News Roundup - 3/7

Our weekly roundup of education technology, workforce technology, and venture capital news.

In 2025, more than ever, technology is reshaping how students engage with learning and how institutions prepare them for the future. From enhancing student engagement through innovative teaching methods to addressing the competitive internship market, this week's articles highlight the crucial intersection of education and technology. This week's News Roundup delves into key insights from various sources, exploring the transformative role of edtech in fostering authentic student experiences, expanding access to internships, promoting social mobility through education, and preparing students for successful careers.

Using Technology to Build a Culture of Authentic Student Engagement – In this EdSurge interview Kelly Mitchell, a Digital Learning and Teaching Facilitator in North Carolina, emphasizes the role of technology in fostering authentic student engagement and improving educational outcomes. By implementing strategies such as the station rotation model for blended learning, she encourages personalized learning experiences where students can express their understanding creatively. Tools like Lumio help teachers create interactive lessons that cater to various learning styles while simplifying lesson planning. Mitchell advocates for giving students choices in demonstrating their learning and empowering tech-savvy students to assist their peers. For edtech companies, this highlights the importance of developing user-friendly, adaptable technologies that enhance collaboration and engagement in classrooms, ultimately supporting educators in their quest to inspire curiosity and deeper learning among students.

Report: Competition for college internships is getting tougher – Internships are critical for college students, providing them with career exploration, real-world experience, and potential job offers, while also helping employers build their talent pipelines. However, a recent Handshake report highlights a significant drop in internship postings (over 15%) and a highly competitive application landscape, with the Class of 2025 seeing a 41% application rate. Despite the demand, many students face barriers, such as a lack of opportunities or financial constraints, with 12% of undergraduates not having internships lined up before graduation. Edtech and workforce tech companies can address these challenges by developing platforms that enhance access to internship opportunities, streamline the application process, and provide resources for skill development. There is also an opportunity to create mentorship programs to connect students with industry professionals, offer tools for fair compensation transparency, and build networks that facilitate connections between students and employers, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and effective internship ecosystem.

How Higher Education Can Win Back America – The opinion piece discusses the historical and ongoing role of education in enhancing social mobility in the United States, highlighting the growing disconnect between elite education and its original promise of equal opportunity for all. Founding figures like Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin championed education as a means to reduce hereditary privilege, yet selective universities today predominantly serve affluent families, leaving low-income students underrepresented. Though there are currently initiatives that aim to broaden access to higher education for underserved populations, showcasing education's potential to overcome socioeconomic barriers, there is more to be done. For the edTech community, key takeaways include the need for technologies that improve access, partnerships that allow high school students to earn college credits, a broader admissions criteria for elite institutions, and a commitment to addressing systemic inequities to foster a more equitable society.

6 steps to a future-focused blueprint: Supporting students in making career decisions – The OECD's study highlights an alarming trend of increasing career uncertainty among teenagers, with 40% of 15-year-olds lacking clear career plans. This uncertainty negatively impacts future employment, particularly for those with lower academic performance. The edtech and workforce tech industries have a critical role to play in addressing this issue by providing accessible career development programs that align educational experiences with career exploration and application. Strategies such as interdisciplinary career units, project-based learning, and partnerships with employers can integrate career readiness into the curriculum. By fostering connections between counseling, career and technical education (CTE), and academic standards, these industries can help bridge the gap between education and real-world careers, ultimately equipping students with the skills and awareness needed for successful futures.

Reshaping Assessment: How GenAI is Transforming K-12 Evaluation and Feedback – The recent updates to The Edtech Insiders Generative AI Map highlight transformative opportunities for edtech companies in the K-12 assessment and feedback sector. By leveraging AI tools that enhance immediate feedback, automate grading, and broaden assessment methods, companies can capitalize on the shift from traditional, static assessments to dynamic, multimodal evaluations. These AI systems allow students to demonstrate understanding through diverse formats, such as videos and collaborative projects, while providing real-time, personalized feedback that drives continuous improvement. This evolution supports personalized learning, enabling educators to generate customized practice materials and track student progress more effectively. As AI continues to redefine assessment, edtech companies that integrate these capabilities into their offerings will be well-positioned to meet the growing demand for innovative, efficient, and holistic educational solutions.

2 Roads To Startup Growth In 2025: Efficiency Vs Acceleration – In 2025, startups face a pivotal choice as they decide between two divergent paths for growth. One path emphasizes rapid expansion, often at the expense of efficiency, leading to high cash burn and reliance on external funding, particularly prevalent among AI startups aiming for market dominance. Conversely, the other path advocates for slower, more deliberate growth, prioritizing financial discipline and operational efficiency, allowing companies to approach cash-flow breakeven. However, a middle ground is emerging, where startups growing at moderate rates of 20%-40% are finding ways to balance growth with fiscal responsibility, focusing on sustainable scaling and resilience in uncertain markets. As investor scrutiny on efficiency increases, the future landscape suggests a convergence towards strategies that harmonize growth and efficiency, ensuring adaptability in an evolving software industry.

The articles featured in this week's News Roundup emphasize a pressing need for the education sector to embrace technology as a catalyst for change. By prioritizing authentic engagement, equitable access, and career readiness, we can create a more inclusive and effective learning environment for all students. As we move forward, it’s imperative for educators and edtech/workforce tech innovators to collaborate, ensuring that we not only adapt to the challenges of today but also pave the way for a brighter future.

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