The Chinese market for tech and creative skills is heating up. In just four weeks two significant Series B rounds adding up to over $50 million went into edtech startups offering online courses for tech and creative professionals. Jike Xueyuan, an online learning platform for tech skills, raised a $22 million Series B from SIG Asia and BlueRun Ventures reports QQ Tech. Founded in 2009 but officially launched earlier this year Jike Xueyuan claims to have over 120.000 users who can choose from over 300 courses covering tech skills from mobile to web development. Jike Xueyuan, which translates to Geeks College, follows a similar business model like lynda.com. Users pay for a monthly or yearly membership and get access to all courses on the platform in return. Prices range between RMB 30 (US$4.89) per month to RMB 260 (US$42.35) per year. In August Xingshuai Teach, which offers courses on creative skills like graphics, videos and design, raised a $30 million Series B from Northern Light Venture Capital and Legend Capital. Xingshuai Teach was founded in 2008 and users get free access to all courses on the platform. The startup generates revenue through selling certifications for successfully completed courses. According to 36kr Xingshuai Teach has seen constant revenue growth since 2012 where it generated RMB 1 million (US$162,000). In 2013 revenue was at RMB 100 million (US$16.2 million) and this year the platform aims for RMB 1 billion (US$162 million) in revenue by the end of this year. There are also rumors of an IPO in 2016. China is also a target market for beforementioned lynda.com as well as for Udemy. Both companies have stated that Asia is a key region for further growth and therefore a priority when it comes to expansion in the coming years. With now two well-funded startups that operate in their home market this will be a region to watch. Further Reading Chinese IT education startup teaches you how to make your own Flappy Birdclone, gets $22M investment | Tech in Asia Chinese crash course education startup for designers and animators secures $30M funding | Tech in Asia

As I’ve previously shared, I’m currently leading a Sloan Consortium professional development workshop on the use of text messaging in teaching. Over the next several days, I’ll be sharing a series of posts to include links to a variety of different resources I’ve come across regarding text messaging in addition to continuing to chat on Twitter using hashtag #sloansms. Stay tuned for more, and join in the conversation either via the Twitter hashtag or by leaving a comment to any of the posts to come.Photo courtesy mennovdhorst on Flickr

Our EdTech Funding Coverage is brought to you by Digital Education. Last month was quiet in terms of funding in Asia compared to the rest of the world, but we can already tell that more deals are coming in throughout September. Yet, thanks to a significant Series B for Chinese online course platform Xingshuai Teach, the total still surpassed $30 million in August. Japanese Online Cram School Aoi.Co. raised $1.2 million Aoi.Co, a Japanese edtech startup that runs online cram school Aoi Zemi, raised $1.2 million from JAFCO reports TechCrunch Japan. Aoi Zemi streams lectures for free on the Internet, students are charged when they want to watch the recordings. The startup claims that the pass rate at entrance exams of students who took test prep on Aoi Zemi is over 85%. According to The Bridge, Aoi Zemi has attracted over 3000 users. Further Reading Online cram school startup Aoi.Co. raises $1.2 million from Jafco | The Bridge Links aoi-zemi.com English Language Learning App OKpanda raised $1.6 million Seed Round OKpanda, an English language learning app targeting Japan and other Asian countries, raised an additional $1.6 million Seed Round led by Resolute Ventures with participation from East Ventures, Beenos and existing investors Innovation Endeavors, Kapor Capital, 500 Startups as well as a group of angel investors. The round brings the total funding raised by OKpanda to $3 million. Founded in 2012, OKpanda aims to help Asians with English pronunciation through interactive lessons and sessions with tutors. Its two apps have been downloaded over 600k times. In Japan, OKpanda targets the over 1 million learners who currently attend English conversation classes, paying between $150 - $200 per month. OKpanda is priced between $30 - $100 per month, depending on how many lessons with a tutor are included. The tutors are based in the Philippines. Further Reading OKpanda Takes In Another $1.6M For Its English Language Learning App For Asia | TechCrunch Links okpanda.com | Twitter Online Course Platform Xingshuai Teach raised $30 million Series B Xingshuai Teach, an online platform offering courses on creative skills like graphics, videos and design, raised a $30 million Series B from Northern Light Venture Capital and Legend Capital. Founded in 2008, Xingshuai Teach offers users free access to all courses on the platform. The startup generates revenue through selling certifications for successfully completed courses. In 2013 revenue was at RMB 100 million (US$16.2 million), and there are rumors of a planned IPO in two years. Further Reading Chinese crash course education startup for designers and animators secures $30M funding | Tech in Asia Links xsteach.com

