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SIIA Announces Innovation Showcase 2024 Finalists

by CODiE Awards

10 promising education technology companies recognized for their positive impact on teaching and learning!

WASHINGTON (January 19, 2024) – The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) today announces Finalists for this year’s Innovation Showcase highlighting up-and-coming Education Technology companies and their products. Each of the Finalists is paired with seasoned industry Mentors to help grow their brand and visibility in the Education Technology industry.

“The Finalists this year represent some of the best and brightest in the industry. The Innovation Showcase supports the next wave of pioneers as the role of Education Technology in classrooms continues to grow.” said Sonya Roccia, Vice President, CODiE Awards.

The Innovation Showcase is The Stepping Stone to the SIIA’s CODiE Awards, the industry’s only Peer-recognized awards program. The CODiE Awards and the Innovation Showcase represent both ends of the cycle of growth in the Education Technology industry. Through the Innovation Showcase, SIIA hopes to usher in the next generation of effective education technology tools and resources for students, parents and educators.

Finalists for the 2024 Innovation Showcase are:

 

The Winner of the Innovation Showcase will be announced during the live, virtual CODiE Awards Winner Celebration on May 21, 2024. For more information about the CODiE Awards and the Innovation Showcase, visit https://siia.net/codie/innovation/.

About the SIIA CODiE™ Awards

Since 1986, thousands of products, services and solutions have been recognized for achieving excellence. The CODiEs are different from other tech awards.  It is not a participation Award, it is earned.  Our unique Expert Review process provides tremendous value for each Nominee.  Each nomination receives a detailed review, pursuant to category-specific criteria, by two expert Judges with a live demo that provides real-time Q&A and comments during the first round.  Finalists’ products receive a second round and Peer review by industry leaders.   Thus, even for nominees that don’t win, they get valuable feedback on possible areas of product improvement.  For more information visit siia.net/CODiE.

About Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA)

SIIA is the only professional organization connecting more than 700 data, financial information, education technology, specialized content and publishing, and health technology companies. Our diverse members manage the global financial markets, develop software that solves today’s challenges through technology, provide critical information that helps inform global businesses large and small, and innovate for better health care and personal wellness outcomes.

SIIA Contact: codieawards@siia.net

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In The News – PoliticoPro Morning Technology – Tech Industry Coalition Urges Blinken to Resist Private Sector Carveouts in International AI Treaty Debate

by Policy

Announced in POLITICO PRO Morning Technology.

The Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA), The Chamber of Progress, and Developers Alliance have penned a letter urging Secretary Blinken not to support the inclusion of binding private sector requirements in the international AI treaty under discussion this week. This move is in response to a competing letter from the Center for AI and Digital Policy, urging opposition to such carveouts. The tech industry groups express concern that surrendering regulatory authority to an unelected European body could undermine the U.S.’s leadership in AI, both politically and economically. The Council of Europe’s AI committee, composed of 46 European member states and observer countries, will address this issue during its plenary session.

Full Letter Here
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Concerns and Requests Regarding FTC’s Negative Option Rule Amendments

by Policy
Software & Information Industry Association  (SIIA) and other organizations express concerns about the FTC’s proposed Negative Option Rule amendments, citing procedural issues in soliciting public feedback. They stress the Presiding Officer’s discretion for robust public participation and request a fair process with adequate notice, opportunities for all interested parties, and extended time for hearings if needed. Unequal treatment concerns are raised, emphasizing the need for transparency in case of denials. The letter calls for sufficient time for presentations, cross-examinations, and rebuttals.
Full Letter Here
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Adopting a Risk-Based Approach to the Regulation of Data Practices

by Policy

Coinciding with Data Privacy Week, the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) just released a comprehensive white paper. This document serves as a guide, shedding light on the multifaceted legal, practical, and ethical considerations crucial for the fair and productive regulation of “data brokers.”

While privacy discussions often center on data brokers in a broad sense, it is crucial to recognize that companies involved in information creation, dissemination, and utilization are diverse entities. Capitol Hill and various state capitols frequently express concerns about the risks associated with information publishing and its impact on consumer privacy, yet they may overlook the nuanced advantages and challenges inherent in the existence of such data. This oversight extends to the profound influence of data on the productive development and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).

*This content reflects the view of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), and may not reflect the individual views of each SIIA member company.

Adopting a Risk-Based Approach to the Regulation of Data Practices
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SIIA Commends Department of Education on Release of the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan

by PolicyPress Release

Washington, D.C. – January 22, 2024 – The Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA), commends the Department of Education and its Office of Education Technology (OET) for today’s release of the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan.  We also congratulate our partners in education – SETDA, InnovateEDU, Learning Forward, Project Tomorrow, and Whiteboard Advisors for their leadership, involvement, and coordination with the 2024 National Ed Tech Plan’s publication.  Serving as a guiding policy document for educational technology, this updated plan offers key issue areas, as well as solutions to help create a more equitable and sustainable education technology guideline for states, schools and vendor leaders.

The 2024 NETP builds on the tremendous work of the Office of Education Technology on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and improving the resources and experiences of students and educators.  After last year’s release of OET’s report,  Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning, SIIA released the ed tech industry’s Principles for the Future of AI in Education – a framework intended to guide the ed tech industry’s implementation of artificial intelligence in a purpose-driven, transparent, and equitable manner that enables critical tools for personalized and enhanced learning experiences and improved assistive technologies. The updated NETP is another essential step offered by the Department of Education, as it serves as a true resource to the field of education and navigates the continued expansion of digital learning.

At its core, the 2024 NETP focuses on the needs of students, specifically the equity gap in education, along with supporting the academic acceleration of student learning. We believe the Department of Education’s inclusion of offering guidance on how to address digital equity: more importantly, the digital use divide, the digital design divide, and the digital access divide, gives leaders in education a more informed vision and mission to create the best education experiences for students. In conclusion, the NETP offers solutions and recommendations, as well as examples from all 50 states, on how these key focus areas can be implemented and supported.

Educational technology has transformed the way students engage with learning materials, offering innovative tools that cater to diverse learning needs. Flashcards, one of the simplest yet most effective study aids, have now evolved with the advent of artificial intelligence. By integrating AI into educational platforms, flashcards are no longer static; they are dynamic and adaptive, personalizing the learning process for each student. Memrizz AI, for example, is revolutionizing how flashcards are utilized in education by analyzing learning patterns, gauging knowledge retention, and adjusting the difficulty of content based on a student’s progress. This not only enhances understanding but also fosters a more efficient learning experience tailored to individual needs.

SIIA looks forward to working with the Department of Education, as well as the Office of Education Technology, to implement the key guiding principles in the NETP.  As a trade organization representing leading companies in the field of education technology, SIIA’s membership is proud to collaborate with OET and its mission to promote digital equity, while also advancing the efforts to enhance all learners’ educational experiences in the digital world. This framework is a significant achievement in education and will create meaningful change within the national scope of education and education technology.

 

About SIIA

SIIA is an umbrella association representing more than 380 technology, data and media companies and associations globally. Industry leaders work through SIIA’s divisions to address issues and challenges that impact their industry segments with the goal of driving innovation and growth for the industry and each member company. This is accomplished through in-person and online business development opportunities, peer networking, corporate education, intellectual property protection and government relations. For more information, visit siia.net.