Category Archives: Education

ExamSoft Makes it Easier than Ever to Access Direct Evidence of Student Learning

Designed by faculty, ExamSoft’s latest release sets the standard for ease-of-use, when it comes to creating, delivering, and analyzing embedded assessments to help every student with direct, real-time evidence of learning.

Dallas, Texas, August 14, 2013 – As students and the accreditation bodies that regulate colleges and universities demand direct-evidence of student learning, being able to connect learning outcomes to assessments is increasingly important. ExamSoft, the leading provider of intelligent embedded assessment solutions, today announced updates to its platform that will help faculty members and institutions get information in real time and intervene earlier with students. Purpose built for faculty, the new release offers simpler navigation, streamlined question creation, the ability to blueprint exams by learning outcome, and easier student management and report creation.

“Every faculty member wants to better understand his or her students’ strengths and weaknesses and measure how well they are grasping key concepts. But, without the right support technology, using assessment to do that can be tedious,” said Patrick Chadd, Manager?of Academic Systems and Educational Technology at Rowan University’s?School of Osteopathic Medicine. “When we first started using ExamSoft our ability to provide students timely feedback greatly improved. We are excited that the updates to the platform will help us create, deliver, and evaluate assessments more easily and give us unprecedented access to assessment data to connect students to their academics in even more meaningful ways.”

Well-thought out assessments can be powerful instruments. By blueprinting assessments to match key learning objectives faculty members can determine what has or has not been mastered by students. Additionally, robust assessment data helps evaluate curriculum, instruction, and the assessment itself. The enhancements in the latest release from ExamSoft facilitate an easier implementation of these processes. Individuals interested in how the platform works can visit the ExamSoft website.

ExamSoft worked closely with faculty members throughout the entire development process including them in focus group studies, conducting hundreds of one-on-one interviews, and having faculty work directly with user design experts to create vastly simplified and streamlined process. Improvements to the assessment solution include:

* Simpler navigation
– An improved workflow that brings all system aspects to one screen;
– One-screen question creation and faster import tools to build a question database for entire courses, departments, or colleges;

* Reduction in training time
– Quicker access to help functions, like tips on hover-over and pop-up screens, support videos and easy to find reference guides, so new users can move past learning into practical use faster;

* Increased flexibility and scalability
– Enhanced system for exam building that provides pre- and post-exam management on one screen;
– Exam blueprinting for assessments to evenly cover all learning objectives and work in undergraduate- as well as graduate-level courses;

* Robust reporting and data collection
– Simple exam taker management that allows faculty members to track how well students perform and where and when tests were taken as well as provides opportunities to communicate directly with students during the exam;
– More robust reporting that provides longitudinal analysis at the student, class, course and institution levels.

Later this year, ExamSoft will release additional updates including rubric building functionality.

“Access to actionable outcomes data and insights is important to faculty members. But, the last thing they need is another cumbersome piece of technology that eats up time. The enhancements included in this release will help faculty get to the most valuable data – data that’s often buried in answer sheets that are thrown away after grades are recorded – and do so in less time,” said Daniel Muzquiz, Chief Executive Officer of ExamSoft. “Everyone is talking about big data today, but big data doesn’t mean anything if it is not relevant, timely, and a simple click away from faculty fingertips. ExamSoft gives faculty access to smart data to support data driven decisions and to help better engage students in their own learning.”

This initial round of updates is available to customers now. Current customers can upgrade at no extra cost. For more information about these updates or to learn more about ExamSoft visit http://www.examsoft.com.

About ExamSoft Worldwide, Inc.
ExamSoft provides scalable and flexible intelligent assessment solutions that give educators actionable outcomes data and insights to help every student. Its software puts the data back in the hands of faculty and enables clients to more efficiently and practically administer direct assessments and analyze resulting data to improve curricular design, test design, and accreditation compliance. ExamSoft has served hundreds of prominent academic, certification, and licensing institutions for more than 15 years and has successfully administered millions of exams. For more information, please visit www.examsoft.com, or follow ExamSoft on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact:
Anne Jenkins
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
703-624-6125
ajenkins@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Bryant & Stratton College Names Cindy H. Susienka as President and CEO

Business veteran brings years of experience and expertise to leader in personalized, outcomes-based education

Buffalo, NY, August 07, 2013 – Bryant & Stratton College announced today the appointment of Cindy H. Susienka as President and Chief Executive Officer of the College. Susienka brings over three decades of senior and executive-level leadership experience to the institution. In this role, Susienka will lead strategic decisions and forward the mission and vision of the College. Susienka replaces John J. Staschak who is stepping down as President and CEO after a 26-year career with Bryant & Stratton College.

