School Path to offer schools web tools and content on a wireless device

Internet Strategies for Education Markets: The Heller Report, Jan, 2001

River Logic (Atlanta, GA, www.riverlogic.com) and frontpath, inc (Santa Clara, CA, www.frontpath.com) have formed a strategic alliance to offer an education-specific information appliance with web-based learning tools and content. The offering, called School Path, uses wireless Internet access to connect K-12 students and teachers with specialized services on a device called ProGear. Pilots, scheduled to begin in classrooms at three schools in February, will help define the offering and revenue models for an anticipated launch in the fall of 2001. The company is piloting with schools that have an existing wireless infrastructure.

River Logic develops proprietary network applications that focus on decision support, e-learning and e-commerce. They work with a wide range of vertical markets such as power generation and lumber and paper, but K-12 is a strong component of their business. Adam Berg, director of product management, explains that River Logic's education mission to date has been to figure out how to take vast academic resources and make them useful in the classroom.

The company, has, for example developed a suite of products for EBSCO Publishing called Web4Classroom, (www.web4classroom.com) that will be integrated into School Path. Those tools link content to such tools as a curriculum planner, assignment tracking, auto-grading, online assessment creation, grade books, a messaging system, a calendar, class management and reporting tools, and tools to customize learning for an individual student.

Frontpath, a wholly owned subsidiary of SONICblue, Inc., creates information appliances. Their ProGear is a bit of a cross between a personal computer and a handheld. About the size of an etch-a-sketch, the wireless device features a 10.4 inch display that is promoted as having excellent video quality. The device allows for streaming of audio and video. Input can be with handwriting using the stylus or with an onscreen keypad (accessed by stylus or fingers). Another keypad is available for lengthy typing projects. It sells into the business market for $1,500. Patt Montgomery, education specialist for Frontpath, hopes that the price can be reduced for the education market as the pilot reveals which features are essential.

The device can technically function as a thin-client and access information from a school's wireless LAN. Even so, Montgomery envisions School Path as strictly a browser-based, ASP solution. That approach, she says, ensures their goal of creating anyplace learning. She also says that the professional development component will be easier with a consistent, browser-based interface. Basically, School Path will use River Logics tools to pull in a wide array of content that can quickly be sorted into lesson plans or individualized assignments. They will, for example, resell EBSCO content with the value added feature of having its components identified by reading level, subject area, standards correlation and other information.

Partnerships Sought

The companies are looking for content and distribution partners to move School Path forward. Companies with multimedia content are of special interest, but they will also continue to build text offerings. Berg also hopes to enhance their online testing capabilities through partnerships, and to expand standards correlation beyond the MCREL database they are currently using.

Berg adds that any web-based content can be placed on the system, and a sophisticated engine to track usage can award appropriate royalties. They are likely to charge schools a subscription fee, and then divide that pool of funds among content providers based on usage. They also plan to move quickly into the home market, and they believe that will open considerable e-commerce opportunities for content and service providers.