Blockchain Enabled Credentialing Platform Delivers Student Data Privacy Reinvented

Metro-Atlanta, GA - FocalPoint Education is excited to announce the formal release of “FocalPoint Backpack” for student credentials. “Backpack literally reinvents the student data ecosystem,” says FocalPoint CEO, Kiran Athota. “It not only creates a student-centric model but promotes higher student engagement through micro-credentialing and badges.”

For those unfamiliar with blockchain in a K-12 education context, FocalPoint Chief Strategy Officer, John Randall Dennis and Dr. Wendy Oliver discussed it recently in District Administration digital magazine: Surf the Blockchain Wave Without Fear of Drowning.

“FocalPoint Backpack utterly eliminates data integrity concerns and makes security steady state – not merely a goal,” continues Athota. The Backpack platform provides seamless tracking of student learning progress on an ongoing basis. Districts, universities, and other public and private credentialing bodies control awarding academic credentials, but students own their blockchain data forever to provide for future access to education, prospective employers, and more.

Within a Student Backpack, once applied to the student’s blockchain, no one can tamper or delete a student’s data. If a record is found to have an error, a new, corrected record must replace it by the conferring body. Once the education institution awards transcript data or course data to a student’s backpack, providing access to view the data is student-centered. Students or families have control over who has access to their blockchains, and since it is a distributed ledger there is no single point of failure that would put their data at risk - blockchain technology exceeds FERPA requirements.

“Data supports that badging and micro-credentialing motivates students,” says Dr. Wendy Oliver, author of the Not Your Mama’s Classroom book series. “Intentionally using this motivation strategy clearly improves both engagement and outcomes for students. FocalPoint’s solution offers students all the benefits blockchain provides them, so it’s clearly ‘not just your mama’s transcript’ either!”

By leveraging Ethereum, FocalPoint’s Backpack identifies and verifies whether students meet their assigned objectives. Upon completion of each objective, students earn a personal, non-fungible ERC 721 token and certificate they award to their personal blockchain. “Students adding the certificate to their blockchain is as easy as using the camera on their phone to capture a QR-code,” says Athota. “We have not only tested the solution, we are in a CTE pilot with one of the nation’s largest school districts, and others are inquiring to participate.”

An Info Sheet on the FocalPoint Backpack can be explored at https://www.focalpoint.education/districts, where other district-level solutions are available. For additional information, email hello@focalpoint.education or call +1 (866) 377-4265.

ABOUT DR. WENDY OLIVER

Wendy Oliver, EdD is a consultant who has dedicated her professional life to preparing children, parents, educators and learners of all ages to be competitive in a global economy. E: wendy.oliver@partnersfordigital.com

ABOUT FOCALPOINT EDUCATION

FocalPoint Education is a metro-Atlanta based firm with extensive experience in educational technology development. FocalPoint has successfully deployed bespoke enterprise statewide solutions for Georgia, Rhode Island, Maine and North Dakota, as well as school districts in 14 states. Their innovative solutions include LearningTree (an Adaptive Learning Platform leveraging next-gen technology), LENS (learning analytics with a recommendations engine and data warehousing) and AssessCloud (a solution allowing educators to develop and manage assessments). FocalPoint utilizes xAPI, Learning Record Store (LRS) technology and relevancy algorithms to deliver advanced learning analytics to drive student engagement, match digital resources with targeted student needs and support data-driven, personalized learning. All FocalPoint solutions seamlessly integrate with countless third-party edtech solutions. For more information visit www.focalpoint.education. Video: https://vimeo.com/479411515

Backpack Blockchain Credentialing

Norcross, GA - FocalPoint Education is pleased to announce the release of it’s new blockchain education credentialing solution.

The benefits blockchain bring to student credentialing allows the student to own their credential data forever. Further, it radically reduces administration time for institutions later as they do not need to continually fulfill requests for transcripts and other records.

“Backpack blockchain credentialing redefines education data security”

- Kiran Athota, CEO | FocalPoint Education

Backpack can be used not only for transcripts, but also records of transcripts, attendance, tuition payments - even diplomas. As education adopts blockchain it will no doubt find more applications. “The Backpack blockchain credentialing redefines education data security,” says FocalPoint’s co-founder and CEO, Kiran Athota.

