New York; August 22, 2024 -- Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned digital learning company, today announced Tim Flem has been promoted to the role of Chief Product Officer (CPO). In this role, he will oversee the development and management of Macmillan Learning’s digital products, leading the product development lifecycle from ideation and research to launch and iteration. He will also focus on cultivating strategic partnerships within the education and technology ecosystems, seeking new opportunities for collaboration and growth. “Since joining Macmillan Learning eight years ago, Tim has been a steadfast advocate for discovery, fully embracing the idea that continuous inquiry is essential for innovation at a learning company. His promotion reflects our commitment to leadership excellence, underscoring our belief in curiosity, learning, and continuous inquiry as a fundamental driver of innovation and progress,” said Susan Winslow, CEO of Macmillan Learning. As CPO, Flem will lead the Product, User Experience, AI/Data Science, and Learning Science and Research teams, guiding the development of products and tools that meet customer needs. His promotion comes at a time of tremendous change within the education industry, and will help guarantee that Macmillan Learning’s products and technologies adapt to the evolving needs of institutions, educators, and students. Importantly, he will help ensure that they help inspire what’s possible for every learner, no matter their background or abilities. During his tenure at Macmillan Learning, Flem has been an advocate for customer-centered digital innovation that delivers superior outcomes. He led the development and successful launch of the company’s digital learning platform, Achieve, which was designed using the foundations of learning science and in partnership with students and instructors. The courseware has gained recognition for its foundation in rigorous teaching and learning practice; ongoing research about efficacy, metacognition and sense of belonging has since led to iterations that add further depth to the technology’s support of each student's success.  Flem also helped establish Macmillan Learning’s partnership with The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to study how a courseware platform like Achieve can help to close equity gaps in course completion for historically and presently underserved students.  Flem quickly responded to recent AI-fueled tech advancements, setting the stage for the company’s fundamental shift in product development. He and his teams focused on ethical standards for AI use, while rapidly shifting to developing, testing, and launching AI-supported learning tools. This led to the launch of an AI Tutor in Achieve for STEM disciplines, with early results indicating that AI-enhanced personalized tutoring positively impacts student engagement and progress, especially at times when they need help with assignments. His team also launched AI question generation in the iClicker platform. Flem joined leaders from Macmillan Learning’s parent company, Holtzbrinck, to expand access and capabilities to AI technology and innovation. Filmon Zerai, COO at Holtzbrinck noted, “Above and beyond Tim's role in driving innovation within Macmillan Learning, he has been instrumental in shaping our overall AI agenda at Holtzbrinck. His contributions within the HPG AI Acceleration Group have been extremely valuable, and we all look forward to his continued success." “Our deep research into the wide range of opportunities and challenges that learners bring  to our products fuels our passion for delivering learning experiences that resonate. We understand how important it is to recognize each learner's unique preferences and lived experiences, while at the same time equipping faculty with the right tools to step in with timely interventions when needed. Doing this, and doing it well, is the most fulfilling thing I’ve accomplished in my career,” Flem said. Read Flem’s take on the intersection of AI and product development here. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that inspires what’s possible for every learner. We envision a world in which every learner succeeds. Through our content, tools and services, we aim to make that a reality. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Community. ### ... View more

Company earned top score of 100 on the 2024 Disability Equality Index New York, NY; July 16, 2024–Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned digital learning company, announced today it was named a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” on the Disability Equality Index®, the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool for companies to measure disability workplace inclusion inside their organization and to assess performance across industry sectors. This is the fourth consecutive year the company has earned a top score of 100, reflecting its ongoing commitment to disability inclusion for both its employees and the students and instructors, which they support.  