We couldn't be more thrilled to announce that Beanstack is a finalist for The EdTech 2023 Cool Tools Award for best Literacy/Reading Solution. The EdTech Awards finalists and winners feature the best and brightest in edtech with the annual program shining a spotlight on cool tools, inspiring leaders, and innovative trendsetter’s across the K-12, higher education, and skills and workforce sectors.
Our mission is to inspire a love of reading for all students, regardless of reading levels, disabilities, or access to resources. We want to level the playing field for all readers and provide libraries, schools, educators, and families with a platform that motivates sustained reading habits.
“Research shows that reading for fun positively impacts nearly every part of a student's personal and professional development,” product director Kelly Hiser said. “When students are reading, they're also improving their writing ability, empathy, behavioral outcomes, and social skills, no matter the grade level. We’re all about literacy outcomes, and that starts with getting students to read more.”
Instead of a quiz-based approach, Beanstack uses competition, recognition, and proven gamification principles to motivate students to read and grow a school district’s reading culture. Positive reading outcomes have been seen across the country, like this elementary school in Texas who increased standardized test scores by 60%.
“This nomination recognizes our commitment to readers of all ages and abilities,” said cofounder and CEO Felix Brandon Lloyd. “I couldn’t be more proud of our entire team for their work researching, testing, and implementing features that reach new heights in reading motivation.”
This year’s finalists and winners were narrowed from the larger field and judged based on various criteria, including: pedagogical workability, efficacy and results, support, clarity, value and potential. Past winners include Adobe, Claned, Soundtrap, Blackboard, Discovery Education, DreamBox, Edthena, Promethean, Scholastic, SMART Technologies, zSpace, and more.
The EdTech Awards is the world's largest award program dedicated to edtech and recognizes outstanding contributions in transforming education through technology to enrich the lives of learners everywhere. Finalists are determined by industry experts, and winners were announced on March 29, 2023.