Redefining the student teacher learning experience online and in the classroom

Interactive

eReader

Customizable

Writer’s Universe

Flexible

ePlanner

Services

Custom Software Development, Design, IT Outstaffing, Legacy Modernization, Maintenance & Support, Mobile App Development, Product Discovery, Software Development, Software Testing Services, Team Development, Technical Co-Founder

Industries

Consumer Products, Ed-Tech, Safety and Compliance

Technologies

Backbone.js, Canvas, Drawing engine, HTML5/CSS3, Lithium, Narration engine, Pure JS, UML, WebAudio

About THE Project

Benchmark Education is a leading educational publisher dedicated to supporting K-12 students, teachers, and administrators with innovative digital learning tools. Their mission is to ensure equal learning opportunities for all students, including struggling readers, gifted learners, students with disabilities, and English language learners (ELLs).

To accelerate curriculum digitization and provide scalable, interactive e-learning solutions, Benchmark partnered with Spiral Scout to build feature-rich web and mobile applications that empower teachers with customized, differentiated instruction and engage students with interactive reading and writing experiences.

OBJECTIVES

Develop and scale K-12 digital learning platforms with engaging, interactive tools.
Build responsive web and mobile apps to ensure accessibility across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
Enable differentiated learning through personalized curriculum planning, e-readers, and writing tools.
Accelerate time-to-market for new ed-tech products, ensuring competitive advantage.
Integrate seamless digital workflows for teachers, students, and administrators.

Challenges

Solutions

Challenges

Creating Engaging & Customizable Digital Learning Tools

Teachers needed flexible, easy-to-use tools to customize lesson plans, assign digital activities, and monitor student progress.

Solutions

Specialized eLearning Development Team

Spiral Scout developed interactive, teacher-friendly applications with customizable lesson planning, annotation tools, and multimedia integration, giving educators full control over their curriculum delivery.

Challenges

Enhancing Student Engagement Through Interactive Learning

Many students struggle with traditional learning formats and need more engaging, dynamic content. Benchmark aimed to transform eBooks into interactive tools that allowed educators to customize teaching based on individual or group needs.

Solutions

Interactive eReader Application

We built interactive e-readers and writing tools with real-time text markup, audio narration, and embedded video tutorials, making lessons more immersive and engaging for students of all levels.

Challenges

Fast-Tracking Product Development & Time-to-Market

The ed-tech industry is highly competitive, and Benchmark needed rapid product launches to stay ahead of competitors. For example, The Writer’s Universe project needed to be completed in under 2 months (most likely a 6 month project) to meet contractual promises with California school districts.

Solutions

Accelerated Development Process

Using agile development methodologies, we built and deployed multiple ed-tech applications within months, significantly reducing development cycles and accelerating go-to-market strategies.

Challenges

Scalability for Future Growth & Expansion

Benchmark needed a high-performance ed-tech infrastructure that could support thousands of concurrent users without slowdowns.

Solutions

Custom Tools and Apps

Spiral Scout implemented a scalable microservices architecture and optimized data processing workflows, ensuring seamless performance, even during peak usage periods. For example, we created ePlanner for them which was a curriculum building and planning tool with a calendar component, sophisticated search, and drag-and-drop interface for easy lesson management.

benchmark education’s Project strategy

Overview of the critical steps that shaped Benchmarks’ projects success and addressed its key challenges.

Collaborative Product Development with Benchmark Education

We worked closely with Benchmark’s leadership, product managers, and educators to align business goals with technical execution. Through frequent feedback loops and iterative prototyping, we ensured every product met the needs of teachers and students.

Responsive & Accessible Design for All Devices

To make learning accessible anywhere, anytime, we designed fully responsive web and mobile applications that worked across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices, ensuring seamless usability across all platforms.

Advanced Digital Learning Features

We integrated AI-powered and custom-built features to enhance the learning experience, including:
✅ Interactive eReader – Customizable reading tools with annotations, text markup, and narration.
✅ Writer’s Universe – A digital writing platform that guides students through structured learning exercises.
✅ ePlanner Tool – A teacher-focused curriculum planner with drag-and-drop scheduling, calendar integration, and lesson tracking.

Project results

By partnering with Spiral Scout, Benchmark Education successfully launched a suite of scalable ed-tech applications, empowering millions of students and teachers with next-generation digital learning tools.

deliverables

Expanded digital curriculum offerings, enhancing teaching efficiency and student engagement.
Won them millions in contracts with LA Unified School Disctrict
Increased platform adoption across hundreds of school districts, driving higher retention rates.
Reduced lesson planning time by 40%, allowing educators to focus more on student interaction.
Delivered new products to market 70% faster, ensuring Benchmark Education remained an industry leader.