Globally, more than 1.3 billion individuals have a disability. Disability is a natural part of the human experience, and it crosses lines of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and other demographics. The Disability Equality Index was launched in 2015 as a joint initiative of Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to to help businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment/underemployment of people with disabilities. The 2024 Disability Equality Index measured companies' inclusion efforts, including: culture & leadership, employment practices (such as accommodations, benefits, recruitment and advancement opportunities), community engagement, supplier diversity and responsible procurement. “Because we're a learning company, it’s our priority to ensure that each student succeeds, regardless of demographics or ability.” said Kristin Peikert, Senior Vice President of People & Culture at Macmillan Learning. “That process starts internally with our own employees, as we strive to create a work environment where all employees can succeed, which is reflected in the products and services we offer students and instructors.”  Macmillan Learning’s Commitment to Accessibility  Macmillan Learning’s commitment to accessibility is twofold. The company works towards creating equitable student learning experiences; secondly and at the same time it aims to meet or exceed industry-accepted standards–both through the products it creates and the work environment and culture it fosters. The company’s accessibility work has earned it “Gold Standard” recognition from ASPIRE and the Winner of Accessible Books Consortium’s International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing in 2020. Five years ago, Macmillan Learning was the first higher education organization to be recognized as Global Certified Accessible by Benetech. Since then, the company has been providing “born accessible” digital learning options that ensure that every student, no matter their ability, has the same access to information. Benetech certified the company’s conformance to the accessible EPUB creation guidelines, which are based on WCAG 2.2 AA+ standards put in place by the international standards organizations and the publishing community. Macmillan Learning’s product and engineering teams continue to make ongoing updates to Achieve, the company’s digital learning platform, to make it more friendly for users with disabilities. The company also offers training opportunities for all employees to become more knowledgeable about accessibility guidelines and better allies to their colleagues and the customers they support. For additional support and resources, employees have the opportunity to learn more from Macmillan Learning’s employee resource group, AVID (Awareness of Visible and Invisible Disabilities) for people with disabilities and allies.  “While I am proud of our company for receiving these recognitions, we understand that accessibility is not only about checking boxes or fulfilling requirements; rather to us, it is an ongoing journey,” Peikert added.  In 2024, Macmillan Learning was one of 542 corporations, including 71 Fortune 100 and 220 Fortune 500, who used the Disability Equality Index to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts. “Together, we are creating a future where everyone can contribute and thrive,” said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that inspires what’s possible for every learner. We envision a world in which every learner succeeds. Through our content, tools and services, we aim to make that a reality. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community. About the Disability Equality Index®  The Disability Equality Index has become the leading independent, third-party resource for the annual benchmarking of corporate disability inclusion policies and programs, and is now trusted by more than 70% of the United States Fortune 100 and nearly half of the Fortune 500. Such companies must increasingly consider how emerging global reporting directives and stakeholder expectations surrounding social and corporate governance factors impact their operational, cultural, reputational and financial performance.  The Disability Equality Index is an objective, reflective, forward-thinking, and confidential disability rating tool designed to assist businesses in advancing inclusion practices. It is a comprehensive benchmark that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions across five scored categories: Culture & Leadership, Enterprise-Wide Access, Employment Practices, Community Engagement, and Supplier Diversity. Participating companies receive a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those scoring 80 or higher earning the distinction of “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” for the benchmark year. Findings from a two-year Global Disability Equality Index pilot informed the launch of a scored benchmark that opened in 2024 to seven new countries in addition to the United States. These include: Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. Now in its 10th year, the Disability Equality Index has grown nearly 7x since 2015, expanding from 80 companies in its first year to 542 in 2024. Collectively, the 2024 edition received 753 submissions spanning the eight benchmarked countries.  About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power for people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 60+ million Americans with disabilities. Learn more at: www.aapd.com.  About Disability:IN® Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. More than 500 corporations partner with Disability:IN to create long-term business and social impact through the world’s most comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking and reporting tool, the Disability Equality Index; best-in-class conferences and programs; expert counsel and engagement; and public policy leadership. Join us at disabilityin.org/AreYouIN #AreYouIN. ... View more

