Entrepreneurs in the edtech industry are shaping the next generation of technology in higher education. From homework help to online mentoring, startups are expanding the possibilities of how college students will learn.
Based on the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 58 percent of first-time, full-time students who started their bachelor's degree at a university in fall 2004 finished it within six years. Startups are ready with solutions to assist students with their academic troubles.
TransTutors connects students with educational experts. The organization surpasses geographical barriers by providing high-quality education to everyone around the world. Right now, it connects over 100,000 students with 14,000 tutors in 150 countries. As a leading provider in homework help, students receive friendly, supportive assistance with subjects ranging from Accounting to Computer Science.
In January, President Obama hosted the College Opportunity Summit. A cohort of educational leaders, institutions, and nonprofits gathered to discuss their commitment to expanding college opportunities. The Summit also highlighted the role and importance of the school counselor.
Now, counselors with large caseloads can give students a personal, direct connection.
CollegeSnapps is a free mobile app for iPhone and Android that streamlines advising between students and their counselors. Students receive targeted information, reminders, and tips, while advisors monitor the students' progress via a Web-based dashboard.
Relationships matter in education. Retention officers and professors are facing the obstacle of convincing students that college -- despite its difficulties -- is worth it. The student is not the only person impacted when he or she does not attend college and earn a degree. More debt and fewer qualified workers have a tangible impact on our nation's economy. Some are finding that the best way to retain students is to support them once they're at school.
Increasing support systems are critical for student engagement. The interactions between students can be strengthened through digital communities. Fidelis Education assists faculty in monitoring students' goals by tracking coursework and activities. This learning relationship management system helps reduce attrition and identify the skills gap through online mentoring.
Expanding beyond traditional subjects is vital for students to succeed in life after college. The average student carries nearly $29,000 in student loan debt. Therefore, it's great that more universities are offering classes designed to help students adjust to adulthood.
From goal setting to budgeting, students must learn skills beyond the core subject areas. EverFi teaches critical skills real life demands. This learning platform has curriculum specializing in several areas such as, financial literacy, student loan management, entrepreneurial thinking, and sexual assault prevention. These digital courses are helping millions of students in more than 6,500 K-12 schools and 500 college campuses.
Even the professional social networking giant LinkedIn wants to attract college-bound students. Recently, it launched three new tools--Decision Boards, University Outcome Rankings, and University Finder. These features will help students decide where to apply, what to study, and who in their network may provide useful advice.
From TransTutors to CollegeSnapps, edtech startups are paving a new path for how education will be taught and learned by future generations.
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