidly update and remotely distribute to all teachers and students and, secondly, flexibility, in that digital resources can be more easily combined, customized, and adapted to individual students’ needs, and information from any tests can quickly be used by teachers to adjust instruction.

It’s this promise—coupled with dramatically lower costs for computing devices and web services than a decade ago—that is spurring a lot of interest and investment in education technology. As a matter of fact, it’s been such a rapid uptake, the industry itself can’t agree on whether “education technology” should be abbreviated as “edtech”, “EdTech”, “edutech”, or “teched”. Personally, I favour “edtech”.

I: We live in the age of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, with young people at the forefront of much of the uptake. As these devices make their way into schools, what do you see as the potential for these new technologies?

FC: Digital has given individual teachers the power to create their own educational materials that can be widely distributed and used by others. That kind of grassroots development—enabled by commercial tools and websites—is leading to all sorts of creative instruction.

Perhaps the most well-known example of this is the Khan Academy, even though Sal Khan is more of an edtech celebrity than a trained teacher. But the idea that individual educators can share how they teach, and what they know works, through digital video, apps, or other means, is potentially quite powerful. That’s part of what’s spurring Open Educational Resources, also known as OER, which are educational materials that are openly licensed that teachers can use for free, then modify and share.

I: ‘Personalised learning’ is a phrase that’s been thrown around for a while, but it’s hard to believe that classrooms, in this country at least, have the resources to offer personalised anything. With classroom sizes continuing to grow, is there potential for new technology to make it easier for teachers to provide some kind of effective replacement to the one-on-one attention students may have received in the past?

FC: Tying together student data on how a learner is doing in subjects to automatically adapt instruction is an area with great potential. This computer-adaptive learning has been tried for decades, but only now is computing power so cheap, and programming algorithms potentially so fine-grained, that it can spread to devices used both at school and at home.

The buzzword frequently used for adaptive instruction is “personalization”, but basically it’s the idea that technology can be leveraged so all students don’t have to learn the same things at the same pace. A challenge here is making sure all gathered data is kept secure and private, but that is starting to be addressed with laws in the US and elsewhere, and the industry has a vested interest to make sure it does what’s best for teachers, learners, and parents if it wants to keep their business.

I: Are teachers and students waiting for new technology to arrive before they adapt to new styles of teaching and learning? Or are they already coming up with new ways of working with the technology that’s already there?

FC: There are also many areas which don’t seem like much by themselves, but in combination will be quite powerful as educators and the students themselves find new ways to leverage them. Much like WiFi hotspots, Facebook, and smartphones individually were interesting, but social media didn’t really take off until people realized they had an always-on, immediate social connection to individuals or large groups in their pockets, across all of their devices. That kind of “aha” moment is just starting in education.

I: You hear a lot of buzzwords around the potential of digital technology and its application for education (‘gamefication’ for example). What are the exciting future trends are emerging in the tech-ed sector?

FC: There are an awful lot of fads that are trying desperately to be seen as trends, and it’s not until the hype dies down that we can see what the actual potential is. MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are a good example. In reality, MOOCS are little different than when, with US public television, once called “educational television”, used to broadcast teachers giving lectures years ago. Putting a digital video lecture on a computer or mobile phone isn’t much of an advance from putting a filmed one over the airwaves to a television set.

However, what’s being discovered about MOOCs is that students are cherry-picking the content in a course to focus on what interests them, and on the smaller portions of what’s being taught they actually want to learn. And some of that monolithic MOOC content can also be used to supplement live, in-person university instruction and doesn’t have to be restricted to a go-through-it-just-one-way MOOC. So MOOCs—which were first pitched as a way to replace higher education—actually are evolving into a useful way to change in-person education and/or let distance learners focus on what fascinates them specifically about a topic.

Another exciting trend is ‘learning games’ with embedded assessment (in other words, advancing through a simulation actually tests mastery of a subject or learning objectives), a much stronger home-school connection (so learning doesn’t have to stop at the classroom walls), and learning through augmented reality (educational overlays on top of real life), though the last is still pretty nascent.

