The CPALMS platform, developed by staff at the Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University, has been named one of 16 finalists in the Tools Competition for learning engineering tools. The Tools Competition is a multi-million dollar global prize challenge for education technology solutions tackling the most pressing issues in education and advancing learning science. The competition awards more than $4 million for innovative learning tools in four areas addressing pressing challenges in education. CPALMS is a finalist in the transforming assessments track.

CPALMS is an online toolbox of information, vetted resources, and interactive tools that helps educators effectively implement teaching standards. It is the State of Florida's official source for standards information and course descriptions. CPALMS also provides several state-of-the-art curriculum planning and professional development apps and tools to help educators effectively implement the standards. CPALMS was built primarily for Florida's educators but it transformed into a global resource with users from more than 200+ countries and territories around the world.

"I am thrilled for our staff that works tirelessly to make the CPALMS platform a model for innovative learning solutions," said LSI Director Rabieh Razzouk. "The Tools Competition is a global competition with more than 750 proposals submitted. To see our staff selected as one of 16 finalists in this track is exciting and gratifying."

The Learning Engineering Tools Competition aims to spur the development and deployment of technologies that address pressing education issues from early childhood to secondary education while advancing the field of learning engineering. Rather than designing silver bullet solutions, these tools will be designed for continuous improvement to maximize their effectiveness over time. The CPALMS proposal is led by Carrie Meyers, Jim Reynolds, Rob Lengacher and Razzouk.

“Among proposals in the transforming assessments track, we saw tools for all forms of assessments rethinking how to measure student outcomes. This included tools measuring nonacademic elements of learning and development, assessing school and classroom environments, and utilizing intelligent tutoring technology and gamification to adapt to learners,”according to the release announcing the finalists.

The 2022-23 Tools Competition is a philanthropic initiative sponsored by Schmidt Futures, Kenneth C. Griffin, Citadel and Citadel Securities, the Walton Family Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and AlleyCorp. Winners will be announced this summer.