Sure, it’s only spring, but it’s already hot, hot, hot! The edtech space is sizzling with activity and the sharply increased volume of entries in this year’s EdTech Digest Awards Program indicates a marketplace further heating up with innovation, creativity and solutions—all at a very frenzied pace. It’s an overflow room this year with more than double the amount of entries as last. Not to be confused with the late ’90s dot-com scene, this crowd stands in stark contrast, identifiable more by hard-won wisdom and less by hollow hype. Technology and talent are stably coming together for education in a time of great budgetary change where old models continue to crumble as a new normal yet emerges. With school budgets cut by some $20 Billion in California alone over the past three years, vapid glitz-and-glamour solutions have no place when there are plenty of authentic, tried-and-true providers (or at least stable beta startups with built-in, on-the-fly quality improvement mechanisms). The best solutions are earning their places as they build out and scale up; they deliver with ease and efficacy, and in short, they’re real. Venture capitalists seem to think so, too. Over the last few years, they’ve provided at least a $1.97 Billion vote of confidence in educational technology companies closing more than 438 new deals with no signs of letting up. Behind the quality products and services, the apps and platforms, the content and clicks—are real leaders in the space who are under no illusion as to what it takes to get things done. These trendsetters, both people and products, are making it standing room only when it comes to the palpable, electric energy in the edtech sector today—and that’s very good news for the future of education. With still more excitement to come, let’s nonetheless go up on stage, front and center, and tear open the envelopes to announce the 2012 EdTech Digest Awards Program finalists—and winners!
COOL TOOL awards
New Product or Service – Finalists (winner = *)
–icurio from Knovation Learning
–Algebra Readiness from Revolution K12
–Insight 360 from eInstruction
–SuccessMaker Speed Games from Pearson
–Dreambox Learning Math from Dreambox
–CommonCore360 from School Improvement Network*
–ActivExpression2 from Promethean
Student Academic Tracking – Finalists
–mCLASS Beacon AP Science from Wireless Generation*
Other Cool Tool – Finalists
–LaunchPad from ClassLink* (best virtualization solution)
–StudyBlue from StudyBlue* (best student study tool)
–DigitalMedia Presentation System from Crestron
–Curriki from Curriki* (best open education resource)
–HELP Math from Digital Directions
–VizZle from Monarch Teaching Technologies
–TenMarks Math from TenMarks* (best blended learning solution)
–PossibilityU from Cambium Enterprises
–Variquest Learning Modules from Varitronics
Product or Service – Finalists
–VMathLive from Cambium Learning Group
–The Geometer’s Sketchpad from Key Curriculum Press
–LessonPlanet from LessonPlanet
–Top Hat Monocle from Top Hat Monocle*
Academic Gaming Solution – Finalists
–SuccessMaker Speed Games from Pearson
–Ko’s Journey from Imagine Education*
–GRAMMonster! from McGraw-Hill
–FriendsLearn from FriendsLearn
–TNT Reading Tutor from BrainTrain
–VocabularySpellingCity from SpellingCity
–iTooch Elementary from edupad
Assessment Solution – Finalists
–iReady CCSS Screener from Curriculum Associates
–Insight 360 from eInstruction
–Observation 360 from School Improvement Network
–mCLASS Beacon from Wireless Generation
–Academic Merit from Academic Merit*
Classroom Hardware Solution – Finalists
–DigitalMedia Multimedia Presentation System 300 from Crestron
–QuickPack Classroom AV System Package from Crestron*
–OnCue Basic Presentation Controller from Crestron
Collaboration Solution – Finalists
–Collaboration Tools from ePals
–Insight 360 from eInstruction
–My Big Campus from Lightspeed Systems
–PD360 from School Improvement Network
–PD360 Community from School Improvement Network
–Nearpod from Panarea Digital*
–mCLASS Beacon AP Science from Wireless Generation
Communication Solution – Finalists
–Attendance Discovery from ParentLink
–TeacherReach from ParentLink*
Content Provider Solution – Finalists
–espresso elementary from espresso education
–Class.com Algebra 1 from Cambium Learning Group
–Glencoe Writer’s Workspace from McGraw-Hill
–Shakespeare in Bits from mindconnex*
Digital Textbook – Finalists
–iBook2 Textbooks for Algebra 1 & Geometry from Pearson
–Networks: A Social Studies Learning System from McGraw-Hill*
–World History, Our Human Story from K12
–Miller & Levine Biology iBook2 Textbook from Pearson
District Data Solution – Finalists
–Complete Data Warehouse for PK-12 from eScholar*
–mCLASS Beacon from Wireless Generation
E-learning Solution – Finalists
–myON reader from Capstone Digital
–SuccessMaker Speed Games from Pearson
–vMathLive from Cambium Learning Group
–Glencoe Writer’s Workspace from McGraw-Hill
–E3 Imagine eBooks from E3imagine
–Shakespeare in Bits from Mindconnex
–Haiku Learning Management System from Haiku Learning*
–Education, Academy, Learning from Colorado Connections Academy
–eLearning Solution from ePals
Emerging Technology Solution – Finalists
–Crestron DigitalMedia Multimedia Presentation System from Crestron
–Mobile platform from ScholarChip
Green Solution – Finalists
–MakeMeSustainable from Noveda Technologies*
Interactive Whiteboard Solution – Finalists
–Abrams Interactive Science from Abrams
–Insight 360 from eInstruction
–eBeam Edge for Education Projection from Luidia*
Learning Management System – Finalists
–Blackboard Learn Release 9.1 from Blackboard
–Connexus School Management System from Colorado Connections Academy
Mobile Device Solution – Finalists
–Insight 360 from eInstruction
–PowerSchool for Parents from Pearson*
–Mobile Filter from Lightspeed Systems
–Anthro Tablet Charging Cart from Anthro
Mobile App Solution – Finalists
–Mobile Filter from Lightspeed Systems
–ParentLink Mobile from ParentLink
–Blackboard Mobile Learn from Blackboard
–TopHat Monocle from TopHat Monocle
–Featured Movie App (iOS) from BrainPOP*
–Murky Reef Think & Play from Frolyc
–AppPak: Safe App Delivery for Schools from Carrot App Dev
Presentation Solution – Finalists
–QuickPack Classroom AV System Package from Crestron
–TechnologyWorkstand 2095 from SecurityWorks
Professional Development Solution – Finalists
–PD360 from School Improvement Network
–CommonCore 360 from School Improvement Network
–Fundamentals of Virtual K-12 Teaching from PBS Teacherline
–Academic Merit from Academic Merit*
–Edthena Professional Development from edthena
Social Networking/Academic Networking – Finalists
–My Big Campus from Lightspeed Systems*
–PD 360 Community from School Improvement Network
STEM Solution – Finalists
–Adaptive Curriculum from Adaptive Curriculum*
–LateNiteLabs from LateNiteLabs
–Simulation Science Tools from Colorado Connections Academy
LEADERSHIP awards
Finalists
–No Child Held Back* (new consortium)
–Frank Ferguson and Rob Waldron
–Nic Borg* (co-founder/CEO)
–Charlene Blohm & Associates* (PR firm)
–Brad Flickinger* (educator)
TRENDSETTER awards
Product or Service Setting a Trend – Finalists
–Adaptive Curriculum from Adaptive Curriculum
–eSchoolView Content Management System from eSchoolView
–Raptivity from Harbinger Knowledge
–Ko’s Journey from ImagineEducation
–VizZle from Monarch Teaching Technologies
–ePortfolios from Somerville, Ma., High School
Congratulations to all finalists and winners!
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