Backpack blockchains make data integrity a steady state - not merely a goal. It provides seamless tracking of student learning progress - from K through higher education. Institutions such as school districts and universities control awarding credentials.

Once awarded, institutions are freed from fulfilling continual records requests, as the students own their blockchain data forever. Students can use Backpack to provide credentials, providing future access to higher ed, prospective employers, etc. as whenever they need.

No one can delete blockchain records on Backpack – the education adopts blockchain it will no doubt find more applications. No one can delete or amend any record in the student’s blockchain. If any errors are found, the awarding institution merely replaces the record with a new one.

“We anticipate all kinds of future uses, including micro-credential badging for students to validate their proficiency in specific skills or additional certifications,” says Athota. “We are already implementing pilots in several significant school districts.”

About FocalPoint Education
FocalPoint is a metro-Atlanta based firm with extensive experience in K12 educational technology development. FocalPoint has successfully deployed statewide solutions for Georgia, Rhode Island, Maine and North Dakota, as well as public school districts in 14 states. FocalPoint’s innovations include LearningTree (an adaptive learning platform), LENS (learning analytics with a recommendations engine and data warehousing) and AssessCloud, a solution that allows educators to develop and manage assessments.

FocalPoint technology leverages xAPI, Learning Record Store (LRS) technology and relevancy algorithms to deliver advanced learning analytics to drive student engagement, match digital resources with targeted student needs and support data-driven, personalized learning - seamlessly integrating with countless third-party edtech solutions. For more information visit www.focalpoint.education.

FocalPoint Joins Forces with Clever to Broaden Options for Public Schools

Norcross, GEORGIA -- Partnership enables school districts using Clever to share roster information & student data with the FocalPointK12 software.

FocalPointK12, an education technology company based in Norcross, GA, recently forged a collaborative relationship with Clever to broaden options for their schools wishing Clever to provide roster and student data into FocalPointK12's personalized learning and student performance management solutions. School districts nation-wide are taking advantage of the Clever platform as a means to share district information to software companies.

“The DNA of FocalPoint is rooted in offering integrated solutions to districts that increase data-interoperability, making disparate systems work seamlessly across vendors.“

- Kiran Athota, CEO | FocalPointK12

Kiran Athota, president and co-founder of FocalPointK12 says, "The DNA of FocalPoint is rooted in offering integrated solutions to districts that increase data-interoperability, making disparate systems work seamlessly across vendors.” School districts are focusing on initiatives to personalize learning and use technology as a means to improve student achievement. “This,” Athota adds, “made partnering with Clever was an easy decision based on the number of districts enjoying Clever’s high quality solution and superb customer service. Knowing that our partnership will make the onboarding and integration of our platform a seamless experience is a win-win for everyone."

“Clever is thrilled to partner with FocalPointK12 to provide personalized learning solutions to student.”

- Ben Adida, Vice President of Engineering | Clever

FocalPointK12 completed the Clever Certification process over the summer and is now their approved vendor. "Clever is thrilled to partner with FocalPointK12 to provide personalized learning solutions to students," says Ben Adida, VP of Engineering. "FocalPointK12 and Clever together work to streamline the management and integration process to ensure teachers spend time focused on their students' success and not software setup."

About Clever
Clever was founded in 2012 by educators and technologists who knew that widely available educational apps could improve both teaching and learning, but that tools to deploy and secure the applications were simply unavailable. Today, half of K-12 schools in the U.S. trust Clever to secure their student data as they adopt learning apps in the classroom. In 2014, Clever won the 'Crystal Clear' award by the Digital Innovation Learning Awards. It is also the trusted provider of the American Federation of Teachers, who uses Clever to secure its own 'Share my Lesson' platform with its teacher members. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Partners, Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, and GSV Capital, Clever currently has 100 employees and is based in San Francisco, California. For more information visit www.clever.com.

