It’s a sad day in the office at N4L as we announce the closure of our education platform, Pond.
The platform was initially built to connect educators with curated teaching and learning resources. The theory seemed pretty sound too – if we connect schools to the internet to support learning, why not provide a platform to connect educators with teaching and learning content? In the early days it seemed we were on to something as educators signed up in droves, eager to make a splash.
Five years on and the enthusiasm has waned. As with anything, there are a number of factors that have contributed to this outcome but the reality is that Pond has always lived in the shadows of the Managed Network. And rightfully so – N4L was established to provide safe and secure internet access to all state/state-integrated schools across the country.
The Managed Network delivers on this commitment and is the reason we exist today. Maintaining this commitment requires ongoing focus as we continue to upgrade our safety services to all 2400+ schools. We’re darn proud of what we’ve accomplished in this space. At the same time, we know that there is so much more we need to do – so this is where we will focus.
In closing Pond, we acknowledge that we created a platform that didn’t quite hit the mark. We’re disappointed in this result – it hurts – and we know there will be others who share this disappointment.
While we’ve spoken with many of Pond’s most active supporters and contributors already, we’d also like to take the opportunity to thank you for your support. Whether you dipped your toes or made a huge splash, we’d like to acknowledge your time and the spirit with which you engaged with Pond over the last 5 years.
Thank you, truly.
Farewell Pond.
Pond will officially close on Friday 28 June – users will no longer be able to access the platform or it’s resources from this date..