New York, NY; May 22, 2024 --  Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned digital learning company, announced the winners of the 2024 EconEd Innovation and Education Awards. This year’s awards celebrate the innovative teaching methods of Dr. Madhavi Venkatesan, Associate Teaching Professor of Economics, Northeastern University and the exceptional academic and research achievements of economics student Samantha Mackley from the University of Missouri. Both Dr. Madhavi Venkatesan and Samantha Mackley have each earned a $2,500 prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to Macmillan Learning’s annual EconEd conference, scheduled to take place on September 27-28 in Chicago. Known for its rich academic discourse and diverse perspectives, EconEd is a platform for professional development, knowledge sharing, and community building among Economics instructors. Previous conference speakers included Macmillan Learning authors with more than 150 years experience at leading colleges around the world, including Paul Krugman, Justin Wolfers, Betsey Stevenson, Tyler Cowen, Alex Tabarrok, Eric Chiang, and more. "We believe that collaboration and knowledge sharing helps elevate economic education and scholarship, which is why at EconEd we bring together the best of both worlds: the innovative spirit of educators and the supportive resources and deep knowledge of Macmillan Learning’s authors. We established a new award this year to honor the achievements of instructors like Dr. Venkatesan and students like Samantha Mackley who both embody excellence in economics education and exemplify the heart of our mission -- to inspire what’s possible for every learner," said Scott Guile, Executive Marketing Manager, Macmillan Learning. Instructor Contest Winner: Dr. Madhavi Venkatesan, Northeastern University Dr. Venkatesan has been awarded the EconEd Instructor Innovation Award for her groundbreaking project designed to deepen students' understanding of economic principles and their real-world applications, particularly focusing on externalities and sustainability. In her Principles of Microeconomics class, Dr. Venkatesan assigns a life cycle assessment project that engages students in analyzing the environmental impacts of littered items produced by public companies.  The EconEd Instructor Award was created to recognize innovation in the teaching of Principles of Economics. Dr. Venkatesan’s innovative approach not only highlights the critical importance of value-oriented purchasing and investing but also enhances students' grasp of economic theories such as the theory of the firm (which explores how businesses operate, make decisions, and interact with the market to maximize profits) and consumer behavior (how individuals make decisions to allocate their resources (time, money, effort) to purchase goods and services). The judges noted that the assignment has “empowered students to see the tangible impact of economic incentives on environmental outcomes, fostering a generation of informed consumers and future leaders who are  passionate about sustainability.” Student Contest Winner: Samantha Mackley, University of Missouri Samantha Mackley has been awarded the EconEd Student Education Award for her outstanding academic achievements and dedication to advancing economic knowledge. Inspired by her Intermediate Microeconomics course, Samantha has actively engaged in economic research, contributing to studies on school lunch policies and crime and poverty analysis. She has also played a pivotal role in promoting economic literacy and engagement through her leadership positions in Undergraduate Women in Economics and Omicron Delta Epsilon, as well as her work as a founding editor of the undergraduate social sciences journal. The Award was created to recognize an undergraduate Economics student who demonstrates exceptional academic achievements and makes noteworthy contributions to their community through their Economics acumen. Samantha’s dedication to advancing economic knowledge and her active engagement in research and community initiatives truly embody the spirit of this award. The judges noted that Samantha’s essay “eloquently captures the essence of economic studies and their profound influence on both personal growth and societal well-being.”  About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that inspires what’s possible for every learner. We envision a world in which every learner succeeds. Through our content, tools and services, we aim to make that a reality. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community. ... View more

