Cabin John M.D. – Early learning leader Learning Without Tears today affirmed that equity and access are at the core of Phonics, Reading, and Me™, its K-3 supplemental literacy program designed to help students learn the skills they need. to become proficient readers. While the content itself provides multicultural access through decodable text and small group activities, Phonics, Reading, and Me also benefits from AI-powered speech recognition technology powered by makeshift platform Labs, the first company in the world to achieve independent certification to identify and mitigate racial bias in AI design. This certification was granted by digital promisea nonprofit organization established by the US Congress in 2011 to develop research, practices, and technologies to advance equity in education, in partnership with the EdTech Equity Project.
“From the beginning, Phonics, reading and me it was designed to be different,” explained Learning Without Tears Executive Director Terry Nealon. “From content and technology to professional learning and support, Phonics, Reading, and Me raises the bar in delivering bias-free and equitable access learning for all students. This is at the heart of Learning Without Tears’ commitment to delivering innovative learning programs.”
Partnering with SoapBox since June 2022, Phonics, Reading, and Me leverages this AI technology to accurately capture data on skill mastery, regardless of children’s race, background, or ethnicity. This data drives personalized pathways within the system – providing scaffolding and stretching opportunities for all students to progress through the skill sequence together. Data from SoapBox’s precise, child-specific speech technology, along with Learning Without Tears activities and proprietary path formulas drive effectiveness and empower young learners with the essential literacy skills they need to access text grade level.
In a press release announcing the certification of SoapBox, Nidhi Hebbar, co-founder of the EdTech Equity Project said, “This (certification) award not only recognizes SoapBox Labs’ commitment to racial equity, but also marks a significant step forward for the EdTech industry.” Soap Box’s voice-enabled technology “sets a high standard for the industry by investing in the critical work required to ensure its AI works well for students of color” and all other students alike, the press release says. .
“Creating AI technology for children to use requires an ‘equity by design’ approach and philosophy,” according to Dr. Amelia Kelly, SoapBox’s CTO. The company’s equity framework ensures that there is a robust framework from which to test, address and mitigate bias in all areas, from data processing and modeling to product design and evaluation activities. .
“Phonics, Reading, and Me incorporates speech recognition technology into the broader Learning Without Tears personalized learning environment, helping to provide teachers with a faster and more accurate assessment of a student’s reading skills,” he said. Nealon. “Within the program, teachers get personalized recommendations for a variety of powerful and engaging content, continually adapting to the needs of each student throughout their learning journeys. And, with our embedded professional learning, we have made it incredibly easy for teachers to implement this program, all with an unprecedented level of multicultural equity and certified mitigation of any racial bias.”
Lessons included in the Phonics, Reading, and Me program focus on rich texts that provide students with decoding and skill practice. All the components: student books, lesson cards, digital learning, reading response journals, sound spelling activities, and formative assessment cards work together to provide ample opportunities for children to read, speak, and write—all vital steps. on the way to a successful reading. .
With Phonics, Reading, and Me, students build skills and knowledge and connect the text to their own diverse experiences. Its print resources link seamlessly with technology to personalize supports and provide actionable insights for educators, reporting growth from the individual student level through district-level growth. Phonics, Reading, and Me provides students with a personalized learning plan that balances instruction and practice, and most importantly provides equity and access for all students.
About Learn Without Tears
Learning Without Tears is a leading early education company that offers a proven and unique approach to teaching and learning, from crucial readiness skills in Pre-K to foundational writing and typing skills, including handwriting, keyboarding, and the cursive letter. Elementary school level programs benefit all students with multi-sensory, developmentally appropriate, and proven practices, and are used by millions of students around the world. Learning Without Tears professional learning programs provide early education experience to thousands of teachers, tutors, and occupational therapists in the United States and around the world. For more information, see www.lwtears.com.
About SoapBox Labs
Since 2013, SoapBox Labs has been developing speech recognition technology that adapts to children’s unique idiosyncrasies and speech patterns. In education, our award-winning speech engine powers Pre-K-12 digital screening, practice, intervention, and assessment tools for literacy, math, language learning, and more. By the end of 2022, SoapBox had powered more than 70 million learning moments—individual pieces of student feedback—through our global education publisher partners. SoapBox’s proprietary speech engine has been built from the ground up to power immersive and unbiased digital experiences for children ages 2-12 of all accents, dialects, and stages of development. SoapBox is a company that prioritizes privacy and fairness by design. In October 2022, SoapBox became the first AI company to be certificate for prioritizing racial equity in AI design by Digital Promise. Learn more at www.soapboxlabs.com
