EdLab’s most recent demo night on Tuesday, April 1st was a huge success! Three companies and over 100 attendees spent the night talking edtech with a focus on new apps for reading and writing instruction. First on stage was Doug Silver, Chief Academic Officer for WriterKEY, a tool that lets teachers efficiently assign helpful feedback on their students writing and analyze data from that feedback to make decisions about instruction.
Next up was Alex Selkirk from Ponder, a collaborative reading app that helps students engage with course materials. (For more information about Ponder, see our review of them on the New Learning Times.) Last to take the stage was Domi Enders, CEO of Open Assembly, a platform for connecting students and educators to open educational resources.
There were also a few new touches that we think led to a better networking experience for attendees, including casual coasters that helped set the stage for deep edtech conversations and the immensely popular self-identification ribbons:
#EdLabDemos @EdLabTC 1 hour – speaking over. Networking begins! Great format. Check photo re name badge add-ons pic.twitter.com/l0Pue3ZrnL
— jbowes (@jbowes) April 2, 2014
and of course, yours truly, manning the timing station with classic library intimidation tactics and simultaneously livetweeting:
Excellent timing @lacreads – way to keep #EdLabDemos moving right along! pic.twitter.com/Ql6jqzAbrX
— Kate Meersschaert (@CuriousBrooklyn) April 1, 2014