“I am pleased to announce the addition of Cindy to the Bryant & Stratton team. Cindy is a seasoned leader and her success in the highly regulated healthcare industry will translate well to education. Her proclivity to results-driven strategies integrates seamlessly with our mission to deliver outcomes-based education and enhance the employability competencies of our students,” said Bryant H. Prentice, III, Chairman of the Board at Bryant & Stratton College.

Immediately prior to joining Bryant & Stratton College, Susienka held a variety of top leadership roles at Golden Living, including President of Aegis and AseraCare, President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Innovations and most recently as Chief Operating Officer of the larger parent organization, Golden Living. Before that, Susienka started her career at NovaCare, Inc. As an active leader in healthcare, she served as President of the National Association for Support of Long-Term Care and as the Vice-Chair of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Hospice Action Network.

“I’m passionate about education and consider myself a lifelong learner. A quality education can offer many benefits – personal enrichment, career growth and a sense of achievement when you earn a degree,” said Susienka. “I’m excited to join Bryant & Stratton. This college has an impressive history of providing quality education and I look forward to building on this tradition of excellence and examining what we can be doing better to serve our students.”

Susienka has relocated to the Western New York area for the position. She earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Communicative Disorders from Marquette University.

About Bryant & Stratton College
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment. The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For almost 160 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate’s degrees and professional certificates in the fields of healthcare, technology, legal, business, & graphic design. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures. General information can also be found on the College’s website at www.bryantstratton.edu.

Contact:
Kavitha Thimmaiah
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
kthimmaiah@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Bryant & Stratton College Online Hosts Career Information Webinar on Top Interview Tips

On August 14, career expert Stephen Krempl will offer practical advice to current and prospective students on how to stand out during an interview

Buffalo, NY, August 01, 2013 – When it comes to a job interview, knowing what the hiring manager wants is essential to landing the position. To help current and prospective students as well as recent graduates get inside the mind of a hiring manager, Bryant & Stratton College Online announced a new session in its career information webinar series. The webinar, “You’ve Got the Interview, Now What? How to Stand Out from the Crowd,” will be held on Wednesday, August 14 from noon to 1 p.m. EDT.

Earlier this year, Harris Interactive asked hiring managers about the most common interview mistakes as a part of an annual study conducted on behalf of CareerBuilder. Those interviewed reported “appearing disinterested” (62 percent) was the top misstep made by candidates. “Answering a cell phone or texting” (60 percent), “dressing inappropriately” (60 percent) and “failure to make eye contact” (72 percent) also made the list of interview errors. To help job seekers, Bryant & Stratton College Online has invited career expert Stephen Krempl to discuss how to avoid those and other gaffes.

Mr. Krempl is the President of Krempl Communications International (KCI), a company that focuses on management and executive development. Before starting KCI, Mr. Krempl was the Vice President of Global Learning at Starbucks Coffee Company and served in senior training and education roles at Fortune 500 companies such as YUM Brands, PepsiCo and Motorola.

“Landing an interview can be very exciting, but too many candidates falter because they don’t understand what hiring managers want,” said Mr. Krempl. “In this webinar, I’ll help job seekers understand the world of hiring managers and how to answer interview questions that help move the interviewer from ‘should we hire you?’ to ‘we should hire you.’”

