The iPad was expected to revolutionize the classroom and Apple has been quite successful at achieving their goal. Currently, there are over 100,000 educational apps and eBooks available on the iOS but users can have a hard time figuring out which ones are right for them. eSparks set out to solve this problem and according to CEO David Vinca is the “Pandora for education apps.”
The Chicago based company has recently secured $5.7 million of series A funding from the likes of MK Capital, Learn Capital, NewSchools Venture Fund and 500 Startups which is both a vote of confidence in the venture and a means to further its expansion around the United States. To keep the company on track with its goals eSparks has also brought on board Luke Shepard as CTO. The Facebook veteran is well known in the industry as the person who led the charge during the creation of OAuth 2.0 protocol and Facebook Connect.
eSparks focuses on apps for the iPad that are developed for K-8 students and schools. These institutions are adopting the iPad very quickly but are struggling to find the correct apps on the device to help their students. eSparks offers a solution by cutting out all the noise and giving teachers and students one platform where they can get the best learning experience based on their profile. The company uses a mix of human curators and data analysis to create custom playlists for students using the thousands of apps available for the iOS. The experience offered by eSparks uses eBooks, apps, web apps, instructional videos and songs.
With a total of $7 million raised in all rounds of financing, eSparks is continuously improving its system and adding new apps. The funding is also going towards adding staff and education experts. This should help improve the service and give students more gains in learning. Currently, students can start using the eSparks application out of the box with suggested apps. As they work through the lists, new apps are displayed based on student feedback and learning goals. According to Vinca, students that use eSparks have a learning pace that is two to five times faster than students not using the service.
Source: TechCrunch
Acquisition Key To Lenovo’s Plans For Growth And Expertise
Researchers Showcase Brainwave Hacking To Highlight Future Security Concern
Lunches So Good Kids Can’t Ignore Them
Invigorating Ginger Smoothie
The U.K.’s Youngest Parents Ever
The new hair Jennifer Lawrence