Nordic EdTech News #20 : 2020-06-01
Your Week 21 & 22 update from the Nordic & Baltic EdTech ecosystems
Although the ‘What happens next?’ post-pandemic question continues to dominate much of the EdTech world, there’s clear evidence that Nordic EdTech is well placed to thrive, thanks to its renowned pedagogical and technological innovations. Two great examples of this were in the news recently - Shape Robotics are preparing to join the Nasdaq First North Growth Market in Copenhagen (Den, Eng) and that Kide Science have raised €1.5m in a seed round led by Sparkmind.vc (Link).
Last week’s comprehensive Industry Report from the Swedish Edtech Industry (Swedish) also highlights an industry characterised by optimism. But it also identifies key issues that need to be addressed locally and regionally to ensure EdTech’s long term future. (Swe, Eng) These include obsolete technology in schools, limited strategic planning, challenging budgets, unhealthy competition, poor procurement and learning from the Covid-19 pandemic. All will resonate widely, I suspect. As always, do let me know what you think - your feedback is really welcome.
Finally, if you’re looking to equip your business to take it to the next stage, then check out the EdTech Evolution online accelerator running later this month. Registration is open until the end of the week.
Stay healthy and with best regards, Jonathan
News from Denmark
CanopyLab host interview with Professor Thomas Ryberg on transitioning to remote teaching at Aalborg University. (Link)
Eduflow launch new discussion functionality (Link) and consider the future for online learning. (Link)
Great podcast with Aviaja Borup Lynggaard, CEO of Hopspots (Danish) as they secure 600 000DK Innobooster funding. (Danish)
Labster supports new Biogen and MIT Virtual Learning Lab. (Link)
John Goodwin, CEO, The LEGO Foundation, argues that students need new skills to tackle future challenges. (Link)
Students have to download monitoring software to take university exams. (Den)
Lessons from Denmark’s successful reopening of schools. (Link)
News from Estonia
Clanbeat’s recent webinar on reopening schools is available online here.
HITSA release details of how they are ‘Preparing for the Future’ with new initiatives and programmes. (Link)
INNOVE deliver new e-assessment tool for high school entrants. (Est, Eng)
Noordify help pull together agreement between Coventry University and Mexico’s Universidad Anáhuac. (Link)
Schools and kindergartens receive almost €300,000 for technology training through the ProgeTiiger program. (Est, Eng)
News from Finland
Brilliant May update from the team at Four Ferries. (Link)
Freeed and Education Alliance Finland announce results of teacher survey on distance learning. (Fin, Eng)
GraphoGame launches for American users with the support of the Haskins Global Literacy Hub. (Link)
Grib win the 2020 Auggie Award for the Best Creator and Authoring Tool! Congratulations! (Link)
Kide Science announce new partner agreement in Hong Kong. (Link)
Mightifier start work with Futura Schools (Link) and launch end-of-term certificates for students. (Link)
Significant updates at Qridi as the platform proves its value for formative assessment and in supporting remote teaching and learning. (Link)
News from Iceland
Seedtable have published a great review of the Icelandic tech ecosystem here. It’s written by Kiddi @ Northstack.
New Icelandic startup accelerator, Startup SuperNova, launched - apply to join by 10th June. (Ice, Eng)
Useful online resources for learning Icelandic here.
News from Latvia
Digital teaching tools extend their reach into Latvian preschools. (Lat, Eng)
The IT Education Foundation launch new teacher training courses to prepare them for the new curriculum. (Lat, Eng)
Latvian parents launch O-skola.lv to support online distance learning.
News from Lithuania
Lithuanian MOE, Microsoft Lithuania and Squalio Lietuva continue to support online learning solutions. (Lith, Eng)
News from Norway
New resources to keep children safe online during Covid-19. (Nor, Eng)
Data security issues identified in schools in Stavanger and Sandnes. (Nor, Eng)
Inspera Assessment and University of Bath join forces to run a webinar series on digital examinations. Fascinating programme and great speakers. (Link)
Ingrid Skrede from Ludenso introduces ‘Human Algorithms’ as the theme for this year’s ODA Inspirasjonsdagen 2020. (Nor)
Kahoot! appoints Lars Erik Grønntun as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer (Link / Nor, Eng) and confirm new Teams integration. (Link)
Skooler highlight support for parental engagement (Link) and summarise recent developments in their May update. (Link)
Emerging work in the QUINT (Quality in Nordic Teaching) programme at the University of Oslo looking at Covid-19’s impact on teaching and learning. (Link)
News from Sweden
How Sweden ‘wasted a rare opportunity’ to study Covid-19 in schools. (Link)
Digilär and ILT announce new collaboration around reading support. (Swedish)
Gleerups announce new resources ready for the Autumn term. (Swe, Eng)
Swedish Edtech Industry announce new names on the Board of Directors. (Swe, Eng)
Unikum announce new Support resources to assist pre-schools. (Swe, Eng)
Thanks for reading and see you again on 15th June!
Many thanks, Jonathan
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