About FocalPointK12
FocalPointK12 is a metro-Atlanta based firm with extensive experience in K12 educational technology development. FocalPoint has successfully deployed statewide solutions for Georgia, Rhode Island, Maine and North Dakota, as well as public school districts in 14 states. FocalPoint’s innovations include LearningTree (an adaptive learning platform), LENS (learning analytics with a recommendations engine and data warehousing) and AssessCloud, a solution that allows educators to develop and manage assessments.

FocalPoint technology leverages xAPI, Learning Record Store (LRS) technology and relevancy algorithms to deliver advanced learning analytics to drive student engagement, match digital resources with targeted student needs and support data-driven, personalized learning - seamlessly integrating with countless third-party edtech solutions. For more information visit www.focalpointk12.com.

FocalPoint Partners with Arizona State University

Norcross, GA - FocalPointK12 provides ASU Prep Digital advacned learning analytics and a bundled set of digital tools fully integrated into the Canvas Learning Management System.

Arizona State University's integrated online high school, ASU Prep Digital, agreed to an innovative partnership with FocalPointK12 based on a shared philosophy to reinvent American education by focusing on academic rigor, innovation and personalized student instruction. FocalPointK12’s system uses adaptive algorithms to prioritize personalized learning and educational goal setting. It offers a comprehensive program that empowers technology integration, STEM initiatives and opportunities for students to work at their own pace, while awarding credit at both high school and college levels. This new model will fully integrate high school with university credit, laying the foundation for a more successful college experience.

FocalPointK12's solution includes a learning record store (LRS), which provides ASU Prep Digital’s teachers and Success Coaches with deep analytics and insights that capture the effectiveness, usage and efficacy of student learning. It will highlight the impact technological and academic applications have in improving student outcomes and soft skills. Further, this will help ASU Prep Digital deliver an application that allows students to set and monitor their own goals. It provides teachers and dedicated Success Coaches with the tools needed for timely feedback, coaching and support.

FocalPointK12 also embeds a next-generation online assessment engine, data dashboards with standards mastery and item analysis reports, and a digital content library with open educational resources (OERs) and licensed curriculum and content enabled with the Experience API (xAPI). This facilitates easy access and provides content to teachers and students according to their individual and classroom needs.

Dr. Nathan Buhl, Chief Academic Officer for FocalPointK12 says, "School systems are hungry for digital tools that aren't one-size-fits-all but instead are able to seamlessly co-exist with technologies organizations have already adopted and are comfortable using. Our team is uniquely positioned to connect disparate systems and organize technology in a way that best meets the needs of their stakeholders - giving them what they need while at the same time delivering blended learning products that are user-friendly and lighten the burden on teachers.”

“Bringing FocalPointK12 into our technology blueprint will allow students and instructional staff to make more informed decisions about teaching and learning.”

- Julie Young, CEO | ASU Prep Digital

As the nation’s most innovative school, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings, ASU is leading the way to deliver truly personalized learning experiences. ASU’s Prep Digital prepares students for success in college and career. FocalPointK12 has been working with Julie Young, CEO of ASU Prep Digital, and her team since May of 2017. Ms. Young says, "Bringing FocalPointK12 into our technology blueprint will allow students and instructional staff to make more informed decisions about teaching and learning. Great software solutions help us see patterns that would be difficult to observe otherwise, and we are excited to work with FocalPointk12 to create optimal learning environments for our students."

About FocalPointK12
FocalPointK12 is a metro-Atlanta based firm with extensive experience in K12 educational technology development. FocalPoint has successfully deployed statewide solutions for Georgia, Rhode Island, Maine and North Dakota, as well as public school districts in 14 states. FocalPoint’s innovations include LearningTree (an adaptive learning platform), LENS (learning analytics with a recommendations engine and data warehousing) and AssessCloud, a solution that allows educators to develop and manage assessments.

FocalPoint technology leverages xAPI, Learning Record Store (LRS) technology and relevancy algorithms to deliver advanced learning analytics to drive student engagement, match digital resources with targeted student needs and support data-driven, personalized learning - seamlessly integrating with countless third-party edtech solutions. For more information visit www.focalpointk12.com.