Verizon commits $1 million to winners of 5G EdTech Challenge
The Verizon Foundation announced Thursday it will award a total of $1 million to winners of the company’s 5G EdTech Challenge.
The 10 winning projects, led by teams competing from various universities, are designed to solve challenges in student engagement, teacher preparedness and special needs support for K-12 education. The projects include technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, machine learning and AI.
Winning groups come from New York University, Tufts University, Movers and Shakers NYC, Georgia Institute of Technology, The New School, Rap Research Lab, Columbia University, New York Hall of Science and Columbia University.
According to its press release, Verizon says it’s committed to bringing new edtech projects to schools in fall 2019 will introduce the next generation of wireless technology — 5G — to classrooms across the U.S.
In addition to receiving a financial award, winning teams will also get access to Verizon’s 5G Labs and will receive support from Verizon engineers and mentors to enhance their solutions.
“5G technology will provide extraordinary opportunities in education,” said Rose Kirk, Verizon’s chief corporate social responsibility officer.
Verizon says it will be the first to bring 5G connectivity and curriculum to schools, and plans to establish as many as ten Verizon Innovative Learning Schools across the country at the start of the next school year.
The technology giant has supported edtech and STEM programs in the past, funding more than 100 middle schools through Verizon Innovative Learning grants, and continues to make strides to support technology education through its commitment to invest more than $200 million into science, technology, engineering and mathematics education by the end of 2020.
