M-SParc, along with tenants 42able, Animated Technologies, and Brandified, are leading the way in ensuring Welsh-language EdTech is innovative, accessible, and available in classrooms across Wales. This evolution in EdTech will enhance how we learn, teach, and engage with language and technology, with the Welsh language at the forefront.
AI solutions company, 42able, is working with educators in Gwynedd and beyond to develop AI tools that support teachers and reduce workload. Digital agency Animated Technologies have developed a virtual village, using virtual reality, that supports children to learn and practice Welsh in a whole new way. Digital media company Brandified, who secured funding through HacIaith – an M-SParc-led hackathon co-funded by the Welsh Government – are developing creative games to promote everyday use of the Welsh language for children.
The STEM & Skills team at M-SParc are working closely with Tinint, the digital agency arm of Tinopolis, to develop classroom versions of their ‘Cwis Bob Dydd’ daily Welsh language quiz and are continuing their own work of developing and delivering Curriculum based, industry lead programs, leading the way in supporting primary and secondary school pupils to become the innovators of tomorrow.
Innovation is essential to drive our economy forward, and create well paid jobs and sustainable businesses in the region. We’re proud to support our tenant companies, and it’s inspiring to see them identifying demand and creating new products and solutions to support Welsh education.
Emily Roberts, Outreach and Community Manager, M-SParc
42able’s journey began with an introduction to Gwynedd Council, who were looking to ease the workload on headteachers. In response, a policy chat was developed; a tool designed to simplify policy access and communication utilising AI. After successfully rolling this out to all schools in Gwynedd, 42able built an AI-powered attendance dashboard. Using weekly data from schools, the dashboard offers insights at both the local authority and individual school level, helping identify trends, target support for at-risk students, and inform better, faster decisions by school leaders.
I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done with Gwynedd Council over the past year. It’s been a rewarding partnership that’s shown how technology can ease pressure on educators and make a real difference for students. We’re excited to build on this success and expand 42able’s impact across other local authorities to help improve education and outcomes for even more young people.
James Finney, 42able
Animated Technologies have been working on a virtual reality village, the creatively named ‘Aberwla’, to allow children to navigate the world through Welsh by replicating real life tasks like shopping or ordering food. Providing prompts, multiple choice responses, and a low-stakes opportunities to practice speaking with virtual residents, Aberwla is now in the pipeline to become a staple on the pan-Wales ‘Hwb’ platform.
It’s amazing to see Aberwla now available for download on both the Meta and Pico platforms. This marks a significant milestone in making immersive Welsh language learning more accessible and engaging for schools across Wales. With the support of the body that oversees the provision of educational resources in Wales, Adnodd, we’ve adapted Aberwla for these widely used VR headsets, creating new possibilities for interactive learning in the classroom.
Anna Burke, Animated Technologies
Brandified and Tinint both secured funding from M-SParc’s HacIaith in 2024. Brandified used the funding to prototype “Cardiau Cosmos”, an innovative app designed to immerse children in the Welsh language through a fun, interactive, and digital experience. The app works by using physical NFC cards that children can scan to access songs and stories in Welsh. Tinint, the team behind the hit Welsh-language app Cwis Bob Dydd, have worked with M-SParc to research and pilot a classroom quiz app designed to bring fun, competition, and language learning together in one easy-to-use platform, encouraging the use of Welsh in all schools daily.
HacIaith 2024 was extremely valuable, providing an essential platform to evaluate and collaborate on our production for S4C, Quiz Bob Dydd. The research and development undertaken has highlighted exciting market opportunities and paved the way for us to innovate by using Artificial Intelligence to help create new content, and work to bring the Quiz to the Classroom.
Aled Parry, TinInt
M-SParc’s own role in reshaping education extends beyond supporting start-ups. Through hands-on and award-winning outreach programs delivered in schools across North Wales, the team is helping to create the next generation of creators, coders, and climate champions.
Under the brand ‘Sgil Sparc’, M-SParc take entrepreneurship, sustainability, and digital skills to the classroom in a way that has been researched, tested, and proven to support the new Curriculum for Wales, grow learners’ confidence in engaging with STEM subjects, and develop cross-curricular skills. Whether it’s building a business from scratch, designing an eco-village powered by clean energy, or producing documentaries from storyboarding to editing, pupils are getting a head start in key future-ready skills. M-SParc also runs after-school workshops covering coding, programming, gaming, and design, all with the aim of making STEM skills accessible, exciting, and relevant to young people in Wales.
The full cast of companies will be joining M-SParc at the National Education Show in Llandudno on the 13th of June; find them at stand 29. To discuss EdTech in the region, find out more about any of the projects, or to discuss Sgil Sparc for your school, email emily@m-sparc.com, or visit our STEM & Skills page.
tom@m-sparc.com
Tom used to work at the KFC in his hometown of Colwyn Bay before it mysteriously burned down. He then spent several years “on the lam” in East Germany, where he worked as an animator in Berlin. When the wall fell, Tom came home.
He enjoys climbing and hates ice-skating.