New York, NY; March 5, 2024 -- Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned digital learning company, today announced the launch of a new professional development institute to provide practical knowledge and a meaningful community for educators. The Institute at Macmillan Learning begins on May 13 with the course “Teaching with Generative AI: A Course for Educators”,  a facilitator-led, two-month course that covers essential AI concepts. During the course, participants will get hands-on experience developing AI policies for their courses, designing assignments highlighting AI's capabilities and limitations, and navigating conversations with students about the use of AI. The course offers educators a blend of asynchronous and synchronous learning, interactive workshops, and discussion platforms to both educate and connect educators from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and institutions.   “This institute was developed to empower educators to meet modern teaching challenges with confidence,” said Leasa Burton SVP Pedagogical Design, Macmillan Learning. “I'm most excited to see the connections and relationships educators form with their fellow participants as they experiment with generative AI together in order to develop their own expertise. We know that having colleagues to lean on can have a tremendous impact on your success as an instructor.” Each week, the professional development course offers moments for deep reflection on each participant’s own pedagogical practices and understanding of AI. Through expertly developed instructional content, educators will be introduced to new technologies and ideas and then equipped with the knowledge to weave them seamlessly into their curriculum. In addition to facilitator-led instruction, each week will also have assignments designed to serve as practical blueprints that educators can adapt and use in their classrooms as well as an interactive component for educators to exchange insights. Beyond the curriculum, the Institute was designed to foster a vibrant community of practice. Participants will benefit from an immersive experience that enables them to demonstrate their expertise, learn from their peers, and engage in an active and accountable community. This robust support and recognition framework underlines the Institute’s commitment to not only advancing participants' knowledge but also their professional stature and impact in the educational field. Together, participants will enhance their skills, stay ahead of technological trends, and learn how they can take advantage of AI to make a lasting impact on their students and institutions.  "Recognizing the self-motivation and diverse experiences that lifelong learners bring, the Institute creates an expanded opportunity for participants to share knowledge and experiences, which is vital for growth and innovation in education. There are few areas within education that are having the kind of impact that Gen AI is, so we are looking forward to connecting learners in our community who want to explore that with others," said Burton.  “Teaching with Generative AI: A Course for Educators Across the Disciplines” was developed for educators at colleges and universities by experts alongside Macmillan Learning’s editorial, product and learning science teams. This and additional courses from the Institute are designed to encourage educators to engage in conversations, explore current educational topics, and collectively address contemporary challenges in education. Upon completion of the course, participants will earn badges recognizing their mastery of teaching with Generative AI and advancing their professional development. Registration begins April 15. Macmillan Learning is offering a special early-bird discount, bringing the course price from $249 to $99 for the first 100 people to enroll. To learn more about the course visit the Institute at Macmillan Learning. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that inspires what’s possible for every learner. We envision a world in which every learner succeeds. Through our content, tools and services, we aim to make that a reality. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community. ... View more

New York, NY; Feb. 20, 2024 -- Macmillan Learning today announced the launch of the iClicker AI Question Creator, a new tool for instructors that harnesses the power of generative AI to create engaging and effective learning experiences for students. The AI Question Creator beta builds on the company’s market-leading iClicker platform and will be available to the first 5,000 instructors. Rooted in modern pedagogy and enhanced by generative AI, the iClicker AI Question Creator enables instructors to effortlessly craft and deploy unique questions that facilitate an  interactive and engaged classroom experience. Tailored to fit any discipline or topic, the question creator allows educators to specify the desired level of rigor, course level, and learning taxonomy, ensuring the questions align with their teaching goals.  “The AI Question Creator paves the way for a more dynamic, adaptive, and interactive learning environment. The tool’s intelligent design saves instructors time, allowing them to spend it where it’s most important, which is engaging with their students," said Steven Ray, VP, Enterprise Solutions for Macmillan Learning. The questions can be used for iClicker polls, quizzes, and assignments and can be deployed to students in seconds. Importantly, the questions are unique and not easily searchable online, which provides a more authentic assessment of students’ true understanding of the course material. iClicker's real-time display of the instructor-generated questions allows for immediate student engagement, fostering an environment that supports more effective learning.  