The “You’ve Got the Interview, Now What? How to Stand Out from the Crowd,” webinar will provide practical tips and advice for job seekers on ways to be savvy interviewers. Key takeaways for webinar attendees will include:

* Understanding why the first five minutes of an interview are crucial and what to do in those initial minutes

* The competencies hiring managers are looking for from interview answers

* Reading the subtext of a question to understand its purpose

* A framework to answering questions that will help make a lasting impression on the interviewer

“Helping our students and other job seekers develop employability skills is critical to the mission of Bryant & Stratton College Online. The interview process can be arduous if someone is unprepared. This webinar will help anyone looking for a job better understand what is happening on the other side of the table and improve their chances of being hired,” said Scott Traylor, Campus Director for Online Education at Bryant & Stratton College. “We are grateful that Mr. Krempl is willing to share his knowledge and expertise for free. Our career information webinar series is a tremendous resource for all job seekers and we look forward to hosting this year’s events.”

This webinar is the first in a series of three from Mr. Krempl. In September, he will discuss what to do in the first 30 days of a job and in November, Mr. Krempl will address strategies for standing out on the job and becoming more promotable. As part of its commitment to building employability skills among job seekers, Bryant & Stratton College Online recently hosted a live online event featuring hiring and HR experts from CareerBuilder, Enterprise, Humana, Marriott International and Microsoft to discuss employability and answer job search related questions. To watch the recorded event, visit http://online.bryantstratton.edu/employability-summit/.

The August 14 career information webinar is offered for free by Bryant & Stratton College Online and is open to current students, prospective students and others seeking information about interview tips. Those interested in attending are invited to register at http://online.bryantstratton.edu/webinar/.

To learn more about Bryant & Stratton College and for information about its online degree programs, go to http://online.bryantstratton.edu. Bryant & Stratton College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

About Bryant & Stratton College Online
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes-based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment.  The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For almost 160 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s and associate’s degrees and professional certificates. Bryant & Stratton College Online offers five online bachelor’s degree programs, twelve online associate’s degree programs and eleven online certificate programs in a variety of fields including business, criminal justice, financial services, healthcare, human resources and information technology. Some online programs are not yet available in all states. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of graduates and other important information, please visit www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.  General information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degrees can also be found at http://online.bryantstratton.edu.

Contact:
Kavitha Thimmaiah
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 433-7020
kthimmaiah@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

National Laser Institute Med Spa Launches “New Skin For A New School Year” Program To Combat Teen Acne.

National Laser Institute, a worldwide leader in cosmetic laser education and treatment, announced that it is launching “New Skin For A New School Year” program using the groundbreaking BBL Therapy in their Scottsdale and Dallas Medical Spas.

Scottsdale, AZ, July 19, 2013 – National Laser Institute, a worldwide leader in cosmetic laser education and treatment, announced that it is launching “New Skin For A New School Year” program using the groundbreaking BBL Therapy in their Scottsdale and Dallas Medical Spas.

Broad Band Light (BBL) Therapy targets severe, deeply inflamed breakouts that can feel like bacteria filled hard or soft spots right under your skin. No prescriptions, no steroids, no messy ointments; just a series of 9 treatments over a 6 week period will put you on the path to beautiful skin.

Louis Silberman, NLI’s co-founder and CEO commented on their latest procedure, “Teen acne is not only a physical problem but for millions of teens is an emotional and social problem that we are excited to help solve. Our New Skin For A New School Year will greatly reduce the physical and emotional scars associated with teen acne. We look forward to offering this groundbreaking treatment at prices families can afford.”

Contact: Scott Kelly, Black Dog Promotions, 480-206-3435, scott@blackdogpromotions.com

About National Laser Institute’s Medical Spa:
National Laser Institute’s Medical Spa is North America’s leading center for cosmetic lasers and medical aesthetics. They are equipped with the world’s top laser machines, technologies and products. Clients come to their spas not only from Phoenix and Dallas, but also across the United States because of their reputation for performing advanced expert treatments and producing expert results. NLI’s physicians, nurses, aestheticians and certified laser technicians treat each one of their clients with the utmost professionalism, courtesy and kindness. Learn more by visiting www.nlimedspa.com.

