The Details & Back-story:
Civitas Learning is yet another ed tech brainchild of CEO Charles Thornburgh. (Early ventures include ClickSafety.com, an online safety training company).

The Austin, Texas-based startup (launched May 2012) brings predictive analytics to higher education, ultimately measuring what works and what doesn't, using BIG data to improve various key outcomes at multiple levels of the higher ed institution.

Unique Point-of-difference:
They provide real-time data views of college dropout rates (among other statistics) and personalized recommendations for administrators, faculty, and students regarding key academic decisions. These recommendations are driven by (BIG) data that supports and/or negates past teaching approaches, course selections/combinations, and even extra-curricular activities.

Edlab Relevance:
Civitas Learning is a single comprehensive service, whereas EdLab has many independent service entities; e.g., Pundit and Ednode. Is there a benefit to one approach over the other? Should we continue pushing each service individually, or should we consider marketing the "umbrella" that is EdLab/mSchool/other?

Also, how valuable is real-time data visualization to the users of existing and future EdLab products? How could EdLab better present/capitalize on the data-mining capabilities of our existing and future products?

Our Takeaway:
Civitas Learning is a one-stop shop for data-based solutions in all levels of higher education.