Within the first half of 2018, the Educational Technology (Edtech) industry received over $730 million in investment, with the market expected to continue growing. Yet, lower income schools may suffer a disadvantage due to high costs of the educational technology or lack of proper understanding on how to use the technology. Verizon’s new Innovative Learning 5G EdTech Challenge could help solve this problem.
Open to non-profit organizations, university faculty, researchers, and students, applicants are expected to offer a product that uses 5G technology to improve education in middle school classrooms. The product should address challenges regarding student readiness and engagement, teacher training, or personalized support for students with special learning needs.
5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology, seen as a necessity by Verizon, who has developed the first commercial 5G based product. The company believes 5G can make businesses more efficient and data more accessible through quicker downloads and an overall more powerful network. The Learning Challenge emphasizes the importance of using advanced technology to make a greater social impact.
Verizon will choose ten winners, each of whom will receive $100,000 in the form of a grant and move onto the 5G EdTech Challenge Product Accelerator program, a 5-month program, where teams refine and perfect their product. Applications are due by November 30th, 2018 and winners will be announced by February of 2019.