Looking for more information on the background of text messaging, the tecnology the makes it possible, or definitions of technical terms? The following resources provide foundational background information. Text Messaging - Wikipediabackground and history of development of text messaging as a communication platform SMS - Wikipediatechnical background and history of the development of short message service (SMS) Text Messaging and Online Chat Abbreviations - Webopedia quick reference list and definitions of over 1,300 text abbreviations Are you aware of another resource regarding background and definitions of texting that you’d recommend be added to the list above? Please leave a comment below!

Back in May we reported on the public launch of Unitus Seed Fund in India which had started out with the aim to serve bottom of the pyramid startups across the country. Unitus has recently announced that it raised an additional $7 million in commitments for its micro VC fund. This additional investment which comes from several large foundations as institutional investors as well as a large number of individual investors, brings the total size of the fund to $ 20 million and confirms an overall enthusiasm for so called impact investments on the subcontinent. In the press release Dave Richards, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Unitus Seed Fund says "We believe that there is a great opportunity to invest in a new generation of entrepreneurs who are building disruptive new businesses serving the one billion under-served low-income market in India." So far Unitus Seed Fund has investment in a total of 13 startups, mainly in Southern India. With the additional $ 7 million the fund now wants to invest in about 30 startups and spread across the country targeting sectors including skill development / livelihoods, agriculture, technology for development, healthcare, education, and access to basic necessities. In the education space Unitus Seed Fund has made an investment in employability and placement service for college students iStar and Hippocampus Learning Centres. Along with the announcement of the new investors comes a new program called Unitus Seed Fund India Acceleration Program to help improve and accelerate the early-stage impact startup ecosystem across India. The program aims to increasing connections facilitated through "startup scouts" operating across India, working with leading incubators to help create more "venture capital-ready" startups that target low-income populations, and offering financial assistance to startups. Further Reading Unitus Seed Fund’s investors propel fund over USD $ 20 million | Unitus

How prevalent is the use of texting today? Is it just a passing fad, or has texting truly become an integral means of communication in society today? The following sources provide for more information on the use of texting. How Text Messaging is Changing the World [Infographic] - Edudemic infographic highlighting impact of text messaging Student Smartphone Use Doubles; Instant Messaging Loses Favor - Chronicle of Higher Edstudy confirms what has become common knowledge: cellphones are almost ubiquitous on college campuses, with 99.8 percent of students owning one or more Many teens send 100+ texts a day - CNN text messaging has become the preferred method of communication for American teenagers, with one in three teens sending more than 100 texts a day Teens, Smartphones & Texting - Pet Internet & American Life ProjectMarch 2012 findings on use of texting and smart phone use among teens. The volume of texting among teens has risen from 50 texts a day in 2009 to 60 texts for the median teen text user. In addition, smartphones are gaining teenage users. Some 23% of all those ages 12-17 say they have a smartphone and ownership is highest among older teens: 31% of those ages 14-17 have a smartphone, compared with just 8% of youth ages 12-13. Teens and Mobile Phones - Pew Internet & American Life Project 2010 findings regarding use of mobile phones among teens Teens and Mobile Phones Over the Past Five Years: Pew Internet Looks Back - Pew Internet & American Life Project comparison of mobile use studies from 2004 to 2008 showing trends in adoption of mobile phone use among teens Have you found another resource illustrating the current use of texting that you’d recommend be added to the list above? Please leave a comment and share your link!