Contact:
Scott Kelly
Black Dog Promotions
9920 S. Rural Rd., Ste 108
Tempe, AZ 85284
480-206-3435
scott@blackdogpromotions.com
http://www.blackdogpromotions.com

Raptivity rolls out Annual Licensing option

Redmond, Washington, United States, July 18, 2013 – Raptivity®, the award winning interactivity building tool from Harbinger Knowledge Products, today announced a rollout of the annual licensing model – an alternate software licensing option for its customers.

Raptivity annual license, as the name suggests, is a license that is valid for one year – with the option to renew at the end of the year. The Raptivity license continues to be a desktop license. This pricing option would be available in addition to the perpetual licensing option. Annual licensing option is an attractive option for those eLearning developers who wish to purchase Raptivity, but would rather pay annually from their recurring budget than purchasing the perpetual license by paying full cost upfront. Customers will have the option to convert the annual license to perpetual at any point.

“The Raptivity team understands that in this budget crunched world, customers are struggling to find a balance between obtaining technology solutions to remain productive and keeping expenses in control. This also includes investing in software, which is difficult at times, given the constraints. Raptivity has always been recognized for its customer initiatives and when we got requests from users suggesting that we offer some more pricing options that could fit in their budgets; we paid heed to their demand. With the annual licensing model, we offer our customers a moderate pricing model that would take care of their budget constraints. This licensing option, allows users to deliver high quality interactive learning experience to their learners while also staying within their budget,” said Seema Chaudhary, President, Harbinger Knowledge Products Inc.

With the annual licensing option, customers will enjoy access to Raptivity Himalaya (the complete library of interactions), premium support and free upgrades for a year! It is a complete package for all their interactivity needs. It also entitles customers to some additional benefits like complimentary Raptivity expert hour sessions; live chat support and premium customer portal access.

To know more about Raptivity’s annual licensing option, please visit http://www.raptivity.com/store/annual-licensing

About Raptivity

Raptivity® is a rapid interactivity builder that allows you to quickly and easily create learning interactions. It has a diverse variety of 180+ interactions to select from. Raptivity helps the educators and trainers to enrich their content with the well-designed interactions from various categories like games& simulations, presentation aids, visual aids, brain teasers, assessments and many more.

Raptivity® is a much awarded product and has been appreciated by various learning bodies. It was recently adjudged the ‘the “Best Rapid eLearning Tool” award at Africa Learning & Development Leadership Awards 2012. It has won LearnX Learning and Technology Impact Awards for Games and Simulations Category. Raptivity has also bagged the 2012 reader’s Choice Award by eSchool Media. Along with this, the product was also honored with Annual Best Educational Software Awards (BESSIE) third time in a row in 2013. For more information, please visit the website www.raptivity.com or contact Harbinger Knowledge Products at 425.861.8400.

To know more about Raptivity®, please visit www.raptivity.com.

About Harbinger Knowledge Products

Harbinger Knowledge Products is recognized as a global leader in interactivity solutions for knowledge-sharing applications including learning, presentation and web development. Harbinger Knowledge Products is a part of Harbinger Group, which serves customers in over 62 countries through its offices in Pune (India), Redmond (WA, USA), Pleasanton (CA, USA) and through its partner network worldwide.

For three consecutive years, Deloitte has named Harbinger Knowledge Products among the fastest growing technology companies in its Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific and Technology Fast 50 India programs. Red Herring named Harbinger amongst world’s top 100 private technology companies. Harbinger’s patented technology and sound thought leadership have resulted in groundbreaking products, including market-leading Raptivity®, innovative YawnBuster®, and cutting-edge SiteJazzer® and TeemingPod®.

For more information on Harbinger Knowledge Products, please visit http://www.harbingerknowledge.com.

Varsity Tutors Selects Monthly Scholarship Winners for 2013 College Scholarship Contest

Varsity Tutors, the premier private tutoring and test prep service, has chosen four more winners in its 2013 monthly college scholarship contest.

St. Louis, MO, July 17, 2013 – Varsity Tutors, the premier private tutoring and test prep service, has chosen four more winners in its 2013 monthly college scholarship contest. With 2,000 tutors and 80 employees operating in 25 major metropolitan U.S. cities, Varsity Tutors offers the merit-based scholarship program to support students from all backgrounds in reaching their college goals. The company has selected and awarded a $1,000 scholarship prize to one student each month in March, April, May, and June.

