Leading companies shaping the future of education in 2023: analysis

The analysis serves as a guide to identify the best EdTech solutions, examining each company’s products, from their online courses to their educational tools.

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The year 2023 saw the education technology (EdTech) sector transforming education and introducing innovative solutions for knowledge and skills acquisition. This transformation is driven by leading EdTech companies, each specializing in different sub-industries, marking a shift in educational paradigms.

MSM Reporter, in collaboration with experts in the industry, examines these EdTech companies, exploring their offerings in online marketplaces, learning management systems, and interactive tools. This research is crucial for stakeholders in education, including sectors such as K-12, higher education, and corporate training, to find appropriate digital learning content.

The analysis serves as a guide to identify the best EdTech solutions, examining each company’s products, from online courses to educational tools, including their features and pricing. 

MSM Unify

MSM Unify, based in Gujarat, India, is a dynamic student marketplace that links students globally with educational institutions and recruitment partners. As an EdTech enterprise, it fosters collaboration within the industry, offering a variety of educational options to learners worldwide.

Founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, MSM Unify emerged as a sustainable, cost-effective solution for educational institutions to navigate marketing and recruitment challenges. It serves as a platform for agents to broaden their services and enhance earnings, and for students to fulfill their aspirations of studying abroad.

The organization boasts a vast pool of qualified learners, an extensive global agent network, and effective multi-channel marketing strategies. It efficiently processes student applications to various higher education institutions through reliable agents, ensuring a high enrollment rate. MSM Unify also streamlines workload management, saving time and resources for its clients.

The company offers direct links to institutions, a comprehensive catalog of 50,000 programs, and attractive commission structures and benefits. Its expanded portfolio includes multi-country student recruitment, a wide array of programs and courses, higher commission rates, exclusive perks, and dedicated support for agents.

MSM Unify provides a comprehensive student marketplace with free, up-to-date resources, intelligent agent matching, and an online community for expert and peer interaction. Powered by MSM’s extensive global network across approximately 78 countries, the company has processed over 145,000 student applications, contributing to campus diversity worldwide.

Additionally, MSM Unify offers various services including examination preparation, accommodation options, study loans, Student GIC, virtual mentorship, internships, international calling services, payment solutions, and insurance.

Kahoot!

Kahoot!, headquartered in Oslo, Norway, is a prominent edtech company known for its interactive, gamified learning experiences. It specializes in live online quizzes, polls, and surveys, offering a user-friendly platform that’s accessible to all ages. This approach not only enhances engagement and knowledge retention but also makes learning fun and effective. 

Widely used by educators, trainers, students, and parents across 200+ countries, Kahoot! supports diverse learning needs. Its pricing plans are varied, catering to educational institutions, teams, and families, with occasional discounts. Primarily, Kahoot! serves as a dynamic educational tool for teachers, corporate trainers, and parents, aiming to make learning exciting and interactive.

Age of Learning

Age of Learning, headquartered in Glendale, California, specializes in digital early-learning resources for children in the U.S. Their unique “Architecture of Understanding™” framework emphasizes building a strong foundation for lifelong learning and academic success. 

The company is known for their education-first approach and a Curriculum Board that ensures learner success. Their platform utilizes learning analytics for adaptive mastery learning. They have conducted over 35 efficacy studies, with their programs like ABCmouse being widely recognized and meeting ESSA standards. Age of Learning offers various pricing plans for families, educators, and institutions, targeting children aged 2-8 to enhance early math and literacy skills.

TPT

Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT), headquartered in New York City, is a premier platform offering a vast array of educator-generated teaching materials. It serves as a crucial resource hub for over 7 million educators, including 85% of PreK-12 teachers in the U.S., providing diverse resources like digital content and instructional tools through its marketplace and Easel by TPT. These resources not only save time for educators but also enhance student engagement and promote knowledge sharing. 

TPT is unique for its extensive catalog of teacher-created content, alignment with educational standards, and fostering a global community for collaboration and professional growth. Its flexible pricing model caters to educators of all levels, making quality teaching resources accessible and affordable. TPT is thus a vital tool for educators seeking to improve their teaching practices and engage with a global network of peers.

Guild

Guild, previously known as Guild Education, is a U.S.-based company offering workforce development and educational services. It stands out for enabling employers to provide tuition-free education, upskilling, and career mobility to their workforce. Guild’s managed service is unique, attracting and retaining top talent by fostering learning partnerships with companies and supporting ambitious working adults. 

The platform’s notable features include tuition-free education, enhancing career mobility, and forming learning partnerships, all contributing to diversity and inclusion. Pricing plans are customized per company, with costs varying based on required services and scale. 

Guild is ideal for businesses aiming to unlock their workforce’s potential, reduce turnover, and encourage internal growth, aligning with companies dedicated to diversity and workforce development.

Coursera

Coursera, a U.S.-based online learning platform, offers a diverse range of courses, specializations, and degree programs. It stands out for its Guided Projects, which provide job-relevant skills in under two hours with expert guidance. The platform features courses from top instructors and universities, incorporating auto-graded assignments, video lectures, and community forums. Upon completion, learners can obtain shareable electronic Course Certificates for a fee. 

Coursera’s offerings include Specializations, Professional Certificates, MasterTrack® Certificates, and full Degrees. Its diverse learning options cater to various needs, from short projects to comprehensive degrees. The platform is known for flexibility, allowing learners to study at their own pace. Coursera Plus offers a subscription model for unlimited access to numerous courses and certificates, making it cost-effective for dedicated learners. 

The platform mainly targets college students and professionals aiming for educational enhancement, career advancement, or field change, providing tailored solutions for personal and professional growth.

Pluralsight

Pluralsight, part of A Cloud Guru, is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and stands out in edtech for cloud skill development. It offers a practical, hands-on learning approach with a vast course library covering major cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and GCP. 

Its unique learn-by-doing method, tailored learning paths, skill assessments, and flexible pricing cater to individuals and organizations at all skill levels. Pluralsight is ideal for IT professionals and tech teams aiming to enhance their cloud skills and capabilities in the technology-driven landscape.

Apex Learning

Apex Learning, a U.S.-based edtech company, specializes in online learning for grades 6-12. It began over 20 years ago with a vision to help rural students prepare for college. Their Virtual School now serves a global student body with a range of academic goals. They offer a wide selection of courses, including AP, Honors, and world languages, backed by experienced, certified teachers who provide personalized guidance. 

Key features include a diverse course catalog, individualized teacher support, accreditation by Cognia®, and NCAA® and University of California approvals. Apex Learning emphasizes flexibility, making it suitable for student-athletes, overseas families, and those with unique learning needs. They provide various pricing plans to accommodate different students, ensuring broad access to quality education.

Elevate K-12

Elevate K-12, a U.S.-based edtech company, specializes in live online classes, serving over 500 school districts, 2,000 schools, and 200,000 students in North America. They address teacher shortages by employing certified, experienced educators who deliver live, interactive lessons, blending in-person and online learning. Their approach emphasizes engaging classroom experiences, quality education, and a supportive learning environment that integrates academic and social-emotional learning. 

Elevate K-12 offers flexible, cost-effective pricing plans tailored to the needs of schools and districts, targeting those facing staffing challenges and seeking to enhance educational quality.

This comprehensive evaluation is significant not just for its insights into each company’s offerings, but also for understanding the broader implications for the future of education. By recognizing the innovations and specializations of these EdTech companies, educational stakeholders can stay ahead in adapting to the evolving demands of the educational sector, ensuring continued excellence and innovation.

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