Edtech Is Looking to Build Tools to Foster Student Engagement. Can That Scale?

https://www.edsurge.com/amp/news/2022-04-11-edtech-is-looking-to-build-tools-to-foster-student-engagement-can-that-scale

With student disengagement and mental health problems on the rise, edtech solutions are trying to help rebuild that student connection.

Organizations like Flatiron School and Stack Overflow make particularly good use of this strategy. Focused on helping software developers build out their skill sets, these businesses facilitate collective learning through group problem-solving and community feedback. “It’s also just [having] people to vent with,” said Kate Cassino, CEO of Flatiron School. “How are you making your way through?”

Handshake, an early career exploration platform for college students, uses student-to-student messaging to help users reach out to others like them on the platform.

Ruben Harris, chief executive officer of Career Karma, a career navigation and mentorship platform, highlighted just how powerful audio rooms can be as a tool to drive meaningful conversation and community. “I can just organize everybody together, and they’ll give you the sauce that you’d never be able to find,” he said. “Someone that comes from an underestimated background that already broke in [to the tech industry] can give you insight.”

Jenn Hofmann is a graduate fellow working on student engagement issues for Stanford University’s Digital Education team.