Apple has acquired education analytic startup LearnSprout. The company develops software to be used by educators to track student performance and other metrics. It is believed Apple will make use of the company’s technology to develop classroom tools for use with iPads and other Apple products in the classroom.
Apple gave its usual statement/non-statement about the acquisition: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” said Colin Johnson, a spokesman for Apple.
LearnSprout’s website says the company’s software is already being used in over 2,500 schools across the United States. It tracks all student grades in a school, allowing teachers and administrators to monitor students’ performance, and target those that may need additional attention. The San Francisco-based startup had raised more than $4 million from investors in the past.
Apple has recently made an increased effort to bolster its waining presence in the classroom. Most recently, the company released a beta of iOS 9.3, which offers a number of new education-focused tools. Features include the ability for one iPad to be shared by a number of students, a dedicated “Classroom” app that aids teachers in guiding their students through lessons, new Apple ID creation and management options for educators, and an Apple School Manager app for managing student accounts and courses.
