About & Reflections

Meet Kendal

Kendal is an emerging EdTech venture analyst with experience in technologies for conservation, outdoor environmental education, workplace training and development, and is learning more about K-12 classrooms and how EdTech can create more engaging and meaningful connections with content.

This digital analyst report on EdTech company Newsela comes from a curiosity about how content is developed for diverse learners, and an understanding that youth today need more exposure to relevant, real-life content that matters and that will support the next generation of global civics in becoming proficient in digital media literacies.

Final Reflections

After completing the CUBE Analysis offered through ETEC 522, Newsela has been clearly identified as a successful venture in the classrooms of today. I found this process of analysis to be very helpful in identifying the strengths of the organization and where there may be room to grow or improve. As Newsela has already garnered a lot of attention and support (reaching over 42 million people across 26 countries), and has market opportunities to grow, I can confidently say this would be a solid investment in the EdTech space.

After digging deeper into this company, I do find that I am left with more questions about equity and accessibility. Newsela markets itself as accessible but does have a pricing scale that could be considered inhibitive, potentially damaging its public image. Without district or state backing, many educators will not be able to take full advantage of Newsela's offerings, which could be viewed as indirectly backing the participation gap in education⁹.

Regardless of these concerns, Newsela is a solid choice for investment, and will likely be a known name in the EdTech landscape for decades to come.