The AI Question Creator will allow 5,000 instructors to each generate up to 50 unique questions in just minutes during the beta period. Instructors can sign up for the beta using their existing iClicker account; those that are new to iClicker should first create an account here. The beta is scheduled to last through May, with the commercial launch expected this Fall. Key Features and Benefits: Some of the many features and benefits of the question generator include: Effortless Question Creation: Instructors can input discipline, topic, question type, and other settings to generate up to 50 unique questions. They can then immediately use the new questions, navigating between the slides and whether they’d like to show or hide the answers to students. Real-Time Adaptability: Instructors are better able to meet students where they are, adapting instantly to areas of struggle and engaging them in unexpected ways. Enhanced Academic Integrity: The tool's ability to create instant, unique questions provides greater assurance of academic honesty. “After teaching introductory biology for 12 years, I find it harder and harder to come up with novel quiz questions. Using the AI Question Creator allowed me to easily generate personalized questions that varied on topic, content, scenario, and Bloom’s level, all with an easy-to-use drop-down-box and text entry interface,” said Justin Shaffer, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and a Teaching Professor at the Colorado School of Mines. iClicker was developed by a team of physicists and educational researchers out of the University of Illinois. It is the most widely used student response system in higher education with more than 7,000 active instructors engaging more than 1.3 million students each year. It creates a user-friendly and immersive active learning environment before, during, and after class by fostering active learning. It works by creating opportunities for quizzing, group collaboration, and polling. Students can answer anonymously how confident they are in the day’s learning, and instructors have real-time insights about students’ comprehension. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that inspires what’s possible for every learner. We envision a world in which every learner succeeds. Through our content, tools and services, we aim to make that a reality. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community. ... View more

New York, NY; Jan. 24, 2024 --  Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned educational publishing and services company, announced today it will mark its 15th year hosting the EconEd Summit with new awards recognizing innovation within the Economics community. Macmillan Learning will honor a remarkable Economics student and instructor with the new EconEd award, which comes with a $2,500 prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the conference, scheduled to take place on September 27-28 in Chicago. EconEd is a platform for professional development, knowledge sharing, and community building among Economics instructors. Over the years, the conference has featured distinguished figures within the Economics community, including Paul Krugman, Justin Wolfers, Betsey Stevenson, Tyler Cowen, Alex Tabarrok, Eric Chiang, and many more, fostering a legacy of rich academic discourse and thought leadership. These Macmillan Learning authors represent a range of diverse economic perspectives and insights and collectively have more than 150 years experience at leading colleges around the world. "As Economics plays an integral role in nearly every aspect of our lives, its significance sometimes goes unnoticed. With these awards, we aim to shine a spotlight on the students and instructors who not only illuminate this crucial subject but also ignite curiosity among students," said Scott Guile, Executive Marketing Manager, at Macmillan Learning. The EconEd Student Award will honor an undergraduate Economics student who demonstrates exceptional academic achievements and makes noteworthy contributions to their community through their Economics acumen. Impactful community involvement could involve mentoring/tutoring, contributing to research initiatives, supporting students’ economic literacy, writing about economic issues, or other activities. The EconEd Instructor Award will celebrate innovation in the teaching of Principles of Economics. Whether through cutting-edge technology, interactive projects, gamification, community involvement, tailored learning experiences, or inventive assessment techniques, this award celebrates those who are redefining economics education. The awards are open to students and instructors in U.S. colleges. Students should have a declared major or minor in Economics. Applications for both awards are open until April 1, with winners announced mid-May.  This year’s EconEd Summit will focus on the intersection of government policies and Economics, with sessions examining topics like the discrepancy between consumer attitudes and economic data. Peer consultants, Macmillan Learning, and Macmillan Learning CEO Susan Winslow will present during the summit. More information about the conference is available here. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that inspires what’s possible for every learner. We envision a world in which every learner succeeds. Through our content, tools and services, we aim to make that a reality. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community. ... View more