Mobile apps are just a delivery mechanism, not a trend. It would be like saying colour computer monitors were an educational trend in the early 1990s. The delivery mechanism is always changing.

It’s important to note that none of this replaces the teacher. It just changes the role of the teachers from source of all knowledge, to guide to sources of knowledge. The human connection is always critical in learning.

Registrations for the EdTech Conference are now open.

Entrepreneurs from one of the fastest-growing tech sectors will have the opportunity to learn from a global investor, an international industry analyst as well as local success stories at the EdTech for Export (eT4e) conference in June.

The education technology sector is worth a staggering $121 billion internationally, a figure forecast to grow to $345 billion by 2019¹.

The conference will explore opportunities for businesses in education publishing, the development of educational games and online teaching tools, among other areas.

The conference is on Thursday 18 June at Te Papa, in Wellington.
Clive Jones, General Manager of Business Development at Education New Zealand says that education technology, or ed tech, is a key focus for the organisation.

“This is one of the sectors in New Zealand’s international education industry in which we want to support growth. New Zealand is already seen as a producer of quality and innovative education technology, with companies such as Totara Learning Solutions, Education Perfect and Vital English, all performing well in global markets.”

Gerard Quinn, CEO of Grow Wellington, says Education New Zealand and Grow Wellington have worked together to develop a collaborative ed tech sector where networks and partnerships can be built for an export-led future.

“The conference – held in Wellington, the high tech capital – will help foster the industry collaboration that’s needed to ensure New Zealand enjoys a part of this growth.

“This conference will see providers in education, training and research come together with game and app developers, hardware, software and content developers.”

Conference registrations are open. Book here.

Keynote speakers

eT4e 2015 will feature three keynote speakers:

• Frank Catalano
  Seattle-based ed tech consultant and analyst. He has worked with start-ups and global firms such as Pearson and Apple on business and marketing strategy. Frank will bring a US view of ed tech trends.
• Allison Baum
  Education technology investor and managing director of Fresco Capital in Hong Kong, a global early stage venture fund. Allison will speak about ed tech investment in the fast-growing Asian region.
• Frances Valintine
  Chair and founder of The Mind Lab by Unitec, which delivers postgraduate programmes in digital and collaborative learning for teachers. The Mind Lab by Unitec won ‘Best Engagement of Youth in ICT’ at the 2014 NZ CIO Awards and ‘Best Start -Up in Asia Pacific’ as judged by Steve Wozniak and Sir Richard Branson.

EdTech success stories

• An educational publisher who attended the first et4e conference in 2013 was inspired to form a company with a game developer. In the space of two years, this has led to the launch and export of an early childhood literacy product, Bud-E Reading.
• Huffington Post recently cited the Hamilton-based company, CodeAvengers, as one of its top ten online learning sites to watch in 2015. CodeAvengers founder Michael Walmsley Jr. will be a panellist at this year’s conference.
• Wellington company Totara Learning Solutions was highly commended in the 2015 Hi Tech Awards for the emerging company of the year category. Totara specialises in learning management software and enterprise social network solutions for over 30 countries.

For further information please contact:
Lisa Crombie
Communications and Marketing Manager
Grow Wellington
MOB 021 709 939 | DDI 04 382 0063

The EdTech for Export (et4e) conference brings the sector together for the third year in a row on 18 June at Te Papa National Museum in Wellington. The impressive line-up of international speakers includes Frank Catalano of Intrinsic Strategy, who will bring a US-based view of edtech trends, and Hong Kong and Japan-based Allison Baum of Fresco Capital who will cover edtech investment in the high growth Asian region. See the full programme here.

Of equally high calibre are the local speakers and panellists: Frances Valintine of The Mind Lab by Unitec will inspire delegates with her use of technology and global approach, and Education Perfect’s CEO and 2014 Internet Entrepreneur of the Year, Craig Smith, will contribute to the panel discussion on developing products and services in response to demand. Sharing tips on how to tackle export markets will be the focus for two panels made up of experienced exporters such as South Pacific Press, ADInstruments/Kura Cloud and more recent entrants to the world of exporting such as Kiwa Digital, as well as successful start-ups such as Boardingware.

