The new Activate line of products focuses on classroom instruction, group learning, and collaboration
(TUALATIN, Oregon) June 22, 2017 — Lightspeed, a Learning Company, today unveiled its new logo and corporate identity, along with its new Activate instructional audio and video platform. Lightspeed is expanding its focus to helping educators effectively use instructional audio and video systems to enhance the learning environment and improve student achievement in the areas of whole-classroom instruction, group learning, and collaboration.
“This has been an evolution over the past eight years, and we now have the products, the knowledge, and the team to back up our claims that we can help with instruction,” explained David Solomon, the executive vice president and general manager of Lightspeed. “The most important thing we want people to understand is that we are a learning company. As our vision has evolved, we have engaged with the best practices in the area of instruction and are focused on what actually goes on in the classroom.”
As part of the rebranding, Lightspeed products are now split into three pillars: Engage, Activate, and Collaborate. Whole Classroom tools include Lightspeed’s Access Technology products: Redcat Access, Topcat Access, and 955 Access.
The new Activate product line includes the Activate Station charging and control center, portable two-way audio pods the size of a glasses case that double as handheld microphones, and the Activate App. “Collaborative learning, student-led learning, project-based learning, and peer learning have far better results compared to the teacher as the sage on the stage,” said Solomon. “This new line of products focuses on small-group instruction. A pod sits with each group so teachers can quietly listen, giving them direct insight into student conversations happening around the room. This allows them to activate student learning and make informed decisions about when to intervene and when to let students explore topics for themselves.”
The new Activate App directly aligns with Lightspeed’s third pillar, Collaborate. Using an iOS or Android device, educators can capture and share audio and video in the classroom, providing authentic evidence of student learning as well as a coaching resource for teachers. Utilizing the device’s camera, the Activate App syncs up high quality audio from the microphone or student pods, overcoming the inability of the device to capture high-quality audio beyond a few inches of its built-in microphone. Teachers can then easily share these videos with coaches and peers for feedback and professional development.
Solomon added, “We spent many years evangelizing classroom audio because it was our mission, and research proves it was something educators and students needed to improve education. While that is still foundational for our company, we are looking more at aligning what we do with the vision of school leaders, what they care about, and understanding how we can develop products that help teachers accomplish their goals in the classroom.”
For more information on Lightspeed, please visit Lightspeed-tek.com.
About Lightspeed, a Learning Company
Established in 1990, Lightspeed is dedicated to making a remarkable difference for teachers and students by creating access to powerful in-the-moment insights into the learning process. We create access to the teacher’s voice for all students in the classroom that isn’t there for them without our solutions. We also provide access to authentic student conversations and the learning process that isn’t available to the teacher in any other way. At our very core, we aspire to improve the lives of those we touch with our research, products, service, and partnerships.
Lightspeed products focus on three distinct areas: Engage, Activate, and Collaborate. Lightspeed’s Access Technology products are wireless, easy to use, and designed to engage the whole classroom by providing clear, low-volume, highly intelligible sound that is evenly distributed throughout the classroom. The Activate product line is geared towards activating small-group instruction, allowing teachers to listen and assess where to best invest their time, gaining insights and observations without interfering. The Activate App helps educators collaborate and share ideas by capturing high-quality video and audio recordings of authentic classroom interactions. Teachers can store and share these videos as evidence of learning, for self-reflection, for coaching and development, to model a lesson for teammates, and much more. For more information about Lightspeed’s instructional audio products, visit Lightspeed-tek.com.
As part of the rebranding, Lightspeed products are now split into three pillars: Engage, Activate, and Collaborate. Whole Classroom tools include Lightspeed’s Access Technology products: Redcat Access, Topcat Access, and 955 Access.
The new Activate product line includes the Activate Station charging and control center, portable two-way audio pods the size of a glasses case that double as handheld microphones, and the Activate App. “Collaborative learning, student-led learning, project-based learning, and peer learning have far better results compared to the teacher as the sage on the stage,” said Solomon. “This new line of products focuses on small-group instruction. A pod sits with each group so teachers can quietly listen, giving them direct insight into student conversations happening around the room. This allows them to activate student learning and make informed decisions about when to intervene and when to let students explore topics for themselves.”
The new Activate App directly aligns with Lightspeed’s third pillar, Collaborate. Using an iOS or Android device, educators can capture and share audio and video in the classroom, providing authentic evidence of student learning as well as a coaching resource for teachers. Utilizing the device’s camera, the Activate App syncs up high quality audio from the microphone or student pods, overcoming the inability of the device to capture high-quality audio beyond a few inches of its built-in microphone. Teachers can then easily share these videos with coaches and peers for feedback and professional development.
Solomon added, “We spent many years evangelizing classroom audio because it was our mission, and research proves it was something educators and students needed to improve education. While that is still foundational for our company, we are looking more at aligning what we do with the vision of school leaders, what they care about, and understanding how we can develop products that help teachers accomplish their goals in the classroom.”
For more information on Lightspeed, please visit Lightspeed-tek.com.
About Lightspeed, a Learning Company
Established in 1990, Lightspeed is dedicated to making a remarkable difference for teachers and students by creating access to powerful in-the-moment insights into the learning process. We create access to the teacher’s voice for all students in the classroom that isn’t there for them without our solutions. We also provide access to authentic student conversations and the learning process that isn’t available to the teacher in any other way. At our very core, we aspire to improve the lives of those we touch with our research, products, service, and partnerships.
Lightspeed products focus on three distinct areas: Engage, Activate, and Collaborate. Lightspeed’s Access Technology products are wireless, easy to use, and designed to engage the whole classroom by providing clear, low-volume, highly intelligible sound that is evenly distributed throughout the classroom. The Activate product line is geared towards activating small-group instruction, allowing teachers to listen and assess where to best invest their time, gaining insights and observations without interfering. The Activate App helps educators collaborate and share ideas by capturing high-quality video and audio recordings of authentic classroom interactions. Teachers can store and share these videos as evidence of learning, for self-reflection, for coaching and development, to model a lesson for teammates, and much more. For more information about Lightspeed’s instructional audio products, visit Lightspeed-tek.com.