The Varsity Tutors College Scholarship Contest gives students nationwide a monthly opportunity to submit an essay in response to a unique prompt to compete for a $1,000 scholarship to any accredited, post-secondary institution of their choice. Once entries are approved by the company, they are published on the Varsity Tutors website and students are encouraged to share their essays via social media to acquire as many votes for their submissions as they can; Facebook likes, Tweets, and Google+ shares are all valid forms of voting. The top five submissions with the most votes by the end of the voting period are then reviewed by the company, one of which is selected as the final winner. The entry period lasts from the 1st–15th of every month followed by the voting period, which takes place from the 16th through the end of the month.

Brandon Boyd (Martinez, Calif.), Samantha Swift (Largo, Fla.), Alexandra Benton (Lehigh Acres, Fla.), and Sarah Campbell (Ocean Springs, Miss.) were selected as the March, April, May, and June winners, respectively. Hundreds of students have entered the Varsity Tutors College Scholarship Contest this year, and the number of entrants per month has consistently increased. The organization’s CEO and founder, Chuck Cohn, is honored to be able to aid so many students in financing their college educations.

“It’s always disappointing to hear when a student cannot attend the college of their choice just due to financial limitations,” Cohn says. “Our mission is to help students advance their educational goals, and many of those personal goals include attending college. We are proud to have created a scholarship that will help talented students attend college.”

About Varsity Tutors:
Varsity Tutors is a premier private academic tutoring and test prep provider designed to help students at all levels of education achieve academic excellence. Varsity Tutors delivers in-home, personalized, one-on-one instruction in any subject from STEM to the humanities and customized preparation for all standardized exams, including ISEE, SSAT, SAT, ACT and graduate exams such as the GRE, LSAT, MCAT and GMAT. Students from elementary to graduate school are expertly matched with an exceptional tutor who is best able to address their unique needs and goals. To ensure satisfaction and safety, only the highest caliber tutors are selected to join Varsity Tutors following a rigorous screening process. Varsity Tutors currently serves 25 cities nationwide and offers a variety of tutoring packages. Students and their families interested in learning more about Varsity Tutors should visit varsitytutors.com

Media Contact:
Cathryn Sloane
Marketing Coordinator
Varsity Tutors LLC
St. Louis, MO
314-740-6075
press@varsitytutors.com
http://www.varsitytutors.com

Bryant & Stratton College Online Announces an Associate of Applied Science Financial Support Services Degree

The degree will provide graduates with employability skills for careers in financial institutions and insurance companies

Buffalo, NY, July 09, 2013 – Bryant & Stratton College Online, a leader in online associate’s degree programs, announced today an addition to its degree program offerings – an Associate of Applied Science Financial Support Services (AAS FISS) degree. The degree program instills in graduates the employability skills needed to perform a variety of customer services in banks, insurance agencies and saving and loan companies processing financial transactions and generating reports. The College is currently enrolling students in its new degree program. Classes will begin in September 2013.

Students who enroll in the AAS FISS online college degree program will learn skills that prepare them for careers such as finance service representative, customer service representative, billing and posting clerk, brokerage clerk, loan processor, or banking specialist. Many of these career fields are predicted to grow by 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook.

“This new associate degree will help our students be more prepared to enter the workforce in fields that are seeing positive growth. In diversifying our degree offerings to meet the changing needs of the marketplace we are offering more choices for students to find a career that fits their goals,” said Scott Traylor, Campus Director for Online Education at Bryant & Stratton College. “The AAS FISS degree will give students the chance to learn how to calculate complex mathematical questions, complete fundamental accounting transactions, and adhere to current legal regulations that are necessary to succeed in the financial services industry.”

The AAS FISS degree program will teach students how to process client financial transactions, generate reports that support client needs, judge appropriate ethical behaviors that follow the laws and regulations applicable to the financial services industry and formulate useful solutions to clients’ financial and business related needs. Additionally, in the program students will learn employability skills like information literacy, critical thinking and written and oral communication, among others, that will help them be successful in the workforce.

