Meet Reobot, the world’s first Māori language chatbot
We caught up with Jonnie Cain, the Experience Designer behind the world’s first Māori language chatbot in New Zealand.
Learning products
#RemoteTogether – Week 2: Remote Workshops
In these uncertain times, we want to contribute by sharing our digital learning knowledge and experience – and encouraging everyone to do the same. We’re creating a video series under the hashtag #RemoteTogether to bring us all together, brainstorm, discuss and share how we as learning professionals can respond to the challenges we’re facing. Every week we’re … Read more
LX Berlin Begins: A new event for learner experience designers
Berlin is perhaps best known for its blend of creativity, culture and art. It’s this innovative outlook that’s made it one of Europe’s most dynamic business scenes. In fact, a new startup is founded every 20 minutes, according to the German Times. And if you work in education, you’ll soon find yourself amongst a growing … Read more
2019 Internet Trends Report: 5 Takeaways for Education Companies
Tuition fees continue to rise and more and more learning is taking place online. Read on to find out our top 5 takeaways for education companies from Mary Meeker’s 2019 internet trends report.
Designing for digital learners in the 21st Century
As the amount of time we are spending on our mobile phones increases, we need to consider how this affects the design of digital learning products. Katy, one of the Learner Experience Designers at ELTjam, walks us through some of the latest trends and the impact it’s having on our work.
The secret to successful app development
Thinking about releasing your own mobile app, but have no idea where to start? Here’s some advice from our tech partner Nils Millahn on how to work with app development agencies to build a mobile app that will take your business to the next level!
Three ways to understand your learners more deeply
“The better we understand learners and their problems, the better our solutions will be.” Nick Robinson, LearnJam co-founder “It’s not the learner’s job to figure out what they want or need.” LearnJam For us, it’s all about getting a clear understanding of our learners’ emotions and taking time to observe their natural behaviour in terms … Read more
5 EdTech startups that started shaping the way we learn in 2018
2018 has been a year full of innovative ideas brought to us by EdTech startups: virtual reality adventures, DIY drones and karaoke audiobooks have popped up on the scene, promising to transform the way we learn.
Using Typeform in ELT
Can disruptive technology bring an edge to your ELT academy marketing? Can you bring a service aimed at startups into your classroom and make things even more engaging for your students?
Let’s explore how language schools, publishers and teachers can improve their services, classes and get better feedback with Typeform.
Online tutoring: disruption, risks and opportunities
The accessibility, individuality and flexibility of online tutoring is pulling more and more language learners away from face-to-face modes of learning. But what does this shift away from the classroom mean for teachers, learners and the ELT industry?
InnovateEdTech sessions: Harriet Ballantyne & Doug Belshaw
Here’s another look at some of the excellent talks from last year’s Innovate EdTech conference. First, we hear from Harriet Ballantyne, who talks about how to manage and develop online communities through learning apps, as well as the importance of gathering feedback from learners and acting on it. Then, Doug Belshaw gives us some great insight into developing digital literacies and shows how we can demonstrate achievement online with Open Badges.
ELT and the future of the internet
We analyse some of the main themes in the recent internet trends report compiled by venture capitalist, Mary Meeker, and take a look at how we can apply them to the ELT industry.
InnovateEdTech sessions: Ed Jones & Caroline Thiriau
There were a number of fascinating and insightful workshops during last year’s Innovate EdTech conference. Here are two of the many excellent sessions that were recorded during the event.
In the first presentation by Ed Jones of Cambridge Assessment English you’ll get a peek into the intriguing world of User Experience (UX) and see how it impacts reading comprehension. Caroline Thiriau from Cambridge University Press gives a publisher’s perspective and explains how data analysis can enrich our understanding of online learning.
VUI: the dawn of voice
“Hey, Alexa. What is VUI?”
The concept of a voice user interface isn’t new. Phone operators have been infuriating their customers with it for decades already. But, with the advent of smart virtual assistants, powered by artificial intelligence, VUI is fast becoming the next big tech disruption. The prediction that 50% of all internet searches will be voice searches by 2020, is just one indication of its potential impact.
AI discovers the secret to the perfect brew
The potential impact of AI on English language teaching and learning has been the topic of hot debate for some time, with computational linguists and language teaching professionals clashing over the benefits and drawbacks of integrating the technology into a language learning environment. The latest research coming out of the Artificial Intelligence department of the … Read more
What is the Jobs To Be Done approach to product development (and why does ELT need to care)?
It is not what you are selling that is important, it is the result of what you are selling that customers care about.
5 of the top EdTech trends in 2018 (and the companies behind them)
Here are five trends in educational technology that are already making serious waves.
Taking part in the EdTech revolution
I could clearly see the how EdTech was starting to affect ELT and I wasn’t going to resist it or surrender to it. Instead, I wanted to get engaged. The question was … HOW?
My InnovateEdTech by Jemma Hillyer
We hosted our inaugural InnovateEdTech conference in London on the 11th November. Jemma Hillyer, Digital Publishing Specialist, came along to the day and here she shares her thoughts on the event …
English for the underserved: Alternative technologies to bridge the digital divide
This post is based on Michael Carrier’s talk at InnovateELT 2017 in Barcelona, English for the underserved – technology to close the digital divide. Much of our work in ELT technology helps ‘first world’ kids with first world tech access. This post looks at the other world – the next billion learners, in rural areas of Africa & Asia. These learners and communities have difficulty accessing electricity, connectivity, textbooks – we can fix that with new EdTech.