Former MOOC platform Udacity raised a $35 million Series C to double down on its new path of creating the nanodegree and aiming to address the skills gap ranging from computer science to finance. The round was led by Drive Capital, with participation from Bertelsmann, Recruit Holdings and Valor Capital. Existing investors Andreessen Horowitz and Charles River Ventures also participated in the new funding round. According to Forbes Thrun is in it for the long run and does not plan to hand over the CEO role to a more experienced executive like the founders of Coursera did, for example. His resignation as VP and fellow at Google X, the lab responsible for Google’s moonshot projects including the self-driving car which Thrun founded, points towards a longer term and more involvement at Udacity as well. A Google spokesperson confirmed the resignation to TechCrunch and added "In Udacity, Sebastian has his own more-than-a-full-time-job moonshot to take, and we wish him well." And it seems that Thrun finally found a working business model. Udacity which launched with the premise to become the university of the future struggled more than its competitors edX and Coursera and eventually abandoned the MOOC project. The launch of the first nano degrees was financed by AT&T who paid Udacity $3 million to develop a series of courses. About 3 million students enrolled to Udacity’s free courses since its launch, 50.000 enrolled immediately after the nanodegree had been announced earlier this year. More than 100.000 of Udacity’s students are paying for premium services like personal tutoring, certification and job placement. In an interview Thrun told WSJ.D "When we started out it wasn’t clear that there would be a sustainable business model, but I believe we’ve nailed it. Since March, paying students have been increasing by 2% day over day." According to Reuters Udacity's biggest market is the United States, followed by India, the United Kingdom and Germany. For Bertelsmann this is the first large investment in an education technology startup based in the United States. The German media company aims to make education its third mainstay of revenues, alongside media and services states Thomas Rabe, Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann. Further Reading Udacity CEO Thrun Cooks Up $35 Million Of New Instruction | Forbes E-Learning Startup Udacity Raises $35M to Launch ‘Nanodegrees’ | WSJ.D U.S. online-education company Udacity raises $35 mln for 'nanodegrees' | Reuters Its Audacity Undiminished, Udacity Raises $35 Million To Train A New Generation of Developers | TechCrunch Google X Founder Sebastian Thrun Has Left His Role As Google VP And Fellow | TechCrunch Udacity picks up $35 mln | PE Hub Bertelsmann Buys a Stake in Online Education Provider Udacity | Bertelsmann Related Links Accelerated Learning for Accelerated Times The Real News behind Starbucks and AT&T: Online Education has become Mainstream

What perspectives have already been shared concerning incorporating text messaging into teaching? The following links to opinions and commentary provide individual perspectives on texting and education. Teaching to the Text Message - Andy Selsberg, NYTimes.com, 2011 The longest assignment could be a cover letter, and even that might be streamlined to a networking e-mail. I’d rather my students master skills like these than proper style for citations. Should Schools Teach SMS Text Messaging? - Andy Carvin, PBS Teachers, 2006You may think that today’s kids already know everything they need to know about SMS text messaging, but some educators are now arguing that students need to learn texting in the classroom. Are they on to something, or is it a waste of time? Teaching Through Text Message: Cell Phones Emerge as Learning Tool - Kathleen Sheneman, New Legacy Mobile Instructors at UNLV are now using text messaging as a tool to teach students about the English language. Teachers Use Cell Phones in the Classroom - Jason Koebler, U.S. News Education, 2011Educators arguing that encouraging students to use cell phones turns the phones into educational tools, not distractions or cheating devices. Zero-Thumb Game: How to Tame Texting - Sara Bernard, Edutopia, 2008English teachers take text messaging to task — as a teaching tool. Saline High School Senior Builds Group Text-Messaging Service - Sven Gustafson, AnnArbor.com, 2011developer of gText, 18 year old student! Teaching by Texting Starts to Take Hold - Karen Schwartz, Aol News, 2010 Most teachers who use cell phones in class also find it useful to blast text messages to their students, reminding them of homework assignments and tests.  Blogs, Wikis and Text Messaging: What are the Implications for Students with Learning Disabilities, Center for Implementing Technology in Education, 2008An Info brief by the Center for Implementing Technology in Education. Teacher Sentenced for Text Messaging Student Thousands of Times - Mary Richards and Sandra Yi, KSL.comPolice have arrested a school teacher in an unusual case, a text messaging relationship with a student that went too far. That teacher is now in jail. In one month alone, he sent 5,000 text messages to a 13-year-old girl. Are you aware of another news story or other perspective available online on use of text messaging in teaching that you’d recommend be added to the list above? Leave a comment with the link.

