The
proliferation of modern computing technologies continues to create
transformative potential in the education market. With the advent of
methodologies like blending learning, which applies a combination of
face-to-face teaching and computer-mediated activities, as well as full-on
virtual schools, the game of education is changing so fast that only the best
innovators can keep up. A recent study by GEMS Education Solutions illustrates
how federal and state government officials have been dragging their feet here
in the U.S. when it comes to modernizing our education system, detailing how
the U.S. currently ranks in the bottom 50% globally when it comes to education
efficiency.
In fact,
the GEMS report indicates that we rank 19th out of 30 countries based on
investment outcomes in education, using 2012 Programme for International
Student Assessment (PISA) benchmarking. The top PISA ranking countries, Korea
and Finland, in contrast with the U.S., actually have larger class sizes and
more moderate teacher salaries, and the study data points directly to more
effective utilization of advanced educational technologies as a primary driver.
Another
reason innovative educational technology is so critical is made clear by a
recent report from EdNET Insight, which explains how state education budgets
may have finally bottomed out during FY12, following the mandated, staggered
cuts set forth in the Budget Control Act of 2011, which essentially precluded
any new major federal investment in education for a decade. 36 states
shouldered the burden and increased K-12 education funding by as much as $4.9B
in net spending last year, yet the efficacy of that spending still leaves much
to be desired, if one looks at the aforementioned PISA results.
Software
& Information Industry Association (SIIA) survey data shows $2.4B in
revenue for software, digital content/resources, and related services in FY12,
with digital content and digital instructional support making up around 88% of
that figure (platforms and administrative support make up the remainder). But
it is not mere spending on digital content that makes the difference; clearly,
it is the specific products purchased and implementations utilized that are the
determining factors between wasted capital and top line results.
Educational
technology holding company, Sibling Group Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: SIBE),
understands this crucial distinction and their comprehension can be seen in
various aspects of the business, like the move by the company’s primary
operating subsidiary, Blended Schools Network, late last month, to acquire
operator of the extremely innovative Urban Planet Mobile™ software platform,
Urban Planet Media & Entertainment (UPM). The brilliant reputation and
proven track record established through Urban Planet Mobile’s product mix has
made it a rapidly growing success in emerging markets and the non-binding
letter of intent signed by SIBE to acquire UPM would also give the company
access to UPM’s thriving global distribution channels for SIBE’s award-winning
Blended Learning Schools Network solutions. UPM’s embracing of digital
delivery, including use of SMS, email, and IVR (interactive voice response), as
well as modern social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Twitter,
has allowed them to hit massive audiences, with over 400k English lessons
currently being delivered daily, all over the world.
The
Blended Schools Network (BSN) unit of SIBE is focused on providing online
curricula, including over 192 Common Core-compatible master courses for the
K-12 market and represents one of the most sophisticated hosted course and LMS
(learning management system) systems in existence today. The BSN approach
incorporates both Blackboard and the newer Canvas LMS, with online language
courses across all major languages, each of which is oriented towards current
ESL requirements.
The
partnership between BSN and BloomBoard, Inc. earlier this month places BSN at
the forefront of BloomBoard’s professional development resource library
providers and shows just how far-reaching SIBE’s capabilities are, as
BloomBoard is a powerful platform for teachers, as well as school
administrators, to plan/personalize their own professional development.
This
latest deal brings increased focus to Blended Schools Network’s professional
development suite for K-12 teachers/admins and takes full advantage of the
pathway devised by iNACOL, the premiere K-12 online and blended learning
organization on earth. Over 500 hours of content designed to be devoured in 20
to 40 minute chunks makes BSN’s professional development suite easy to deliver
and a leading source for training education professionals in how to correctly
handle a variety of crucial skills, from building online courses and blended
teaching, to technology training. BSN’s professional development suite has
already helped more than 30k teachers within the Blended Schools Network to
effectively utilize spending on digital content, in order to achieve the
maximum bang for increasingly tight state education budget bucks.
Transitioning
to digital materials is only half the game when it comes to transforming
education into a truly 21st century marvel, the other half is effective
implementation, and SIBE’s Blended Schools Network is a key source for
successfully executing blended learning, with training methods, conversion
planning and implementation help all just a keystroke away.
For more
information on Sibling Group Holdings, visit: www.siblinggroup.com
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