Mission Statement
We are a not-for-profit, called EdTech for Learning, established in 2023 to champion access to, and the usage of, education technologies (EdTech) to improve teaching and learning. EdTech for Learning will create a range of EdTech solutions that are low cost, easy to deploy, manage and use.
These systems will be built upon open source technology, leverage the use of Generative AI and use EdTech interoperability standards to enable the establishment of EdTech Ecosystems.
More importantly, the emphasis will be on identifying, enabling and supporting local social entrepreneurs who will improve teaching and learning in their communities around the world through the use of these new EdTech Ecosystem solutions.
To explore our mission in more detail, check out this presentation:
People
Dr Colin Smythe BSc, FIET, FBCS, C.Eng 
Dr. Smythe has a degree in Applied Physics and was awarded a PhD for work on spread spectrum local area networks; both from the University of Durham, UK. In the 1980s Dr. Smythe worked at Logica Ltd, was lecturer at the Universities of Durham (Department of Applied Physics) and Surrey (Department of Electronics & Electrical Engineering) and was the founder and managing director of the systems consultancy Hyperion Systems Ltd. During that period, he acted as independent consultant to many private and public organisations, and also gave numerous industrially oriented training courses on communications and software engineering.
In the 1990s Dr. Smythe was a member of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Sheffield and became Head of Department and Professor of Computer Science. At the University of Sheffield his research was focused on the modelling and performance analysis of data networks. Currently he is a director and principal consultant of Dunelm Services Ltd. – a company specialising in the provision of Applied Research in Information & Communications Technology (ICT).
Since October 1999 Dr. Smythe has worked with 1Edtech/IMS Global Learning Consortium. 1EdTech is the World’s premier e-learning specification development organisation. Currently he am the 1EdTech Chief Architect, responsible for overseeing the development and maintenance of the suite of 1EdTech specifications, and supporting their adoption and adaption to fit various learning and teaching processes and workflows used in different parts of the globe.
Apart from my 1EdTech responsibilities Dr. Smythe has also worked with a wide range of Technology companies to support the acquisition of funding (some £60million raised in the past 15 years). He has also undertaken many Technical Due Diligence activities on behalf of several UK-based VCs
During the last twenty years Dr. Smythe has worked on a number of public and private sector e-learning projects and given presentations on this topic in many parts of the world. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET), a Fellow of the BCS and a Chartered Engineer. From 2014-2023 he was a Member of the BCS Council and from 2020-2023 a Trustee of the BCS.
In the role as CEO at Edtech For Learning, his hope is to be able to use the wide range of skills and expertise acquired over the past 40 years to provide easy access to high quality, digital education materials and edtech systems, for those people who have limited or no access to digital technology.
Dr Thor Anderson
Dr. Thor Anderson is an Associate Professor in the Digital Media department at Utah Valley University. He has worked in educational technology, eLearning standards, and web development for almost thirty years. Thor is currently working on software that uses AI to assist with capturing learning competencies in a vector database allowing instructors and employers to match competencies with employable skills.
Thor has worked for Apple, Netscape, Oracle, Neumont, Utah Valley University and the IMS Global Learning Consortium (now 1EdTech) along with other organizations. He has a bachelor’s degree in German and a Master’s and PhD in Instructional Technology. When not teaching or writing code, he enjoys working on his restored 1964 Corvair Spyder convertible.
Dr Stephen P Vickers
Dr Vickers is a freelance consultant specializing in Educational Technology. He has been engaged with using technology in higher education for over 40 years both using it as an academic and in a support role. He lead the ceLTIc Project (funded by JISC) which continues to provide open source solutions for the Learning Tools Interoperability specification from 1EdTech, including a PHP class library and plugins for WordPress. His passion is empowering others to leverage technology within the educational environment.
Mark McKell, MSc
Mark McKell is a freelance consultant offering management services in business development, strategic and operational planning, bringing together diverse teams, and successfully delivering on desired outcomes. With over twenty-five years experience in education technology, he has played a pivotal role in developing standards that foster interoperable learning environments. His collaborative approach has successfully united customers, developers, technical architects, and executive decision makers to deliver impactful results.
Mark has worked for Novell, IMS Global Learning Consortium (now 1EdTech), Pearson, and as an independent consultant. He has a Master’s in Information Management and a Bachelor’s in English Literature. He enjoys exploring the outdoors in the tops of the mountains, the depths of the woods, the wilds of the desert, and the open expanse of waters. He also serves on the board of directors for a redwood forest preserve near his home town in northern California.