The AAS FISS degree is not available to residents of New York or Ohio. The degree joins the five online bachelor’s degree programs, thirteen online associate’s degree programs and eleven online certificate of completion programs Bryant & Stratton College Online offers. To learn more about Bryant & Stratton College, its online college degree programs go to http://online.bryantstratton.edu. Bryant & Stratton College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

About Bryant & Stratton College Online:
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes-based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment.  The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For almost 160 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s and associate’s degrees and professional certificates. Bryant & Stratton College Online offers five online bachelor’s degree programs, twelve online associate’s degree programs and eleven online certificate programs in a variety of fields including business, criminal justice, financial services, healthcare, human resources and information technology. Some online programs are not yet available in all states. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of graduates and other important information, please visit www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.  General information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degrees can also be found at http://online.bryantstratton.edu.

Contact:
Anne Jenkins
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
703-624-6125
ajenkins@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Engrade Raises $5M to Accelerate Expansion of Platform, Districts Served

Platform used by more than 40,000 schools gets strategic funding from Javelin Venture Partners, Samsung Venture Investment Corporation, Kapor Capital, and Rethink Education.

Santa Monica, CA, July 03, 2013 – Engrade, the district-level education platform that unifies the data, curriculum, and tools teachers, schools leaders, and administrators use every day by integrating all of a district’s software and systems, today announced it has secured $5 million in a Series B funding round to accelerate its nationwide expansion and product development. The company has grown rapidly in recent years as it has worked with schools and districts to solve one of the most pressing challenges facing schools—connect once disparate systems from a wide array of sources to maximize the learning potential of students.

With the massive changes to the American education system expected over the next decade with the increase in 1:1 and blended learning, school systems need an integrated, cost-effective, and user-friendly technology infrastructure for managing all parts of the instructional process. Engrade integrates all of a district’s resources, including third-party applications and open education resources, into an easy-to-use, single sign-on solution. Used in more than 40,000 schools around the world, Engrade enables districts to manage curriculum planning and evaluation, instruction, assessment, and school-home communications through one fully secure, cloud-based platform, saving time and money.

Javelin Venture Partners, an entrepreneur-driven venture capital fund in San Francisco, led the round. Rethink Education, which led the company’s $3 million Series A round in January of 2012, added to its position. Other participants included Samsung Venture Investment Corporation, Kapor Capital, the investment fund led by prescient technologist and investor Mitchell Kapor, Expansion Capital and Ed-Mentor. This new round will help Engrade meet the rapidly rising demand of U.S. schools and districts for seamless education technology integration. With Samsung Venture Investment Corporation’s investment, Engrade anticipates business collaboration and partnership opportunities with Samsung.

“It is time for schools and districts to have a true platform, not a jumbled collection of tools that keep vital data locked up in separate silos,” said Jed Katz of Javelin Venture Partners. “Teachers, administrators, students, and parents are now able to see in one place the full story of an individual’s academic performance and learning needs.”

The additional capital will allow Engrade to help districts and school systems more rapidly integrate data, curriculum, and tools from third parties into their classrooms and evaluate the effectiveness of their instructional resources. By using Engrade, districts can more easily transition to the new Common Core State Standards, allowing teachers and administrators to align granular chunks of content and professional development resources with the relevant Common Core skills.

“We are thrilled to work with a group of investors composed of innovative thinkers and experienced leaders who will make excellent partners in reshaping the future of education,” said Engrade CEO Zach Posner. “We are defining a new product category in the education market that provides school districts with a system to use the right content with the right student at the right time to accelerate academic achievement.”

Engrade, which doubled its staff last year to meet the increased demand from school systems around the country, expects that the fresh round of investment will help it expand its staff and product offerings—from advanced tools for content management to programs that will help teachers manage all of their students’ data, accessible from any device.

