Crowdmark among 10 education technology trailblazers to be featured at the 2014 Education Industry Summit
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA (April 30, 2014) Crowdmark, Inc., the EdTech company that created the world’s first online collaborative grading and analytics platform, today announced it has been named a finalist for the SIIA Education Innovation Incubator Program. The program will be held during the 13th annual Education Industry Summit, the leading conference for the K-12 and postsecondary education technology markets. Crowdmark will feature its product during the event, May 12-14, at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.
Crowdmark is an online grading platform that enables educators to evaluate assessments more effectively than ever before. It was created by James Colliander, a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Toronto, in response to the “logistical nightmare” of grading over 5,000 mathematics exams with a team of 100 graders. Crowdmark enables educators to grade a variety of assessment types, including handwritten assessments, securely in a web browser. On average, this cuts teacher grading time by 50% and assessments can be returned to students, with rich feedback, within hours. This significantly improves the student feedback loop and provides an opportunity to enrich the learning experience through analytics.
The SIIA Innovation Incubator Program identifies and supports entrepreneurs in their development and distribution of innovative learning technologies. The program began in 2006 and has provided support for dozens of successful products and companies in their efforts to improve education through the use of software, digital content, and related technologies. The program is open to applicants from academic and non-profit institutions, pre-revenue and early-stage companies, as well as established companies with newly developed technologies.
“Innovative technology in the classroom is key to revitalizing the educational experience and leveraging shifts in the digital learning space,” said Karen Billings, vice president for the SIIA Education Division. “This year’s Innovation Incubator participants have provided products that are central to keeping our students engaged while promoting creativity and entrepreneurship.”
Innovation Incubator Program finalists were selected from the applicant pool based on key selection criteria, including:
- Ability to positively impact end users of the product
- Ability to succeed in the education technology market
- Level of originality and innovation
“Crowdmark is very pleased to have been selected to participate in the SIIA Innovation Incubator program,” said CEO James Colliander. “We look forward to engaging with Education Industry Summit participants.”