|
Press Releases
 Pearson Digital Learning Introduces Waterford Early Math & Science Levels Two and Three Adaptive, Computer-based
Instruction for First and Second Graders Mesa, Arizona, June 21, 2004 – Pearson Digital Learning today announces Level Two and Level Three of the Waterford Early Math & Science™ program, adaptive computer-based instruction developed by the nonprofit Waterford Institute. Waterford Early Math & Science fosters hands-on exploration and inquiry-based learning, giving students a solid foundation in basic math skills and science content as well as creative problem solving. The introduction of Levels Two and Three, which are designed for first and second grade students, respectively, follows the successful implementation of Level One in preschool and kindergarten classrooms across the country. Using research-based software that adapts to the student’s learning pace, each of the program’s three levels provides a full year of daily instructional activities, as well as take-home books, videotapes, CDs, and audiocassettes to extend the learning process. “Each Waterford computer is like having another teacher in the classroom, working one on one with students,” said Dr. Barbara Wright, principal at Commons Lane Elementary in Florissant, Mo. “In math and science, I’m amazed at what students can do simply because they’ve been on Waterford. For example, one second grade teacher was having a class discussion during a science lesson and students started talking about the food chain. They hadn't yet seen that concept anywhere except in the Waterford Early Math & Science program. Students’ reactions to the program let you know that they’re excited about learning — and that they’re paying attention.” Each level of Waterford Early Math & Science is broken down into four areas: daily activities, number concepts, abstract concepts, and science. The curriculum’s progression is a combination of new concepts, reviewed concepts, and assessments that ensure mastery for each objective. The math portion of the program provides instruction, practice, application, extension activities, and review to help students achieve competency in both number skills and abstract thinking before moving to higher math objectives. The science lessons, which are based on the idea that all students can be scientists, combine music, art, stories, and interactive experiments with virtual science tools to engage students while they learn about their world.
Waterford Early Math & Science Level Two features 125 math objectives and 52 science objectives. It includes math concepts such as addition and subtraction, skip counting, ordinal numbers, expanded notation, length and weight, graphing, and probability. Level Two’s science concepts include such topics as matter, gravity, animals, food chains, plants, ecosystems, weather and seasons, air and water conservation, and health. Level Three contains 52 math objectives and 30 science objectives. It includes math concepts such as place value, number patterns, subtraction with and without regrouping, multiplication, division, and perimeter. It also includes science topics such as light and electricity, heat, life cycles and growth, inherited and learned traits, moon patterns, fossils, and natural resources. In addition, Levels Two and Three include new features such as Story Problem Strategies which provide students with additional ways to apply strategies they have learned, and Mental Math Games and Speed Games to help students develop speed and accuracy in basic facts.
Waterford Early Math & Science Levels Two and Three also offer expanded individual and class summary reports that provide more information to the teacher. The individual reports show information such as each student’s and the class’s average score percentage; the student’s minutes and the class’s average minutes; the recommended number of minutes the student should have completed; the number of objectives mastered; the total number of objectives; the student’s average score percentage for each concept; and a detailed view of each concept including the objective, latest score the student earned, number of attempts, and date of last attempt. The class summary report displays students’ average score on activities and the average number of minutes spent on the courseware. It also provides each student’s name, average percentage, number of minutes the student has spent on the program, cumulative objectives mastered, and the objective the student is currently working on.
Since 1976, the Waterford Institute has been dedicated to helping children learn through the effective use of technology. The nonprofit educational research organization spent more than five years on the development of Waterford Early Math & Science, detailed, documented research that makes it, along with Pearson Digital Learning's SuccessMaker® Enterprise, one of the most effective comprehensive curriculum programs in use today. “With the delivery of Levels Two and Three, we can provide a complete, early intervention math and science program for preK-2 students that aligns perfectly with our goal to help every child learn, demonstrated through what we call the Teaching and Learning Cycle," said Mike Evans, vice president of product strategy for Pearson Digital Learning. Pearson Digital's products -- including Waterford, SuccessMaker, SASIxp™, and the new Concert™ Student Information, Assessment and Instruction Suite -- meet the needs of every step of that cycle, from monitoring student progress, addressing deficiencies, measuring performance, and providing top quality curriculum." Pearson Digital Learning is the exclusive distributor for Waterford Early Math & Science.
Working side by side with educators for over 40 years, Pearson Digital Learning is the leader in proven, comprehensive technologies for preK-12 education. Our mission is to provide innovative, research-based digital learning solutions that elevate the art and science of teaching, and inspire children to reach their greatest potential. Reaching more than 20 million students annually, our products include: the SuccessMaker® Enterprise and NovaNET® educational courseware; the KnowledgeBox® digital learning system; Concert™ solution for integrated instructional management, and SASIxp™ student information system. Pearson Digital Learning is also the exclusive distributor for the Waterford Early Reading Program™ and Waterford Early Math & Science™, adaptive computer-based instruction developed by the Waterford Institute. Pearson Digital Learning is part of Pearson
Education (NYSE: PSO), the world’s leading integrated
education company. Contact Matt Murphy, Corporate Communications Manager |
 |
|
Press Releases