About Engrade:
Engrade unifies the data, curriculum, and tools teachers, schools leaders, and administrators use every day by integrating all of a district’s software and systems, including third-party applications and open education resources, into one fully secure and easy-to-use, cloud-based platform. Districts rely on Engrade’s powerful single sign-on solution to enhance district-wide communication, plan and evaluate curriculum, manage assessment, and monitor student progress in real time. Educators love Engrade because it simplifies their workflow, increases efficiency in the classroom, and empowers them to use the resources and strategies that work best to improve instruction and outcomes for each student. Since the launch of its flagship product – the most widely used gradebook on the Web – Engrade has grown to serve more than 40,000 schools and support a community of more than 6 million users worldwide. To learn more, visit engrade.com.

Contact:
Zach Posner
Engrade, LLC
1327 Ocean Ave.
Suite I
Santa Monica, CA 90401
+1-800-305-1367
media@engrade.com
http://www.engrade.com

QuestBase: Create Assessments and Quizzes in Minutes

SmartLite Software announces the release of the new QuestBase, a free and user-friendly on-line service for creating and developing web-based and printed assessments, questionnaires, tests and quizzes. QuestBase is an ideal tool for educational tests, training exams, distance learning, certifications and interactive quizzes.

Milan, Italy, SmartLite Software announces the release of the new QuestBase, a free and user-friendly on-line service for creating and developing web-based and printed assessments, surveys, questionnaires, tests and exams. Whether your needs are for education, business or entertainment, QuestBase is a real time saver when it comes to creating quick questionnaires or quizzes that are smart, sharply focused and effective.

Business managers and entrepreneurs can use QuestBase to create customer feedback surveys, market research surveys, and interactive questionnaires for engaging customers and raising brand awareness. The award-winning software has also been well received by the educational community as it can help teachers save time and assess students in a quick and easy way.

“When we were developing QuestBase, we tried most of its competitors to insure our program was better and easier to use,” said Paolo Mugnaini, SmartLite CEO, who founded the company in Milan, in 1997. “I realized that our software could be more accessible, more affordable and more user-friendly than what our competitors were offering.”

QuestBase is customizable to the needs of every teacher, educator, trainer or manager. The product supports several question types and options, and it can create highly interactive and self-evaluating assessments. Authors can add questions, pictures, equations, scores and feedbacks. Custom certificates can be automatically awarded when exams are passed, and QuestBase can also offer the ability to deliver secure exams, using QuestBase Secure Browser.

Simplicity of use is QuestBase’s main feature. Thanks to a streamlined interface designed to make the program immediate and intuitive, authors do not have to learn a lot of functions. They can easily create assessments in a few minutes even with no HTML knowledge, thus increasing the productivity and decreasing the learning curve.

Always Available, in the Cloud

There’s nothing to install, setup or configure: you simply use QuestBase and enjoy the benefits. QuestBase is offered as Software-as-a-Service (SAAS), in the cloud, and it is always available at http://www.questbase.com.

System Requirements

QuestBase is fully compatible with most browsers (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari), operating systems (Windows, Macintosh, Linux) and devices (iPad, Android tablets). For larger organizations, a licensed version is also available, requiring Windows Server 2008 or higher.

Price

QuestBase is available for free at http://www.questbase.com. Organizations and schools can also get Premium versions with additional features and personal support: prices start from US$ 49.95 and can be purchased directly on-line or by calling 1-866-933-4313 (US only). Multiple and Site licenses are available as well as special discounts to educational institutions.

More Information

For more information, please contact Paolo Mugnaini at paolo.m@smartlite.it. A press kit with screenshots is available at http://download.questbase.com/company/press/20130702.zip

Contact:
Paolo Mugnaini
SmartLite Software
Via Cellini, 25
21052 Busto Arsizio VA – Italy
Phone +39 0331 624845
Fax +39 0331 670496
http://www.questbase.com
info@smartlite.it

 

Bryant & Stratton College to Host Employability Week

Series of events July 15 through July 19 to help local students and job seekers get job ready

Buffalo, NY, July 01, 2013 – Bryant & Stratton College today announced it will host Employability Week from July 15 to July 19, a series of events to help students and job seekers get job ready. Events planned on the College’s three Western New York campuses will bring together students, new graduates, job seekers and local business leaders for many career-focused activities. The highlight of the week will be the “Job Ready or Not?” Employability Summit, a live event with top U.S. employers aimed at helping close the perception gap between what job seekers think employers want and what employers really value in candidates.

