The following are highlights of successful ED/IES Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects. All were translated from innovative ideas into commercial products that address education problems. Please visit each page for complete stories.
These products:
- have been disseminated or commercialized in the private marketplace,
- are in use by students and teachers on a widespread basis, and
- have a viable mechanism in place to enable continued commercial success.
As well, many of these firms and their research partners authored peer-reviewed publications documenting the research conducted in the development and validation of the product, and many earned industry awards and recognition for innovation. As more projects reach commercialization, publish research, and win industry awards, their success stories will be added to this collection.
Agile Mind's core product—a comprehensive on-line instructional platform—supports student engagement and achievement in middle- and high-school mathematics and science.
A2i supports Kindergarten to Grade 3 students to read at or above grade level, by the end of Grade 3.
Moby.Read® is a fully automated Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) assessment for students in Kindergarten to Grade 5.
Early Reading Skills Builder is blended reading curriculum for students with intellectual disability and/or autism.
Common Ground Scholar (CGScholar) is a learning management system that harnesses digital media to meet goals in teaching, learning, and assessment.
The computer-adaptive dynamic assessment (CPAA) for early childhood covers concepts in early literacy and mathematics for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 3.
In previous R&D, the developers created codeSpark Academy, a game that employs a visual and block-based approach with puzzles to teach coding skills to students ages 5 to 9 years old.
ECO is a multi-player ecology game designed to prepare middle and high school students to be environmentally literate and capable citizens.
Up From the Dust is a web-based role-playing game that immerses 5th through 9th grade students in the history of the Great Depression.
FabMaker Studio is a web-based design and fabrication tool that allows students from kindergarten to 8th grade to design, invent, and build their own geometric constructions and working machines.
Well-designed learning games are promising tools for engaging and motivating students.
FluidMath is a software product designed for teaching and learning basic algebra.
Future Engineers is an online, multi-challenge platform for administering educational contests and challenges in or outside of K–12 classrooms.
HandHold Adaptive® creates smartphone and tablet applications for special education.
Happy Atoms is a physical molecular "ball and stick" modeling set and interactive digital app that provides a modern alternative to old-fashioned kits used to teach bonding.
HoloLAB Champions is an immersive virtual reality (VR) chemistry lab game show experience designed to improve students' skills with lab equipment and procedures and learning standards-aligned chemistry content.
Inq-ITS (Inquiry Intelligent Tutoring System) virtual labs for science are designed for students in grades 4 through 10 to practice and learn the competencies scientists use.
Tutoring with the Lightning Squad is a mixed online and face-to-face multimedia intervention designed for struggling readers in grades 1 to 3.
EMPIRES is a collaborative blended online and in-person game for students in middle school to learn standards-aligned mathematics within an engaging context.
The Mindset Works® SchoolKit is a web-based multimedia intervention to strengthen student success through teaching a growth mindset—the understanding that ability develops with effort and learning.
NimbleTools was a universally designed test delivery system consisting of hardware and software that embedded accommodation tools within standard versions of assessment to meet the specific needs of students with disabilities.
In prior research and development supported by NSF SBIR, the project team developed PocketLab, a small wireless sensor that students use to collect and transmit scientific data using Bluetooth to a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Presence (formerly Presence Learning) is a provider of teletherapy solutions for children with diverse needs.
Readorium is a web-based intervention that supports students in grade 3 to 8 as they read nonfiction scientific texts.
Sokikom is a web-based program that engages students in grades 1 to 6 in guided, discovery-based, situated learning games.
Speak Agent accelerates K–8 students' acquisition of STEM concept knowledge and STEM communication skills through interactive and engaging activities that apply math and science practices.
IRIS Connect is a video-based professional development tool that supports teachers to reflect on, analyze, and share their practice.
Teachley: Operations is a suite of math game applications (apps) that support students' fact fluency and promote math strategy development.
In prior research and development supported by NSF SBIR and other private funding sources, the project team developed Woot Math, a technology delivered intervention with interactive games and activities for pre-algebra readiness.
Zoo U is a web-based, social skills learning game for students in grades 2 to 4.