New Albany, IN (August 9, 2022) — The Indiana Learning Lab, a free online learning tool for teachers, parents, and school leaders across the state, officially reached 25,000 users. Originally born out of a need to support educators and families during the switch to online learning, the Lab was developed by Five Star Technology Solutions prior to the 2020-2021 school year with funding from the Indianapolis eLearning Fund.
“The need was so great to support teachers and parents when the pandemic began back in 2020, many of whom were experiencing digital learning for the very first time,” said Dr. Jason Roseberry, President of Five Star Technology Solutions. “This software was able to do just that through live chats with our professional development team, live and on-demand workshops on relevant topics, lesson ideas, digital learning resources, and professional growth points tracking so that educators’ time is valued for all the effort they put into their own development.”
When the Indiana Department of Education officially partnered with Five Star to support the Indiana Learning Lab at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, the number of users began to grow exponentially. Along with weekly workshops, curated collections, and state teaching frameworks, state education leaders have continued to find new ways to empower teachers and provide valuable learning opportunities.
“We are so thrilled to be celebrating 25,000 users in the Indiana Learning Lab,” said Diana Smith, Director of Digital Learning for the Indiana Department of Education. “Thanks to the founding partners and our continued collaboration with Five Star, we have been able to provide accessible, free professional development and resources for Indiana teachers. We are looking forward to what we can continue to do with this virtual platform.”
Extra Yard for Teachers, the College Football Playoff Foundation’s primary platform, was also pivotal in the current success of the Indiana Learning Lab. The foundation named the Learning Lab one of its premiere legacy projects and helped shine the spotlight on teachers through giveaways, classroom makeovers, and statewide events leading up to the College Football Playoff Championship Game.
“We are very grateful for our partnership with Five Star, the IDOE and so many others in Indiana,” said Britton Banowsky, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff Foundation. “To see the highly impactful results from these investments is simply amazing and a model that should be replicated nationally.”
The Indiana Learning Lab is home to nearly 2,500 digital resources, live & on-demand workshops, collections, lesson ideas, and more. Along with a community portal where users can communicate with educators from across the state, members of the Indiana Department of Education and Five Star Technology Solutions are available to live chat from 8 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
Learn more about the Indiana Learning Lab at inlearninglab.com.
ABOUT FIVE STAR TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS:
Since 2005, Five Star has partnered with school districts to support transformative learning experiences through the use of technology. A Google for Education partner, Five Star specializes in Professional Development, Technology Services, and Data Analytics. The team of experienced leaders, training specialists, engineers, and developers is passionate about creating innovative products and support services to address the specific needs and expectations of school districts.
Mailing Address
3310 E 10th St.
Suite 4, #358
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