The “Job Ready or Not?” event will include a panel of speakers from CareerBuilder, Enterprise, Humana, Marriott Hotels and Microsoft, who will give attendees a look into the mind of an employer and offer advice on how to be successful in today’s tough job market. The event will be streamed live online from the College’s campus in Orchard Park on Friday, July 19 at 1 p.m. Those interested in joining in-person should call (716) 860-4799 to register. Those wishing to watch the event live online can register at http://online.bryantstratton.edu/employability-summit.

On Thursday, July 18, a career fair will host area job seekers and 40-50 local companies and organizations with open positions and volunteer opportunities. Attendees will be able to connect with employers and get career advice from College experts, as well as enter to win an iPad® *. The career fair will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 18 at the Buffalo Campus at 465 Main Street, 4th floor.

To prepare for the career fair, attendees are encouraged to attend the free Employability Clinics on Wednesday, July 17 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the College’s campuses in Amherst, Buffalo and Orchard Park. Attendees can get free career advice from College experts, have their resumes reviewed, receive a personalized “Dress for Success” consultation and enter a raffle to win a $200 gift certificate for professional attire. Free career readiness coaching sessions will cover resume and cover letter writing, job interviews, using LinkedIn, managing your online reputation and negotiating your salary.

Employability Week events and the “Job Ready or Not?” Employability Summit are aimed at helping close the perception gap between how job seekers view their own employability and what employers value. According to a new survey from Bryant & Stratton College’s Online Education Division and Wakefield Research, 80 percent of 18-34 year olds feel they are job ready and possess all the skills, experience, and education needed to advance in their desired career path or obtain their next job. Comparatively, data released by global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company found almost 40 percent of employers attribute the main reason for job openings to lack of skills among entry-level applicants. The research indicates that college students and young employees have inflated assumptions about their own career readiness in today’s job market.

“Being a viable candidate in today’s job market takes an understanding of what employers want, a firm grasp on how to present your skills and access to quality career resources. Employability Week touches on all of these tenets so our students and other job seekers can feel job ready,” said Paul Bahr, Director of the Western New York Campuses of Bryant & Stratton College. “Our core mission at Bryant & Stratton College has always been to provide students the training and education they will need to be successful in their careers. Employability Week is an opportunity to do that for our students as well as the greater Western New York community.”

Employability Week Events:

Date: Tuesday, July 16
Event: Portfolio Development Day for Bryant & Stratton College students (private event)
Time: all day
Location: At local Western New York Campuses

Date: Wednesday, July 17
Event: Employability Clinics
Time: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Career Readiness Coaching Sessions will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location #1: Amherst Campus, 3650 Millersport Highway, Getzville, NY 14068
Location #2: Buffalo Campus, 465 Main Street, 4th Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Location #3: Southtowns Campus, 200 Redtail Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127

Date: Thursday, July 18
Event: Career Fair
Time: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Buffalo Campus, 465 Main Street, 4th Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203

Date: Friday, July 19
Event: “Job Ready or Not?” Employability Summit
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m
Location: 200 Redtail Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127
Register to join-in person by calling (716) 860-4799 or register to watch online at http://online.bryantstratton.edu/employability-summit.

To learn more about the Employability Week events at Bryant & Stratton College campuses in Amherst, Buffalo and Orchard Park, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/466778813416629/.

These events are part of the Bryant & Stratton College Employability Series, an ongoing effort dedicated to helping students become career-ready upon graduation. By focusing on the development of employable skills, the College purposefully helps students develop technical, industry-specific knowledge as well as soft skills. To learn more about Bryant & Stratton College, its degree programs and the Employability Series, go to http://www.bryantstratton.edu. Bryant & Stratton College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

*An iPad or comparable device will be available.

About Bryant & Stratton College;
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment. The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For almost 160 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate’s degrees and professional certificates in the fields of healthcare, technology, legal, business, & graphic design. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit http://www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures. General information can also be found on the College’s website at http://www.bryantstratton.edu.

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