We’re a small company in Pittsburgh, PA founded in 2013, based on research from Carnegie Mellon University‘s Language Technologies Institute. We’ve developed an industry-leading tool, LightSIDE, which uses machine learning to automatically assess written text. This has particularly interesting implications for automated scoring and feedback in education.
LightSIDE provides the possibility of instant feedback to students, lightened workloads for graders, and the possibility of deep constructed response essay prompts at large scale, something that is simply not possible when relying on human graders at every step of the process. We want to emphasize the use of this technology throughout the writing process, not just in high-stakes final grading, but in revision, editing, peer review, and teachers’ ability to assess progress through drafts, scaffolded by automated feedback using machine learning.
Right now, feedback at this level of revision is impossible; teachers simply don’t have enough hours in a day. By helping students make progress early on, and giving teachers the information they need to focus their attention where it’s needed most, our technology brings the prospect of real access to writing in education, a key goal of the latest moves in the education field.
If you’re a computer scientist or are interested in the high-end educational technology market, especially with an interest in machine learning for text data, we’re always scouting out the possibility of new collaborators or employees. Alternatively, if you’re interested in the technology behind automated essay grading, we’d also like to talk to you. Get in touch with us!