A Farewell To EdTech? Remote Possibilities
When Din Heiman, SVP of Strategy at Renaissance Learning, first posted his thoughts on the edtech industry’s responsibility to respond to the current education crisis, he expected to spark a conversation. 20,000 LinkedIn views later, his provocative thoughts, plus the contributions from others, have created a blueprint for future remote learning success.
Marketscale contributor and Remote Possibilities podcast host Kevin Hogan discusses Heiman’s extraordinary message with him and breaks down some of the specific suggestions he offers directly to edtech leaders. These include:
Survive. You probably don’t want to be surprised in the midst of a crisis to discover your solution doesn’t effectively scale after all. Or that your cash situation can’t bear the expenses created by spiking usage. At the extreme, the last thing you can afford is to see your company collapse — precisely when your customers (not to speak of your employees) rely on you the most. Think about that in the context of both your existing business model, and any immediate changes or campaigns you are considering.
Parents aren’t stakeholders. No matter what your specific offering is or who you sell to, start considering parents (a.k.a. #AccidentalHomeschoolers) as customers. Just because they aren’t students doesn’t mean you can treat them as teachers. Consider factors like ease of use, lack of professional training, methods of communication, reality of working parent/s… Consider whether your offerings are tailored and curated enough, or just adding to an already daunting pile. Don’t assume it’s for the teacher alone, much less principal or administrator, to bridge between your offerings and parents. They themselves have plenty on their plate. If you can’t get your offerings to an appropriate level of simplicity, factor in extra capacity for layperson support.
You’re in the equity business. Yes, you. This one may be the hardest for many of us to fathom. If you’re not actively planning for decreasing equity gaps, you’re liable to be inadvertently increasing them. Do your plans account for the needs of different populations of special learners? Do they factor in English learners (whether students or parents)? Do your offerings work across devices? Without devices? In different bandwidth situations? Do they inadvertently contribute to stress, or alleviate it? Can you identify in advance any other unintended consequences of your plan, and if so what can you do to prevent them?
Latest
Mastering AV Sales Strategies: A Diverse Market Requires Understanding Individual Needs
Mastering AV sales strategies in a global professional audio-visual (Pro AV) market, poised to reach $79.2 billion by 2028, requires much attention to detail. The surge in demand from corporate, government, and institutional sectors, driven by the need for enhanced productivity and efficient working environments, gives AV sales pros a lot of opportunity. In […]
Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Addressing the Growing Threat
To keep up with the growing threats, cybersecurity in healthcare is a high-level priority. The recent ransomware attack on Ardent Health underscores a stark reality for the healthcare industry: cyber threats are a significant and ongoing challenge. Mike Saylor, the CEO of Blackswan Cybersecurity, LLC, sheds light on the complexities of cybersecurity in healthcare. […]
Effective Debt Management Holds the Keys to Small Business Cash Flow and Growth
Effective debt management through a robust accounts receivable system is essential for small business cash flow and growth, necessitating automated payment schedules and strategic policy adjustments. Collaborating with a collection agency as a strategic partner can enhance revenue recovery while preserving positive customer relationships. How critical is effective debt management for the financial health […]