Supplemental Learning Program Implemented in Texas School Districts
Posted on: Tuesday, 6 November 2007, 12:00 CST
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- As Principal Joe Craig turned the corner, he noticed one of his students at Academy ISD High School walking sluggishly down the hall.
"Blake, didn't you get enough sleep last night," inquired Principal Craig.
"Mr. Craig, I am really tired. I was up late working on that Apangea Learning thing trying to earn a gift card to iTunes," explained the student.
In spite of X-box, Wii, cell phones and iPods, it was a learning solution that engaged this student. That "Apangea Learning thing" is being utilized by a number of school districts throughout Texas, including: Academy ISD, Brownfield ISD, Decatur ISD, Giddings ISD, seven districts within Region 17, Pasadena ISD, Pearsall ISD, Ralls ISD and Southland ISD.
Texas school districts are using Apangea Learning SmartHelp to provide one-student-to-one-teacher differentiated math instruction. Apangea Learning is able to provide these school districts quality instruction for $1 per instructional hour through a unique economic model that integrates online learning with certified teachers, who communicate with a student live through Flash Communications (voice and instant messaging technology).
"Oak Grove began using Apangea Learning as an intervention tool for struggling fifth graders," explained Sabrina Andrews, Brownfield ISD. "Teachers immediately saw how Apangea Learning could be used to re-enforce math skills for all students and requested additional seats so that all fifth grade students could benefit from this great learning tool."
SmartHelp begins with an interactive lesson that teaches students specific mathematical concepts. Every SmartHelp lesson is presented in English, but in accordance with best practices in serving English Language Learners (ELL), can be heard in eight languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Korean.
Once students complete the lesson, they begin working through math problems aligned to Texas' state standards. SmartHelp's five-step problem solving process helps students learn to think critically and teaches them essential problem-solving skills. During the problem solving process, if a student makes a mistake or needs advice, SmartHelp's multi-tiered tutoring escalation model intervenes.
Initial guidance is provided through SmartHelp's intelligent tutoring system, which is represented by computer animated "learning coaches." These learning coaches emulate tutoring best practices and provide instant support and feedback to each student.
When students need additional help, they are able to click on to a problem tutor, a certified teacher, who is instantly connected and provides individualized assistance through live, interactive voice and chat technology.
Those students needing an extra level of help in understanding concepts are seamlessly pulled from their current problem to work with our live concept tutors one-on-one on short lessons in a unique e-whiteboard environment.
In addition to providing quality instruction that has been proven to help schools meet Annual Yearly Progress (AYP), SmartHelp also motivates students to want to learn math. SmartHelp incorporates a motivation system that as students work through problems, they accrue points for their efforts. After reaching a certain number of points, students can redeem these points for gift cards at their favorite retailer. For students who have a competitive nature, SmartHelp showcases a "leader board." Students can see how many points they have compared to the class high score or even the high score of all SmartHelp users across the country.
In the end, it is no wonder that Blake was caught up in that "Apangea Learning thing."
About Apangea Learning: Apangea Learning is setting a new standard in the way students learn. The company's groundbreaking SmartHelp tutoring solution enables students to dramatically improve achievement, at the most cost- effective price. SmartHelp provides differentiated math instruction for every student via a multi-tiered escalation model that integrates its intelligent tutoring system and live one-on-one human tutors. It utilizes innovative Web- based technology that engages students and teaches essential problem-solving skills. Apangea Learning's solutions are based on one of the world's largest bodies of cognitive research and are aligned to both the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and with individual state math standards. Visit Apangea Learning on the Web at http://www.apangealearning.com/ .
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Apangea Learning
CONTACT: Brian D. Wallace of Apangea Learning, +1-412-894-9943
Web site: http://www.apangealearning.com/
Source: PRNewswire
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