Seesaw’s Learning Loop: Connecting Teachers, Students, and Families with Matt Given
Nov 25, 2024
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Matt Given, the CEO of Seesaw and an edtech leader with over 20 years of experience, dives into how Seesaw creates a unique 'learning loop' connecting teachers, students, and families. He discusses the platform's evolution from a simple communication tool to a robust learning experience, especially after its COVID-19 transformation. Highlighting the integration of AI, he reveals how it enhances teacher workflows while keeping education human-centered. Matt also emphasizes the importance of inclusive design and feedback in shaping effective learning tools.
Seesaw enhances teacher workflows and classroom outcomes by providing integrated tools that facilitate teacher-student-parent collaboration and communication.
The platform's focus on universal design enables early learners to express their understanding creatively through multimodal learning formats, catering to diverse educational needs.
Deep dives
Enhancing Teacher Workflows
The focus on improving teacher workflows is a key aspect of Seesaw's mission, as highlighted by the consistently high approval ratings from educators. The platform is driven by a desire to streamline teachers' daily tasks, enabling them to manage their classrooms more effectively. By integrating comprehensive tools that support teacher-student-parent interactions, Seesaw fosters a collaborative learning environment that ultimately enhances educational outcomes. This commitment is reflected in features that facilitate effortless communication and resource sharing, ensuring that teachers feel supported in their roles.
Early Learning and Technology Adaptation
Seesaw caters specifically to early learners, emphasizing the unique characteristics and needs of students in pre-K to fifth grade. Unlike older students, these learners are not yet proficient in reading, which necessitates a user-friendly and visually appealing interface that supports multimodal learning. The platform empowers younger students to showcase their learning through various formats like audio and video, enabling them to express their understanding creatively. This approach not only supports developmental appropriateness but also caters to diverse learning populations, including those with developmental challenges.
Evolving Role of the Learning Experience Platform
The evolution of Seesaw from a communication tool to a comprehensive learning experience platform illustrates its adaptability in the edtech landscape. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Seesaw experienced significant growth as it provided essential support for remote learning, which highlighted the necessity of maintaining connections between teachers, students, and parents. Post-pandemic, the platform aims to reinforce its value in the classroom by incorporating features that align with district needs while supporting educators and students alike. By expanding its curriculum offerings and focusing on universal design principles, Seesaw positions itself as an indispensable resource for K-5 education.
The Impact of Community and Feedback
Seesaw's extensive community of over 100,000 educator ambassadors plays a crucial role in shaping the platform through their feedback and insights. This robust network allows the Seesaw team to gather real-time information on user experiences, ensuring that updates and new features align with the actual needs of teachers in the classroom. By fostering a culture of collaboration and open communication, Seesaw can adapt efficiently to the evolving demands of educators and continuously improve user satisfaction. This commitment to incorporating teacher perspectives into its development cycle distinguishes Seesaw in the competitive edtech market.
Matt Given is an experienced education technology leader and the CEO of Seesaw, a groundbreaking learning experience platform designed for PreK-5 students. With over 20 years of experience in education and edtech leadership, Matt has held executive roles at Kaplan, Catapult Learning, and EdisonLearning. Known for his expertise in universal design for learning and his ability to bridge the gap between home and classroom, Matt is a driving force behind Seesaw's mission to create accessible and engaging learning tools.
💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How Seesaw connects teachers, students, parents, and administrators through its unique “learning loop.”
The evolution of Seesaw from a communication tool to a robust learning experience platform.
How AI enhances teacher workflows on Seesaw while keeping the focus on human-centered learning.
The role of inclusive design and feedback from over 100,000 teacher ambassadors in shaping Seesaw’s products.
The future of edtech tools in streamlining resources and fostering human connections in classrooms.
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:00:22] Streamlining teacher workflows and improving classroom outcomes with Seesaw. [00:03:13] Reflections on 25 years in edtech and the evolution of digital learning tools. [00:07:16] Universal design for pre-readers and special populations. [00:11:38] Seesaw’s COVID-19 transformation and post-pandemic innovations. [00:16:45] Digital portfolios tracking student progress over time. [00:29:20] Teacher ambassadors shaping product development with real-world feedback. [00:36:14] Cautiously integrating AI for fluency assessments and translation.
This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.
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