Phoenix, AZ – Who is smart? What is smart?  How is it measured?  Today at the Education Innovation Summit, we’re announcing SmartScore, adding a new dimension to student profiles to answer those questions. SmartScore is an individualized, data-based, quantifiable evaluation of “soft skills” that travel with the student from project to project, class to class, or job to job.

“SmartScore overcomes the limitations of traditional transcripts and assessments by evaluating behaviors broadly important to effective interactions in any group environment,” said Chris Sprague, our CEO. “SmartScore measures what ‘smart’ should mean today and will mean tomorrow: Adaptability, global citizenship, passion for learning, and enthusiasm for collaborative problem solving.”

Launching with three core attributes, SmartScore measures Teamwork, Problem Solving, and Engagement. Those three behaviors reflect the changing culture, dynamics, and needs of online learning, behaviors measurable through student contributions at the grassroots level—whatever the location or academic level of the student.

SmartScore is a snapshot of a student’s high-performing skills applied to learning and development that delivered results to the learning community. The data displays as both present moment and over time, allowing for demonstrated growth. To learn more and find your SmartScore, click here and login to your OpenStudy account.

Get some background on OpenStudy here: OpenStudy Media Kit

What They Are Saying:

“MIT OpenCourseWare’s goal is increase the impact of our resources tenfold in our next decade, and building community around our content is a key component of that effort. OpenStudy is a great example of how such communities can be built.  OpenStudy’s SmartScore encourages the teamwork and collaborative problem solving skills that will allow millions of independent learners to teach each other.” – Cecilia d’Oliveria, Executive Director, MIT OCW.

“SNHU is pleased to partner with OpenStudy, a leading innovator and disruptor in higher education. Their SmartScore provides a unique solution to credentialing soft skills that are not well captured in traditional grades. Their approach combines open social learning and peer learning to empower students from all walks of life to learn and demonstrate important skills that employers greatly value.” – Paul LeBlanc, President of Southern New Hampshire University

“Most Americans, especially in today’s rough economy, just need a low-cost way to obtain the skills that will get them a fulfilling job or at least a better-paying one. OpenStudy’s SmartScore allows job-seekers, mostly community college students, to demonstrate work force skills in lieu of, or as an adjunct to, a certificate or diploma.” – Dean Florez, Fmr. Majority Leader California State Senate

For more information: email press@openstudy.com

“Their companies, nimble, flexible and fast-moving, can respond to the genuine needs of students and teachers in ways that the big educational software, hardware and publishing companies often haven’t.”

Read more: http://ideas.time.com/2012/02/15/can-education-entrepreneurs-do-well-and-do-good/#ixzz1pg1ahC1w

We are pleased to announce that OpenStudy has been nominated for the 2012 Edison Award – Honoring Innovation and Innovators! OpenStudy has been selected for its “game-changing” work in bringing people from anywhere in the world – regardless of academic institution or geographical location – to give help and get help from a global network of study peers.

The Edison Awards, which have been noted in such publications as Fast Company and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission newsletter, are given to people, products and organizations for such attributes as ingenuity, creativity, sustainability and having a lasting impact on our global society. Examples of past winners include Martha Stewart, J.W. Marriot Jr., Apple iPhone, WiiFit and Tide to Go.

OpenStudy would like to thank the judges for nominating us for such a prestigious award, and regardless of outcome, it is an honor to have our innovation in the education field recognized. Thank you from all of us at OpenStudy.

“Its Web site is the latest effort to create a social platform for independent learners who want to help each other study the huge trove of educational materials published free online by universities like MIT.”