Is it possible for technology to accurately assess academic writing across the humanities?
As it turned out, for Jamey Heit and Robin
Donaldson, the answer was, yes.
Combining Jamey’s command of writing instruction with Robin’s
computer science expertise, the two developed ecree.
Help level the playing field and provide widespread access to fast, easy and personalized writing feedback that can help every student – and every teacher.
Both Jamey and Robin understand the importance of students’ developing strong writing skills – and they understand the frustration of teachers who have limited time for providing high-quality feedback.
To hear more about Ecree’s story, check out this video.
Our co-founders are both educators and technologists who are passionate about changing everything we think we know about writing assessment.
Get to know them.
Our co-founder and CEO, Jamey Heit, has spent more than a decade teaching students how to write.
If there is one thing he's learned during that time, it's that good writing is a skill that will be useful throughout life, from getting into college to achieving a successful career.
Our co-founder and CTO, Robin Donaldson, has been fascinated with computers and figuring out how things worked since he was a kid. Using a book on computer programming that he bought after saving $50 from his allowance, at the age of 12 he learned how to build software and web sites.
Our co-founder and CTO, Robin Donaldson, has been fascinated with computers and figuring out how things worked since he was a kid. Using a book on computer programming that he bought after saving $50 from his allowance, at the age of 12 he learned how
to build software and web sites.
Robin always found reading and writing essays difficult at school. He was diagnosed as dyslexic, and given a laptop computer to write his essays. Shortly after, he started a business reviewing video games online and found
that writing the reviews was a great way to practice expressing himself.
After receiving his first degree in Software Engineering with First Class Honors at the University of Glasgow, he has since received a master's degree in Computational Biology at the University of Cambridge and his PhD
in Computing Science at the University of Glasgow. He was recently a postdoctoral research scholar at Stanford University, while being the Chief Technical Officer for technology-based health company, Phronesis Health, Inc. Needless
to say, Robin is always in search of a challenge.
Throughout his career, he has dedicated his passion and talents in computer science to build technological resolutions to issues in some of the world's most challenging industries, including genetics, cellular biology
and health care. Now, Robin has co-founded ecree.
Our co-founder and CEO, Jamey Heit, has spent more than a decade teaching students how to write.
If there is one thing he's learned during that time, it's that good writing is skill that will be useful throughout life, from getting into college to achieving a successful career.
He taught his first course in English Composition during his first Master's degree program at Princeton (he ended up with two Master's degrees from Princeton). From there he earned a PhD with honors at Glasgow University
in the Humanities. Along the way he has published multiple books, presented his work at major international conferences, and taught thousands of students how to be better writers. He's graded more than 20,000 essays. He's been a reader
for the TOEFL and he's tutored hundreds of students to help them prepare for this test.
His experience also extends to the professional world. He's worked with major corporations to improve their content and communication strategies.
Through it all, he's seen what separates great writers from the good ones. He's seen how good writing can get people into Ivy League universities. He knows how to help students prepare for the writing portions of important
tests.
ecree was created to help dedicated students and professionals around the world become incredible writers. His goal in doing so is to empower them with opportunities for a fulfilling lifestyle that they deserve.
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