Alexa Announcements at ISTE 2019

This week, the Amazon Web Services (AWS) team is at the 2019 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ISTE supports educators as they rethink the status quo and use technology to drive good practice. At the event, ACT, Frontline Education, and Kahoot! are rolling out Alexa Skills that make it possible for customers to engage with their products through Alexa.

Now, students can use Alexa to prepare for the ACT or play trivia games to increase their knowledge. Administrators can ask Alexa for critical data needed to make important decisions.

Learn more about each of these new skills and come visit these customers at ISTE to check it out for yourself.

Supporting Students as They Prepare for the ACT

ACT, the nonprofit organization best known for its authority in assessment and research, announced that their new Alexa skill to help high school students prepare for and take the ACT will be available later this year. High-stakes testing for college can be stressful, but ACT’s new Alexa skill helps guide students through the process. From test-taking tips and free personalized practice to reminders about important dates and information on what materials you are allowed to bring on test day, ACT’s Alexa skill helps students navigate the process from beginning to end. Read more about ACT’s Skill here or come try the skill out at the ACT’s ISTE booth #963.

Helping Administrators Make Quick and Informed Decisions

School administration software provider, Frontline Education announced that their Alexa skill will be available for general use in the fall of 2019. Over the past year, Frontline engaged more than 40 school districts in a successful pilot launch. Administrators were able to test Frontline’s Alexa skill and get real-time updates on key performance indicators. This fall, Frontline Education’s platform clients will be able to use any Alexa-enabled device to get on-demand access to critical data and actionable insights – just by using their voice. To learn more about Frontline Education’s Alexa skill, swing by their booth #109.

Making Learning Fun

The popular learning platform Kahoot! is previewing their new Alexa skill at ISTE. Later this year, students will be able to use Alexa at home to play Kahoot! quizzes, review important concepts, and master subjects. Kahoot!’s game-based learning platform has been widely adopted throughout the world with one billion players in 2018 alone and now students will be able to answer trivia at home without a screen. Users simply ask, “Alexa, open Kahoot!” and they’ll be able to play Kahoot! by themselves or with family and friends. Want to try it out for yourself? Drop by the Kahoot! booth #1300.

Want to know more about how EdTechs are using Alexa to deepen engagement, improve student learning, and make life easier for teachers and administrators? Visit aws.amazon.com/education/alexa-edu/