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How the Pandemic Brought Permanent Changes to Education

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Deanna Ritchie


The disruptive effects of the pandemic have been well-publicized. Unfortunately, disruption took place across every setting, not just in supply chains and consumer buying habits. In fact, Covid has had a widespread effect in terms of bringing significant changes to education.

Many experts believe these changes to education are here to stay. However, these changes don’t spell doom and gloom for K-12 schools, trade schools, and higher education institutions.

Quite the contrary. Education hasn’t undergone sudden, evolutionary growth for several decades. Changes in education might, in fact, be a bit overdue. Yes, some aspects of education have improved due to new technologies. And yet, the basic model of learning hasn’t seen seismic movement — until now.

After more than a year of teachers, administrators, and students scrambling to exchange knowledge innovatively — and remotely — a different education path forward has emerged. Listed below are a few of the most important upheavals helping to reinvent both private and public school systems.

Grades are becoming less important than practical assessments.

The GPA hasn’t completely gone the way of the dinosaur. Nonetheless, many people still see GPA as an accurate measurement of learning. But, as noted in research conducted by Instructure, the manufacturer behind Canvas, fewer than a third of educators felt tests reflected knowledge gains. Instead, 76% of them preferred to use formative assessments to gauge progress.

This move away from seeing pupils as “A-students” or “failures” receives excellent marks from many researchers. When handled correctly, formative assessments can remove the “high-stakes” grading that causes so much anxiety among many students. Formative assessments can also be used in tandem with more traditional testing vehicles when appropriate.

College courses are aligning with career trends.

For a long time, many have argued that colleges and universities need to future-proof their curricula by offering more relevant courses, certifications, and degrees. Finally, Post-pandemic, this is starting to happen more frequently on campuses around the country.

Case in point? Interactive gaming.

According to Randy Pitchford, the president of Gearbox Entertainment, the interactive entertainment industry is finally being taken seriously as a career path. When Pitchford started making interactive video games years ago, he admits that he had to learn on his own. At the time, the higher education field didn’t see the video gaming industry as relevant.

Today, Pitchford’s happy to see that everything’s changed for up-and-coming talented programmers and creatives. As he explained to college students interested in entertainment occupations, “Now, there are entire university programs dedicated to this craft, which means the next crop of entertainers will be more equipped than ever to develop and design amazing games.”

Hybrid learning is enjoying its moment.

Though Zoom fatigue became a real issue during the pandemic, not all students saw online learning as a negative. For many, being able to attend classes online kept them safe while giving access to essential information. Additionally, online learners had a greater choice of schools regarding where they wanted to learn. This was especially true for post-secondary coursework, degrees, and certifications.

Even as many K-12 and higher education schools have returned to in-person learning, they’ve remained open to online learning and embraced a hybrid approach.

For example, many teachers now record classes so absent students can watch them later. Some offer live-streaming capabilities to students who can’t be in the classroom. Keep in mind that many schools upgraded their technologies during Covid to include web cameras in learning spaces. Consequently, they’re eager to continue using those technologies and get the highest return from those investments.

Colleges and universities are moving toward making test-optional applications the norm.

For decades, students had to take standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT to apply to colleges. Then SAT and ACT canceled testing as the pandemic swept the country. No testing meant that countless high school seniors were left without a critical evaluation piece. In response, higher education institutions — including some in the Ivy Leaguewent test-optional.

The decision to look at college applicants through a different lens was a natural reaction to a problem. As it turns out, it drove popularity and press for colleges. As a result, many institutions have made themselves test-optional for the foreseeable future.

Parents are more engaged than before in their children’s education.

When kids began learning from desktops, laptops, and tablets, their parents were often by their sides. Undoubtedly, working moms and dads struggled with trying to be there for their kids during the school day. Nevertheless, they ended up becoming stronger partners in their children’s learning and development.

Research conducted by EdWeek reveals that nearly 80% of teachers felt that their communication with parents during the pandemic increased. Better communication is yet another positive outcome for education, which has long been fraught with disconnects between educators and parents. With parents taking more of a “we’re in this together” approach to their kids’ education, schools and their staff feel more supported. Additionally, it may be easier for teachers to have tough discussions about poorly performing students with understanding mothers and fathers.

Administrations are upskilling teachers in technology.

Quite a few teachers were caught off-guard when they had to move their classwork online. For one, they had to master Zoom regardless of whether they were comfortable with tech. Similarly, they owed it to their students to make better use of cloud-based and networked learning management systems. As a result, many set out on their own to acquire know-how in the ed-tech space.

It’s essential to ensure that educators aren’t caught flat-footed and without these vital skill sets again.

Hopefully, a full-scale pandemic will never take everyone by surprise again. However, something else could cause equally significant disruptions in the educational process. Disruption is one reason why schools are putting their focus into training their teams on the latest advancements. Accordingly, teachers will be better able to flex their tech muscles fast, just in case.

Covid caused several learning stumbles. At the same time, the pandemic provided the education system with a much-needed wake-up call. After all, the children, teens, and young people in school right now will be in the workforce before long. They deserve a relevant education to launch fulfilling careers. Overall, it’s a good thing that changes in education are taking place to meet their needs precisely at the right time.

Image Credit: pexels; thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

Politics

Fintech Kennek raises $12.5M seed round to digitize lending

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Google eyed for $2 billion Anthropic deal after major Amazon play


London-based fintech startup Kennek has raised $12.5 million in seed funding to expand its lending operating system.

According to an Oct. 10 tech.eu report, the round was led by HV Capital and included participation from Dutch Founders Fund, AlbionVC, FFVC, Plug & Play Ventures, and Syndicate One. Kennek offers software-as-a-service tools to help non-bank lenders streamline their operations using open banking, open finance, and payments.

