1. How has Edcite evolved over the years to address the changing needs of educational assessments in the US?
Edcite began its journey a decade ago, initially launching a free version and later introduced premium features. Over the years, Edcite has experienced significant growth and successfully met the needs of many teachers and students across the country. We have continually added and improved features to assist students in preparing for state tests. And we have also introduced a range of new reporting tools that make performance analysis easier for teachers across various metrics.
2. How do you ensure the security and privacy of student data, especially with growing concerns around cybersecurity?
At Edcite, we prioritize student data privacy. With recent state regulations, we are actively preparing to meet the requirements. We only collect the minimal student information necessary and do not share any Personal Identifiable Information (PII) with third parties. Additionally, we are planning to implement new measures, such as deleting and anonymizing student data after a certain period.
3. How does your team handle software updates and ensure the platform stays robust during peak usage, such as exam periods?
Updating the product requires careful consideration. During peak usage times, we aim to keep software updates minimal. We avoid significant updates during critical periods, such as student assessment times, focusing only on essential updates that won’t impact students or teachers. Additionally, we ensure the product remains operational by closely monitoring the servers.
4. How do you coordinate between different teams—such as IT, product development, and customer support—to ensure smooth platform operations?
We have various technical and non-technical teams collaborating to ensure smooth operations. Multiple meetings are scheduled at different levels to help team members understand each other’s work and exchange ideas. Additionally, we use various chat groups for communication within and across the teams. We also use different platforms to interact with our US team, who engage with customers to understand their requirements and respond accordingly.
5. What are some of the most recent features added to Edcite’s platform, and how have they enhanced the user experience for both teachers and students?
Edcite continually improves its product to stay aligned with the latest trends. Our recent major update introduced a new teacher-facing interface, enhancing the look and feel while ensuring compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This update has made the user interface much simpler and more interactive, leading to positive feedback from our users. We also plan to update the student interface in the near future.
6. What’s the process behind developing and testing new features to ensure they meet the needs of educators and align with the platform’s overall goals?
Edcite has weekly release cycles dedicated to bug fixing and enhancing existing features. Each week, developers list their changes for testing, and the testing team evaluates them, reporting any additional issues back to the developers. This process continues until all the issues are resolved and fixes are ready for the end users on release day. Additionally, we prioritize testing the key features of the entire product before the release to ensure that nothing is broken that could impact the user experience.
7. What are some of your hobbies or activities that help you unwind and stay creative outside of work?
Listening to music and practicing yoga regularly help me relax and energize me. Although I’m not a great cook, I enjoy experimenting with new recipes, especially when it comes to desserts. I also love traveling and exploring different parts of the country.