The field of education technology is growing up in the Boston area. Companies like TenMarks, Panorama Education, and Playrific are challenging the idea that it’s hard to sell software to K-12 students and schools. The startups are also pushing districts and publishers to raise their game when it comes to making educational materials more engaging and interactive. Meanwhile in higher ed, MIT is trying to connect online business students to real-world ventures through the nonprofit edX, and Harvard Business School is launching a new online course initiative called HBX. Keep an eye on that rivalry going forward.
In other innovation news:
— The One Laptop Per Child initiative isn’t dead, but it has moved away from Boston and, to some extent, from making hardware. OLPC’s chief executive responded to criticisms this week, saying the association has achieved its goals around education.
— Our deal of the week is a $35 million funding round for NinePoint Medical. The Cambridge company makes imaging technology that doctors can use to identify different diseases.
— And lastly, an informal panel of high-school students this week revealed the future of the social-mobile world. The main conclusions? Facebook isn’t really “cool” anymore, Twitter is on the rise, and Snapchat and Instagram are a way of life. In other words, it’s a terrifying world out there for parents.
