Starring Highfive, Boston University, Transfr and more: ETIH rolls out the biggest education technology news stories of the week
It’s hard to believe that students have already been back in the classroom for a few weeks! We hope the new school year is off to a great start for both teachers and students. As always, the team at ETIH is here to keep you informed on the latest developments in the world of edtech.
This week, we’re diving into exciting new tools and strategies that are shaping the future of education. As always we’ve gathered the top stories to keep you inspired and ready for the journey ahead.
Let’s explore this week’s highlights:
ETIH Editor Emma Cate Stokes to release The Power of Words in November for Early Years and KS1 teachers
We are incredibly proud to announce that our editor, Emma Cate Stokes, will release her debut book, The Power of Words, on 11th November 2024.
Available now for pre-order on Amazon, this is a must-have resource for EYFS and Key Stage One teachers focusing on language development and communication.
The Power of Words is designed to help teachers equip young learners with the vocabulary they need to express themselves confidently.
With a strong emphasis on oracy, the book provides practical strategies to support language development in the classroom, making it an ideal companion for teachers who want to ensure their students don’t just learn words but use them effectively in everyday interactions.
Highfive secures $250k seed funding to expand empathy-based edtech solution in U.S. schools
Highfive, an edtech company based in the United States, has raised $250,000 in seed funding to expand its presence in schools nationwide.
The investment round was led by Roosh X, with additional support from LearnLaunch Accelerator, a US-based edtech accelerator. The funding will allow Highfive to implement its platform in five key states, aiming to serve 100 new schools by the end of the year.
Speaking exclusively to ETIH, Nathan Maynard, Highfive CEO and Co-Founder, comments:
“So often the classroom environment can become adversarial, which benefits neither teachers nor students. We believe that our tools – built on research, and drawing from decades of experience – can ensure both teachers and students feel heard, respected, and supported.”
Fairmarkit and Boston University host Soar24 event on AI-driven procurement innovations
Fairmarkit, an autonomous sourcing platform provider, partnered with Boston University to host Soar24, an event focused on procurement and sourcing innovations.
The event, held at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, highlighted how AI and other technologies are reshaping procurement processes.
The opening address was delivered by Fairmarkit CEO Kevin Frechette and BU Chief Procurement Officer Randall Moore. Their session focused on the university’s partnership with Fairmarkit and how it transformed sourcing at the institution.
“Fairmarkit has changed the way we approach sourcing at Boston University,” said Moore. “They listened to our needs and worked with us to build solutions that meet the specific demands of a university. What started as a local partnership has evolved into a platform helping organisations around the world.”
University of Manchester strengthens cybersecurity with Tanium after major data breach
In the wake of a significant data breach in May 2023, The University of Manchester has implemented Tanium’s Converged Endpoint Management (XEM) platform to enhance its cybersecurity infrastructure.
The University of Manchester’s Chief Information Officer, Patrick Hemmaway, acknowledged the significance of this partnership:
“By combining the strengths of Tanium with ServiceNow and Microsoft, we now have a single, strategic platform that allows us to have a complete and accurate Configuration Management Database (CMDB) with real-time data, enhanced threat detection, and response capabilities."
Kirk Bellerby, Education Lead, UK at Tanium, said:
“To defend against threats, higher education institutions need to measure and control the known vulnerabilities across their networks while remaining user-friendly for both staff and students.”
Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 2024 highlights career pathways in engineering and technology
Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 2024, hosted by EngineeringUK, is set to engage young people aged 11 to 14 with a nationwide celebration of career opportunities in engineering and technology.
The week aims to show how students' passions, such as creativity, problem-solving, and innovation, can lead to fulfilling careers in a sector that plays a key role in shaping the future.
This year's theme, "Power up your passion," highlights how young people can align their interests with career paths in engineering and technology. A survey conducted at the 2024 Big Bang Fair, the UK’s largest STEM event, found that 64% of young people are motivated by careers that connect to their personal interests. The findings suggest that engaging students with their passions can be an effective way to inspire them to consider engineering roles.
Transfr Launches Spanish-language virtual reality simulations for career exploration
Transfr has introduced its first Spanish-language career exploration simulations, providing Spanish-speaking students and adult learners access to virtual reality training in a range of high-growth industries.
“More and more Americans need new pathways to upward mobility,” said Bharani Rajakumar, founder and CEO of Transfr.
“This expansion of our VR career exploration catalogue brings new opportunities to educators, learners, and communities who have not previously had access to high-tech tools, training, and support.
