Out of the several tools being developed and launched everyday in the edtech world, only few tools are able to reach to a position where they get the respect from teachers.
And out of those few tools, here’s one we got the chance to speak about. Quim Sabrià, Co-founder & CEO, EDpuzzle, Inc. found time to discuss the reasons of its success with our Co-Founder, Saransh Garg today.
1. How would you define EDpuzzle in minimum number of words?
Edpuzzle is the YouTube for teachers. A place where you can embed questions, record audio-comments or use only a part of the video. Turn any video into an interactive engaging experience for your students and track their progress with beautiful analytics.
2. Whats the core value proposition. What problem is EDpuzzle solving and for whom?
Edpuzzle gives video-superpowers to teachers. We all know our students are the YouTube generation, in fact more than 70% of the students use YouTube at some point to help them with their homework. What we are offering is an easy platform to use this amazing resource and make a useful lesson.
As a teacher, the main problem with videos is their lack of customization and the impossibility to track if the students’ viewing history. EDpuzzle solves that problem. We enable the teacher to quickly adapt a lesson by trimming the video, recording their voice at certain points and embedding questions to make the lesson more interactive. We automatically track all the students and give beautiful easy to understand analytics that respond two questions: who is watching the video and who didn’t understand the lesson.
As a student, they rarely take ownership of their learning. They have to adapt their learning speed to the rest of the class. Videos are a visual tool that enables self-paced learning experience, students can watch the lesson once or a million times. EDpuzzle adds an extra layer: interactivity. Students have to pay attention and respond the the question the teacher embedded during the video. This enables the teacher to differentiate the instruction for each student and help them in the classroom.
For the school, we include a premium feature that enables collaboration between teachers. Building a video-library for the school increases the use of technology among teachers and empowers any teachers with ready-to-use videos created by other teachers in their department. Schools can have their own YouTube Channel with content curated by their teachers.
3. So how many teachers have you got using EDpuzzle at the moment? What has the market response and demand been?
So far Edpuzzle has teachers in 1 out of 4 schools in the US. Teachers like the fact that EDpuzzle is a free tool that enables them to easily experiment with videos in the classroom with a significant impact. With 0$ investement in marketing, everything has been through word of mouth. We have received thousands of emails from teachers saying EDpuzzle has changed their class. Just a few minutes ago we received an email from a Chemistry teacher saying the number of students that failed her class has reduced 75%. Two weeks ago, we were talking with a Math teacher that said his students were in the top-5% of the state. A month ago, we had a online-call with a ASL teacher saying the students are learning, in the same amount of time, 40% more words through EDpuzzle.
4. What are the expansion/marketing plans for EDpuzzle ?
We have teachers 150 different countries, in some cases we have more than 5% of their teachers. The fact that each teacher can pick their own video in their own language, makes it useful in any country. We will obviously work on some Internationalization plans to adapt the platform to the conditions of teachers in each country. We still have to talk to many teachers and clearly understand their context, before we make a move.
5. How do you think EDpuzzle is different from other tools in the market (in US or globally)? How can it have a positive effect in the classroom, in teaching and learning processes? What are the key competencies required of teachers to use this according to you?
EDpuzzle is super-easy to use. Literally, in just four clicks you can be using a video with your students. You do not need a powerful computer or knowledge in video-editing. With just a few customizations you could be sharing a useful lesson for your students.
The effect in the classroom is clear: differentiation. The student can watch the video at their own speed and the teacher collects useful data. With that information the teacher can help each student and use the time in the classroom more effectively. The effect is significant: students feel that they are in control, but still have the support of their teacher and the teacher doesn’t have to repeat over and over again the same concepts and focus his/her time on what really matters.
Any teacher can use EDpuzzle. You just need one good video and students. The moment you share the lesson with the students you will see the powerful simplicity.
6. According to you, what are some of the biggest challenges of selling in education?
The biggest challenge in education is dealing with so many roles. The final user (student), the person that approves technology (teacher) and the customer (school) are rarely aligned. You need to build a product that is appealing for the teacher, has an impact on the student and that the school sees value to pay a premium.
7. What are your views about the growth of Education Technology industry in general? What difference do you see in the major EdTech markets (US, India, Australia) in comparison to other countries?
The growth of the EdTech market is in the mindset of teachers, principals and parents. They know there is a huge gap between the skills and tools we use in the classroom and what is necessary in the modern society.
If the key roles in education see this change it is easier for companies like EDpuzzle to push useful solutions into the classroom.
I obviously see a difference in countries in terms of infrastructure, investment or organization of the educational system. But I specially see a difference between teachers. Each teacher is responsible of the 30 students in front of him/her. The difference will be the approach to empower each student. Technology is only another tool they have to solve that challenge.
8. As EDpuzzle has gained lot of traction, what would your tip be to the young edtech startups and entrepreneurs?
Listen to your users and build something they love. Nothing else matters until you have that.
