DC Startup Sorcero Brings New Tech to Adult Learners at Byte Back

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 20, 2019 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Learning technology skills requires technology. That’s why Byte Back and Sorcero recently started teaming up to integrate AI software that makes learning and retaining information easier in the tech classroom.

Byte Back, a D.C.-based nonprofit with 22 years of experience providing inclusive tech education, and Sorcero, a D.C.-based startup, are a natural fit. This is the first community-serving direct-impact nonprofit that Sorcero has partnered with to test its software, and they see it as an opportunity to enhance their product while also making a positive impact in the community.

In Byte Back’s CompTIA A+ course, which started last month, students use official A+ guides with more than 1,300 pages of material. It takes time and repetition to master it all and be ready for two challenging certification exams.

With Sorcero, it’s easier and quicker. Students enter questions and instantly get answers sourced directly from the curriculum, guides, and the instructors themselves.

“Unlike using a traditional search engine, where there can be too much information, Sorcero is much more focused,” said Andrew Quilpa, Byte Back technical instructor, who first piloted the software in his CompTIA IT Fundamentals course in fall 2018.

“They get the answers that will help them ultimately pass the test,” said Quilpa, adding that it makes studying at home easier because they can use the software on computers, through email, or even through text message. When they’re ready for job interviews, they can refer back. And, when they start their first tech job, they can continue learning and get answers to help them succeed in the IT workplace.

The software also puts tech within reach for adults who may not have access to devices at home. “For Byte Back students who don’t have a computer at home, Sorcero is a huge help because they can use it through SMS,” Quilpa said.

For Sorcero, testing at Byte Back is an essential part of creating a product that is useful for diverse users with an array of tech skills. “Often times, we have found that technology is not always optimized for the lives of people like the students of Byte Back – people who may not have laptops at home, who may not be able to spend as much time using tech,” said Dipanwita Das, the CEO and founder of Sorcero. “We want Byte Back students to help inform the design of Sorcero from the very beginning.”

The startup is donating their product to the nonprofit, looking to make an impact, with a “community of learners to make sure they don’t continue to be left out,” Das said.

“Providing students with a flexible learning tool they can use anywhere and anytime greatly enhances their chances of succeeding in class,” said Mark Rivera, education manager at Byte Back.

ABOUT BYTE BACK:
Byte Back, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, provides a pathway of inclusive tech training that leads to living-wage careers. As a leader in digital inclusion since 1997, Byte Back has helped hundreds of graduates launch living-wage careers that use technology. In 2018, 50 graduates were hired, earning $27,599 more per year than before Byte Back training. See more at https://byteback.org/.

ABOUT SORCERO: 
Sorcero is a cognitive technology company that has reimagined knowledge and learning to help people do remarkable things. Developed by MIT Media Lab veterans, Sorcero is turning chatbots, virtual assistants and search on their heads. Uniquely transparent, Sorcero supercharges performance with frictionless access to contextual answers, knowledge and learning—making people smarter and more productive. Instantly. See more at https://www.sorcero.com/.

News Source: Byte Back