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PrepMe online test-prep firm acquired by Hobsons division

PrepMe Inc., an online test-preparation startup, has been sold to Naviance, a division of Cincinnati-based education technology provider Hobsons Inc.

Chicago-based PrepMe, founded in 2005 by entrepreneur Karan Goel, quickly grew to be one of the largest online test-prep companies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mr. Goel, a Cincinnati native who earned an economics degree and MBA from the University of Chicago, stepped down last week as CEO.

The business, which helps students prepare for SAT, ACT and PSAT exams, will be run by Eva Prokop, PrepMe’s president who had been recruited recently from Princeton Review Inc. Naviance plans to use PrepMe to create personalized study plans for students.

(Full Story: PrepMe online test-prep firm acquired by Hobsons division)

Kaplan’s SAT On-Demand Course Wins 2011 EDDIE Award

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kaplan Test Prep’s SAT On Demand course has been recognized as the top high school “Test Tool Website” in ComputED’s 2011 Education Software Review Awards (EDDIE Awards). The EDDIE Awards, now in its 16th year, recognize innovative programs and websites that augment classroom curriculum and improve teacher productivity, providing parents and teachers with the technology to foster educational excellence. Winners are selected from around the world and judged on academic content, potential for broad classroom use, technical merit, subject approach and management system.

(Full Story: Kaplan’s SAT On-Demand Course Wins 2011 EDDIE Award)

Grockit Raises Money for Online Test Prep – NYTimes.com

On Monday, Grockit announced that it raised $7 million in venture capital, for a total of $24 million, from GSV Capital and NewSchools Venture Fund, which invests philanthropic donations in education businesses and nonprofit organizations.

(Full Story: Grockit Raises Money for Online Test Prep – NYTimes.com)

BenchPrep bets on textbooks (and more) beyond the iPad | VentureBeat

“Our definition of content is much broader than the textbook.” Even though most of BenchPrep’s initial content involves preparation material for standardized tests like the SAT and GRE, Rangnekar said it will eventually include a broad spectrum of books, presentations, videos, and more. Second, the company isn’t just focused on the iPad — its apps will eventually be available on the iPhone, Android, iPad, and Web browser.

(Full Story: BenchPrep bets on textbooks (and more) beyond the iPad | VentureBeat)

VLinks Media – Where Mobile Learning Happens – Home

Focused on keeping education a step ahead of the curve. Mobile is a key component of our expertise: we build products that deliver an interactive experience to students anywhere they carry a phone.  

(Full Story: VLinks Media – Where Mobile Learning Happens – Home)

Test-prep startup Grockit teams with Charter to gamify school

The KIPP-Grockit partnership will yield a private network for SAT and ACT test prep for use by students and teachers in three of KIPP’s largest schools in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Grockit’s adaptive learning platform is designed to personalize instruction based on each user’s strengths, weaknesses and how they interact with material. The network will also come with a live, online instructor support.

(Full Story: Test-prep startup Grockit teams with Charter to gamify school)

New and Better Apps Help Students Study for SAT – NYTimes.com

Several to consider on this front include Princeton Review’s SAT Score Quest for iPad (free) and SAT Vocab Challenge for iPhone ($5), Kaplan SAT Flashcubes (free) and SAT Connect ($10 for Apple). For math, Adapster ($10 on Apple) is designed nicely.

(Full Story: New and Better Apps Help Students Study for SAT – NYTimes.com)

Grockit hires strategy exec as ed-tech turfwar heats up

For the time being, Grockit is firmly in control of the social learning territory. Although the non-profit Khan Academy uses some social gaming techniques like points and badges, it doesn’t provide simultaneous drilling and chat the way Grockit does. Knewton has made no move to launch social learning tools. However, test-prep has long been a theater of competition between Knewton and Grockit, and both sides are amassing arms on another front: the white-label learning platform.

(Full Story: Grockit hires strategy exec as ed-tech turfwar heats up)

Kaplan Releases SAT Prep Game App for iPhone and iPad

Test prep giant Kaplan and game maker Aspyr Media have adapted their SAT test prep video game, FutureU, for iPhone and iPad devices.

The free FutureU SAT study game — which includes four $1.99 in-app premium upgrades for additional levels — is now available as an iOS application to students looking for a mobile interactive way to prepare for the SATs.
(Link: Kaplan Releases SAT Prep Game App for iPhone and iPad)

SAT Test Prep as a Union Perk – The Choice Blog – NYTimes.com

Princeton Review, the test-prep giant, announced on Monday that it was developing a suite of “college readiness educational services” that would be accessible to the families of more than 13 million union members who participate in a benefits plan of the A.F.L.-C.I.O.
(Link: SAT Test Prep as a Union Perk – The Choice Blog – NYTimes.com)

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