Mastery Connect announced today that it has raised a $ 15.2 million Series B round led by Trinity Ventures and with participation of Pelion Ventures and Catamount Ventures. Larry Orr, general partner at Trinity Ventures, will join MasteryConnect's board of directors. This latest round brings the total funding raised to more than $24 million in five rounds since the platform’s launch in 2009. As one of the first MasteryConnect focused on the then newly introduced Common Core standard and provides real-time reporting about what students are learning relative to both state and Common Core standards. In June of this year, MasteryConnect acquired fellow imagine K12 alumnus Socrative, a startup that created tools for classroom engagement, for $ 5 million in stock and cash. The acquisition doubled its employees from 35 in March 2014 to more than 70 today. Cory Reid, CEO of MasteryConnect, states in the press release "This funding round is further validation of our mission and will give us additional flexibility to build the tools today's educators need, many of which are free." MasteryConnect claims to have seen significant growth with its technology being utilized in 85 percent of U.S. school districts across all states and in more than 175 countries, reaching 21 million students and 1 million teachers. According to the startup its app is the most downloaded app for the Common Core. With this latest round of funding MasteryConnect could potentially acquire other edtech startups to add new functionalities and users to its platform. In August venture capital database CB Insights shared that there are currently over 60 edtech startups in risk of becoming seed orphans, meaning they will not be able to raise a Series A round and therefore becoming easy acquisition targets for better funded competitors. Further Reading MasteryConnect Raises $15.2 Million to Accelerate Development of Mastery Learning Platform for K-12 Education | Businesswire Related Links MasteryConnect raises $1.1 million for Common Core Platform Assessment Platform MasteryConnect acquired Socrative for $5 million There are over 60 potential EdTech Seed Orphans in the US Links masteryconnect.com | Twitter | CrunchBase

Dr. Mace Bentley, Associate Professor, Department of Geography at Northern Illinois University has developed the following movie trailers as an experiment in trying new ways to recruit more students to his classes. According to Mace, I thought the idea of a class trailer (similar to a movie trailer) might provide a nice multimedia introduction to classes. I think it might help to access the "Net Generation" in a way engaging and motivating to them. Take a look at the finished product! GEOG 368: Climate Change (online) GEOG 408/508: Tropical Environmental Hazards Mace included a link in the YouTube descriptions to the NIU online web page where prospective students can learn more and enroll. Additionally, Mace shared: I created these in iMovie and have used all my own materials to avoid copyright issues. It took a while to figure out how to do it, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to replicate in iMovie. The idea is to keep it short, to the point, and stimulating. I shot my videos on a Lumix GF-1 and iPhone and then downloaded directly into iMovie where I did the editing and incorporation with photos. The video portions are actually parts of vodcasts I have developed for several classes. This process takes time but can be done. Have you ever considered creating a similar video trailer to promote your course(s)? Perhaps you’ve seen other similar video trailers online? Leave a comment with your experiences and/or links to any other similar trailers you’d recommend sharing with others!