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The K–12 CMS Market: Consolidation, and the AI Effect
The K–12 CMS market has transformed more in the past two years than in the previous decade. Based on our dataset of more than 17,000 school districts across Canada and the United States, the story is clear: a market once defined by choice is now shaped by consolidation, compliance pressure, and the rapid normalization of AI. Two…
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Tracking HigherEd Tech Trends Through Educause Exhibitor Data
A Brief History of Our Analysis Since 2021, ListEdTech has analyzed the Educause exhibitor floor to better understand how product categories evolve year after year. This long-term tracking provides a unique lens on the education technology landscape, highlighting not just who’s exhibiting, but what kinds of solutions vendors prioritize. In our previous analyses, we focused…
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Who Are HigherEd’s Tech Leaders?
This year, I’ve been revisiting some of the classic business books: Blue Ocean Shift, Free, The Innovator’s Dilemma, Zero to One, and of course, Crossing the Chasm. That last one really got me thinking about early adopters. In tech markets, they’re the people (or in HigherEd, the institutions) who are comfortable taking risks, trying something new, and shaping the market…
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Anthology’s Chapter 11 Filing: Breaking Up to Refocus
September 2025 marked a major turning point for Anthology, the owner of Blackboard and several other higher education technology platforms. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. after efforts to sell itself or parts of its business outside of court failed. The filing is not a liquidation. Instead, it is a structured reorganization designed to…
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Rethinking Market Saturation in EdTech
Market saturation is a concept we often discuss at ListEdTech because it comes up frequently with our clients. Investors want to know if a market still has room to grow, while startups want to understand whether they are entering a space with opportunities or one that is already crowded. Last year, we explored saturation by…
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Thesis: From Unit4 Spin‑Off to SIS Specialist
Launched in 2021 as a spin‑off from Unit4’s Student Information System division, Thesis emerged as a dedicated SIS provider with a clear focus on higher education. Backed by TA Associates, the move separated Unit4’s ERP and HCM solutions from its student systems, allowing Thesis to operate independently and modernize its offerings. Building on the legacy of Unit4’s…
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How Institutions Discover What Tech Their Peers Are Using
In the last few months, I’ve been asking my LinkedIn connections, the following question:“How do you learn what technology your peers at other institutions are using?” Over the last few months, nearly 400 professionals answered this question. Their responses highlight both the creativity and the challenges institutions face when trying to keep up with the…
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Why Accurate Institution Data Matters
In the ever-evolving world of education, staying current isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity. A yearly validation of institutions plays a vital role in ensuring the integrity of institutional data across the globe. Here’s how it works, why it matters, and what makes it more complex than it might first appear. The Goal Our core aim…
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Blackboard, D2L, Instructure: the Future of AI in LMS
Last month, Anthology, D2L, and Instructure used their annual conferences to outline upcoming product roadmaps and long-term strategies. Moodle will do the same at its own event in September. Together, these gatherings highlight where the LMS market is headed. What stands out isn’t just the new features being announced, but the bigger bets each vendor…
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When Institutions Merge, Systems Collide
Institutional mergers are often presented as opportunities for growth — stronger financial stability, expanded academic offerings, and a broader institutional footprint. However, beyond the public announcements, one of the most significant challenges lies in the integration of technology systems. Decisions about which platforms to retain have long-term implications for efficiency, user experience, and operational costs.…
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D2L Fusion 2025: Key Takeaways from the Solutions Spotlight
At the D2L Fusion 2025 conference in Savannah, Georgia, the company shared a wide range of updates—new features, AI-powered tools, and continued efforts to support both education and workforce learning. Here’s a quick roundup of what stood out from the Solutions Spotlight. 1. New Features and Platform Enhancements D2L rolled out several updates to Brightspace…
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Key Announcements at Anthology Together 2025
After a few challenging flights, I finally made it to Anthology Together 2025 (AT25). During this conference, the company shared major updates on its core products—Reach, Blackboard, and Student—as part of the broader Anthology roadmap. It outlined a strategic focus on AI, cloud migration, and automation. Here’s a quick look at the key announcements and…