The diverse and entrepreneurial edtech community is made of up education publishers, game developers, ICT companies and educationalists and the et4e conference provides great opportunities for making connections. Delegates are often on the lookout for new ideas and partners to collaborate with. An educational publisher who attended the first et4e conference in 2013 was inspired to form a new company with a game developer. In the space of two years, this has led to the launch and export of a new early childhood literacy product, Bud-E Reading.

Et4e is organised by Education New Zealand and Grow Wellington in recognition of the edtech sector’s growing contribution to export growth in international education. New Zealand’s high quality and innovative education system, combined with its entrepreneurial and creative culture, is the perfect ecosystem for the development of leading-edge edtech products and services. Huffington Post recently cited the Hamilton-based company, CodeAvengers, as one of its top ten online learning sites to watch in 2015. CodeAvengers founder Michael Walmsley Jr. will be a panellist at this year’s conference.

Educational Technology is an exciting and growing sector – it is currently worth $86 billion globally and is forecast to grow to $257 billion by 2017. Find out more about et4e 2015 and take advantage of the early bird tickets.

Register now

Edrolo founders Jeremy Cox, Duncan Anderson and Ben Sze’s faith in their company has paid off.

Online education provider Edrolo has received a tick of approval from AirTree Ventures, the high tech investment fund headed by former Microsoft Australia chief Daniel Petre and veteran investor Craig Blair.

AirTree​ is the largest of 14 investors who’ve collectively tipped in $2.6 million to fund the expansion of the fledgling start-up, which offers online teaching and testing to Year 12 students in NSW and Victoria.

Read more…

Opportunities abound for software designers and developers to create impactful tools for teachers, school leaders, students, and their families. This guide for developers, startups and entrepreneurs addresses key questions about the education ecosystem and highlights critical needs and opportunities to develop digital tools and apps for learning. Crowd-sourced from knowledgeable educators, developers, and researchers who were willing to share what they have learned, this guide is designed to help entrepreneurs apply technology in smart ways to solve persistent problems in education.
Ten opportunities for technology to transform teaching & learning

1. Improving mastery of academic skills
2. Developing skills to promote lifelong learning
3. Increasing family engagement
4. Planning for future education opportunities
5. Designing effective assessments
6. Improving educator professional development
7. Improving educator productivity
8. Making learning accessible to all students
9. Closing opportunity gaps
10. Closing achievement gaps

Reference and downloadable resource: Department of Education USA

But add a little tech and vavoom! Venture capitalists are very, very into it.

Michael Moe is CEO of GSV Capital, which has invested $100 million in education technology companies like Coursera and 2U. He said there’s a lot to like about education these days.

Education as a whole is a big market—$2 trillion in the U.S. and $4.5 trillion globally—said Moe. “And it’s characterized by very few large players.”

See more here

Californian organisation, NewSchools Seed Fund, has been evaluating several NZ companies with a veiw to investment opportunities.

NewSchools works to improve education opportunities for children from low-income communities by investing in entrepreneurs who are developing education technology tools, applications and content.

Read the full article here

NZ gears up for education tech conference

Education, training and research providers, game and developers, hardware and software companies and content developers will converge on Wellington in June as the city hosts this year’s Ed Tech for Export (eT4e) conference.

US analysts predict the global education ICT market will grow at 3.05 percent annually until 2018.

Grow Wellington CEO Gerard Quinn says the conference is key to encouraging industry collaboration and ensuring New Zealand gets in on the growth in the sector.

The global performance of companies like open source learning management firm Totara LMS, customised tutoring venture LearnKo, which is targeting the Asian market, and Vital English, which supplies English as a Second Language resources and course content, has created the perception New Zealand is a leader in the space. But he warns we need to keep up with advancements in that market.

Read the full article here

More Coverage:

New Zealand Technology Industry Association 

Tech Day

Institute of IT Professionals

Wellington Scoop

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