MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Apr 19, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Academic Systems, the
higher education division of Lightspan, Inc. and the leading provider of
interactive multimedia instructional programs for college students, and
SMARTHINKING, the highly-acclaimed supplier of online academic support for high
schools, colleges and universities, today announced a partnership to offer live,
online tutoring to students using Academic Systems Interactive Mathematics. Through the Interactive Mathematics SMARTHINKING Tutoring Service, a new and
unique offering provided by the two companies, any higher education institution
can offer its students access to full course online mathematics instruction with
live, online tutoring available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "One of the biggest problems educational institutions face is providing learner
support in a timely fashion. This is especially true as technology allows
learning to take place around-the-clock. This partnership solves that problem
for students who are using our Interactive Mathematics course materials," said
Jim Dredge, CEO of Academic Systems. "The new offering is part of our ongoing
commitment to expand the breadth of the capabilities we offer higher education,
by providing integrated products and services that help address the significant
issues of student retention and persistence, as well as efficient use of
institutional resources." Interactive Mathematics is an award-winning, multimedia instructional resource
created in collaboration with educators that provides flexible content for
Prealgebra, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra and College Algebra.
Campuses using the materials will, as of this summer, be able to choose the
Interactive Mathematics SMARTHINKING Tutoring Service as an optional add-on to
their current offerings. By selecting the new option, campuses can provide their students with the live
help they need, when they need it, by connecting with a SMARTHINKING tutor or
"e-structor(TM)" directly from within their Interactive Mathematics lessons.
Students engage in live one-on-one, personal tutoring sessions with e-structors
using an online whiteboard that makes rendering mathematics symbols, problems,
and equations easy and intuitive. Students also may use the same graphics rich
whiteboard to submit questions and get instructional help returned to them. "As a client of both SMARTHINKING and Academic Systems, we are thrilled that the
two companies have come together to give us greater ability to improve retention
and persistence, better manage enrollments and make efficient use of resources,"
said Judith Wood, Mathematics Faculty at Central Florida Community College. In addition to being screened, trained and highly qualified for tutoring in an
online environment, the SMARTHINKING e-structors will be trained to help
students specifically using Academic Systems' Interactive Mathematics
curriculum, ensuring seamless tutorial sessions for students. Additionally, each
student's tutorial sessions will be tracked and archived so students can refer
back to them, print them out to study from, or ask additional questions. "Through this partnership students can get the help they need to learn
mathematics, whether they're working from home or in a lab, any time of the day
or night, greatly improving their chances for success and helping ensure that
students don't fall through the cracks," said Burck Smith, SMARTHINKING's CEO.
"We look forward to working with Academic Systems to help campuses nationwide
use online student support to help increase student achievement and retention." SMARTHINKING currently works with more than 200 universities and high schools to
provide their students with comprehensive online tutoring and academic support.
In addition to its institutional clients, SMARTHINKING serves as the online
tutoring provider for the eArmy University, which provides access to quality
education for enlisted soldiers around the globe.
About Academic Systems Academic Systems Corporation, the higher education division of Lightspan, Inc.
has focused on meeting the needs of higher education faculty and students since
it was founded in 1992. The company's interactive, multimedia instructional
programs, Interactive Mathematics and Interactive English, offer an enhanced
learning environment for college students in developmental and entry-level
courses. Created in concert with educators, Academic Systems' networked courses have
demonstrated increases in learning and achievement; the programs have been used
by more than 300,000 students. In addition, academic.com, Academic Systems' new
Web-based product, offers a comprehensive online content library for targeted
skill development across many disciplines. For more information contact Academic
Systems Corporation at 800/694-6850, or visit the Web site at www.academic.com.
About SMARTHINKING SMARTHINKING provides the people, technology and training to help educational
institutions offer outstanding academic support to their students. From
licensing its proprietary learning support technology to managing and staffing a
comprehensive online academic support program with qualified and trained tutors,
SMARTHINKING provides the customized solution to meet its clients' learner
support needs. Visit us online at: www.SMARTHINKING.com "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: This release contains forward looking statements that are subject to risks
and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in economic conditions
in the Company's market areas; changes in policies by regulatory agencies and
educational organizations; the volatility of the Company's expenses and
operating results; market acceptance of the Company's curriculum based software
and Internet products; management of rapid growth; risks associated with
expanding the Company's Internet business; changes in funding for public
schools; technological advances and risks related thereto and other risks
detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on
any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically
disclaims any obligation, to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect
the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the
date of such statements. These risks could cause the Company's actual results
for 2003 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward
looking statements by, or on behalf of, the Company.
CONTACT: Academic Systems
Krista Nash, 303/932-7622
krista@nashcominc.com
or
SMARTHINKING
Andrea Fuller, 202/543-5034 ext. 206
afuller@SMARTHINKING.com URL: http://www.businesswire.com
Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet
with Hyperlinks to your home page. |
