A marketplace for college courses, called Acadeum, has raised $11.92 million in funding as the popularity of course sharing grows among learners and institutions. OneClass is a platform that allows students to share their notes, study guides, and other course materials with their peers. The platform has over 10 million users and is available in over 90 countries. The funding round was led by Green Street Impact Partners, the fund’s first investment, along with ECMC Group’s Education Impact Fund and Pearson Ventures. The funds will be used to expand the platform’s offerings and to grow its user base.
Acadeum has seen a surge in demand for its services during the COVID-19 pandemic, as more students have had to learn remotely. The platform has also been embraced by institutions, who see it as a way to supplement their own course materials and provide students with additional resources.
“Today’s learners are older, and more likely to be parents or working, than at any point in our nation’s history. That new majority of learners are putting pressure on institutions to align course offerings with the realities of their schedules and responsibilities beyond the classroom,” said David Daniels, CEO of Acadeum. “At a moment when some are questioning the role and relevance of American colleges, we’re building tools to leverage the collective strength of our nation’s higher education system to unlock new opportunities for both institutions—and students.”
The rise of course sharing platforms like OneClass has raised concerns among some educators, who worry that students may be using these services to cheat. However, Acadeum has implemented measures to prevent cheating, such as requiring users to verify their identity and monitoring the platform for suspicious activity. In addition to its note-sharing platform, Acadeum also offers a tutoring service that connects students with qualified tutors in a variety of subjects. The company plans to use the new funding to expand this service and to develop new features that will make it easier for students to find the resources they need to succeed in their courses.
Overall, the growth of course sharing platforms like Acadeum reflects the changing landscape of higher education. As more students turn to online learning, these platforms provide a way for them to connect with their peers and access additional resources that can help them succeed. While there are concerns about cheating, platforms like OneClass are taking steps to address these issues and ensure that their services are used responsibly.
