National Science Foundation, Washington D.C. – VITAL Prize Award Ceremony with SS4Kids
National Science Foundation Awards SS4Kids $220K!
We are beyond thrilled to announce that our hard work has been recognized by the National Science Foundation! On Thursday, February 29, 2024, we accepted the Second Place award in the Other Innovations in Translational Learning Technologies category of the VITAL Prize Challenge. This category is for advancing novel concepts and technologies for diverse communities of K-12 student learners and teachers.
Over the last year, our Sing and Speak 4 Kids team has been hard at work competing with other brilliant companies to win VITAL Prize money that would help grow and develop our game, SS4Kids. Through this challenge, we “demonstrated a commitment to improving the experiences of those who have been historically and systematically excluded from learning and education systems, and have throughly demonstrated how our use of participatory and evidence-based design has contributed to progress.
March 2023
We submitted our application with 300 other applicants.
April 2023
Selected with 100 other applicants to participate The Discovery Round.
July 2023
Selected with 54 other applicants to participate in The Semi-Final Round and received $20,000.
November 2023
Selected with 18 other applicants as finalists to participate in the Final Round and received $50,000.
February 2024
Chosen as Second Place Award in our category and received $150,000 in research and development funding to improve the experiences of students who have been historically and systematically excluded from learning and education systems.
The VITAL Prize Challenge, managed by Digital Promise, has provided funding, resources, and capacity-building support for cross-sector teams to bring emerging discoveries to educational and learning contexts.
The VITAL Prize Challenge was designed to develop and support early-stage concepts and ideas based on equitable, innovative uses of technology and research across three tracks: Rapid and Continuous Learning Assessment, Mathematical Literacy to Promote a Future STEM Workforce, and Other Innovations in Translational Learning Technologies.
Participating teams received in-kind training and research and development (R&D) support through three competitive rounds of programming. At the conclusion of the final round, teams presented their Minimum Viable Prototype in live pitch sessions for the opportunity to receive up to $320,000 in award money to continue refining their prototypes for impact across the education marketplace.
The National Science Foundation is excited to honor the Challenge winners across each of the three tracks.
“These innovations will have a transformational impact on the learning landscape, catalyzing a new generation of emerging technologies and innovations for K-12 learning for all learners all across the U.S.,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. “The award-winning teams were selected through a rigorous, multistage process, with a focus on solutions that demonstrate strong potential for market adoption and impact among those who have traditionally been left out of STEM fields.”
“We are thrilled with the outcome of the VITAL Prize Challenge,” said Kathryn Petrillo-Smith, vice president and chief operating officer of the global education nonprofit Digital Promise, which managed the challenge for NSF. “Over the course of this rigorous competition, the entrants worked with a team of mentors to develop powerful, research-based learning technologies that will help each student learn. We are excited to see these emerging technologies enter the market and help learners on their path to well-being, agency and economic security. We believe this novel approach to translation can also serve as a model in other settings.”
About National Science Foundation (NSF)
“The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories.”
About Digital Promise
“Digital Promise is a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner. We work with educators, researchers, technology leaders, and communities to design, investigate, and scale innovations that support learners, especially those who’ve been historically and systematically excluded. The U.S. National Science Foundation engaged Digital Promise to design and manage the VITAL Prize Challenge.”
Funded By
Appreciations
We have many to thank for this wonderful opportunity.
First, we’d like to thank our hard working team and advisors who believed in us from the start and worked tirelessly to make our product great.
Next, we thank the National Science Foundation, Digital Promise, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Schmidt Futures, and the Walton Family Foundation who all partnered together to make this $6 million prize challenge possible.
Special thanks to our team:
- David Sonnenschein (CEO) and Shelley Cox (Advisor), directly involved in our VITAL projects and presentations;
- Annie Goeke (CMO), and Katelyn Miller (Marketing/Outreach), developed research and marketing;
- Rob Arbittier (CTO) and Daniel Dye (IT Developer), updated program tech;
- Hayoung Lim, PhD, (Director of Science), researched prototype for new features;
- Team of interns, research and development.
Finally, we thank all the original 100 participants who challenged us to think outside the box in order to stand out and accomplish positive outcomes from the Digital Promise training and mentorship.
The 9 Winners
Rapid and Continuous Learning Assessment Winners
First Place: Dreami
Dreami powers hyper-personalized career discovery for youth via data-driven and scalable mentorship programs. Dreami uses the power of machine learning, and powerful analytics to design, match, train and track high-quality mentorship programs for youth. Dreami bridges the gap to learn, earn and grow equitably.
Second Place: Junior Scientist Maker Program
The Junior Scientist Maker Program is a transformative educational platform that aims to be the premier introduction to the scientific method for children aged six and up, fostering scientific literacy and instilling lifelong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It uses a unique multidisciplinary approach, blending engaging narrative media, an accessible, affordable and scalable inquiry-based curriculum, and hands-on local citizen science projects and research.
Third Place: FrenalyticsEDU
Inspired by CEO Matt Giovanniello’s grandmother who suffered a severe stroke, FrenalyticsEDU is a patented, personalized learning and data collection software that delivers individualized learning sessions that reinforce academic concepts and life skills for students of all abilities, and enables special education and English-language learner teachers to auto-collect and easily track progress-monitoring data.
Mathematical Literacy to Promote a Future STEM Workforce Winners
First Place: trubel&co
trubel&co (pronounced “trouble and co”) champions underserved youth to tackle complex societal challenges using equitable data analytics, responsible technology and inclusive design. Their flagship program, Mapping Justice, teaches high school youth to design geospatial tools to tackle community-based challenges for social change.
Second Place: Kasi Math
Kasi Math, Alchemie’s multisensory learning system, provides students with a tactile alternative to a mouse or a touch screen for digital interactives. Using a nonproprietary webcam installed on computer equipment already owned by schools, the Kasi system brings an independent and inclusive method for students who are blind or have low vision to learn in today’s classrooms and communicate with their sighted peers and instructors.
Third Place: Tyto Online
Tyto Online, a game-based learning platform, empowers diverse learners with STEM by setting up problem-based learning in a video game. Students experience the “why” behind these subjects, set in a meaningful context and with an open, visual, inquiry-based approach that research shows can powerfully improve math and science understanding.
Other Innovations in Translational Learning Technologies Winners
First Place: Dissect 360 Brain Anatomy in 3D
With Dissect 360, students can learn about the brain through a full 360-degree engagement. Games are designed to foster mastery of brain anatomy using repeated practice, three-dimensional spatial orientation, and recall from memory.
Second Place: Sing and Speak 4 Kids
Sing and Speak 4 Kids (SS4Kids) is an evidence-based music online program based on a clinically tested neurologic music therapy that stimulates speech-language development in children ages 18 months to eight years. The program is specifically designed for those with developmental disabilities and English-language learners. Facilitated by a teacher or parent, in person or virtually, SS4Kids offers fun learning sessions with embedded assessment tools, data tracking and reporting, and encourages social communication and social-emotional learning.
Third Place: Social Optics
Social Optics is a web-based program that supports students, parents and educators in developing a set of social critical thinking lenses, focusing on helping neurodivergent students understand, navigate and gain confidence in their social skills and interpersonal communication styles to build positive relationships and well-being.
Award Funding for Next Steps
VITAL Prize Funding $6 million of funds was given out in prize money. We received $220,000 total and plan to do the following:
- New Game Features
- Advanced User Training & Support
- Hybrid Web and Offline App
- Expand Market Research and Development