The platform aims to automate time-consuming manual tasks and consolidate fragmented data to simplify lending. Xavier De Pauw, founder of Kennek said:

“Until kennek, lenders had to devote countless hours to menial operational tasks and deal with jumbled and hard-coded data – which makes every other part of lending a headache. As former lenders ourselves, we lived and breathed these frustrations, and built kennek to make them a thing of the past.”

The company said the latest funding round was oversubscribed and closed quickly despite the challenging fundraising environment. The new capital will be used to expand Kennek’s engineering team and strengthen its market position in the UK while exploring expansion into other European markets. Barbod Namini, Partner at lead investor HV Capital, commented on the investment:

“Kennek has developed an ambitious and genuinely unique proposition which we think can be the foundation of the entire alternative lending space. […] It is a complicated market and a solution that brings together all information and stakeholders onto a single platform is highly compelling for both lenders & the ecosystem as a whole.”

The fintech lending space has grown rapidly in recent years, but many lenders still rely on legacy systems and manual processes that limit efficiency and scalability. Kennek aims to leverage open banking and data integration to provide lenders with a more streamlined, automated lending experience.

The seed funding will allow the London-based startup to continue developing its platform and expanding its team to meet demand from non-bank lenders looking to digitize operations. Kennek’s focus on the UK and Europe also comes amid rising adoption of open banking and open finance in the regions.

Featured Image Credit: Photo from Kennek.io; Thank you!

Radek Zielinski

Radek Zielinski is an experienced technology and financial journalist with a passion for cybersecurity and futurology.

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Politics

Fortune 500’s race for generative AI breakthroughs

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Deanna Ritchie


As excitement around generative AI grows, Fortune 500 companies, including Goldman Sachs, are carefully examining the possible applications of this technology. A recent survey of U.S. executives indicated that 60% believe generative AI will substantially impact their businesses in the long term. However, they anticipate a one to two-year timeframe before implementing their initial solutions. This optimism stems from the potential of generative AI to revolutionize various aspects of businesses, from enhancing customer experiences to optimizing internal processes. In the short term, companies will likely focus on pilot projects and experimentation, gradually integrating generative AI into their operations as they witness its positive influence on efficiency and profitability.

Goldman Sachs’ Cautious Approach to Implementing Generative AI

In a recent interview, Goldman Sachs CIO Marco Argenti revealed that the firm has not yet implemented any generative AI use cases. Instead, the company focuses on experimentation and setting high standards before adopting the technology. Argenti recognized the desire for outcomes in areas like developer and operational efficiency but emphasized ensuring precision before putting experimental AI use cases into production.

According to Argenti, striking the right balance between driving innovation and maintaining accuracy is crucial for successfully integrating generative AI within the firm. Goldman Sachs intends to continue exploring this emerging technology’s potential benefits and applications while diligently assessing risks to ensure it meets the company’s stringent quality standards.

One possible application for Goldman Sachs is in software development, where the company has observed a 20-40% productivity increase during its trials. The goal is for 1,000 developers to utilize generative AI tools by year’s end. However, Argenti emphasized that a well-defined expectation of return on investment is necessary before fully integrating generative AI into production.

To achieve this, the company plans to implement a systematic and strategic approach to adopting generative AI, ensuring that it complements and enhances the skills of its developers. Additionally, Goldman Sachs intends to evaluate the long-term impact of generative AI on their software development processes and the overall quality of the applications being developed.

Goldman Sachs’ approach to AI implementation goes beyond merely executing models. The firm has created a platform encompassing technical, legal, and compliance assessments to filter out improper content and keep track of all interactions. This comprehensive system ensures seamless integration of artificial intelligence in operations while adhering to regulatory standards and maintaining client confidentiality. Moreover, the platform continuously improves and adapts its algorithms, allowing Goldman Sachs to stay at the forefront of technology and offer its clients the most efficient and secure services.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Google DeepMind; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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Politics

UK seizes web3 opportunity simplifying crypto regulations

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Deanna Ritchie


As Web3 companies increasingly consider leaving the United States due to regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom must simplify its cryptocurrency regulations to attract these businesses. The conservative think tank Policy Exchange recently released a report detailing ten suggestions for improving Web3 regulation in the country. Among the recommendations are reducing liability for token holders in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and encouraging the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to adopt alternative Know Your Customer (KYC) methodologies, such as digital identities and blockchain analytics tools. These suggestions aim to position the UK as a hub for Web3 innovation and attract blockchain-based businesses looking for a more conducive regulatory environment.

Streamlining Cryptocurrency Regulations for Innovation

To make it easier for emerging Web3 companies to navigate existing legal frameworks and contribute to the UK’s digital economy growth, the government must streamline cryptocurrency regulations and adopt forward-looking approaches. By making the regulatory landscape clear and straightforward, the UK can create an environment that fosters innovation, growth, and competitiveness in the global fintech industry.

The Policy Exchange report also recommends not weakening self-hosted wallets or treating proof-of-stake (PoS) services as financial services. This approach aims to protect the fundamental principles of decentralization and user autonomy while strongly emphasizing security and regulatory compliance. By doing so, the UK can nurture an environment that encourages innovation and the continued growth of blockchain technology.

Despite recent strict measures by UK authorities, such as His Majesty’s Treasury and the FCA, toward the digital assets sector, the proposed changes in the Policy Exchange report strive to make the UK a more attractive location for Web3 enterprises. By adopting these suggestions, the UK can demonstrate its commitment to fostering innovation in the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency industries while ensuring a robust and transparent regulatory environment.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrency regulations in various countries has prompted Web3 companies to explore alternative jurisdictions with more precise legal frameworks. As the United States grapples with regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom can position itself as a hub for Web3 innovation by simplifying and streamlining its cryptocurrency regulations.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jonathan Borba; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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