Reading Assistant Software From Scientific Learning Corp. Now Available on SciLEARN Enterprise Platform
March 07 2012 - 7:00AM
Students of all ages need ample opportunities to practice reading
to build the fluency and comprehension skills that are critical for
learning across all subject areas. Yet, in many classrooms, there
simply isn't time to provide enough one-on-one tutoring to help all
students adequately develop and strengthen their reading abilities.
With the new web-based Reading Assistant™ software from
Scientific Learning Corp. (Nasdaq:SCIL), students can practice
reading on their own with one-on-one personalized feedback and
guidance and also receive the benefit of direct instruction when it
matters most. Reading Assistant software combines advanced speech
recognition technology with research-based reading instruction to
help students strengthen their reading fluency, vocabulary and
comprehension. Using the software, teachers can easily provide
individualized, guided oral reading practice for every student, and
allow students to read texts multiple times to strengthen their
ability to read with speed and accuracy. In addition, when Reading
Assistant becomes available on the new MySciLEARN™ on demand
platform, planned for later this spring, teachers can extend
learning by assigning further reading practice to be completed at
home.
Reading Fluency and Technology
Research shows that learning to read with fluency and
comprehension depends heavily on individually guided practice and
support.According to the April 2000 report of the National Reading
Panel, the single best practice for developing students' reading
fluency is one-on-one guided oral reading.
In a new report by Brown University's Marilyn Jager Adams, a
pioneer in literacy research and practice, speech recognition
technology is emerging as an effective solution to provide the
individual guidance and support that is often beyond the capacity
of the traditional classroom. In "Technology for Developing
Children's Language and Literacy: Bringing Speech Recognition to
the Classroom," Adams argues that "the principal reason that
adequate reading ability eludes so many of our school children is
that they fail to gain basic reading fluency." Yet, a "chronic
impasse in the educational mission of our schools is their
inability to provide anything close to the amount of individual
guided oral reading on which the acquisition of basic fluency
depends."
Adams reports that technology can go a long way toward fixing
this problem. "Speech recognition-based reading tutors stand as a
cost-effective and scalable means of ensuring ample, individual
guided oral reading learning support to every student in our
schools," she stated in her October 2011 report.
Speech Recognition Technology in Schools
Reading Assistant software on its new web-based platform
provides schools with instant access to this technology to give
students the opportunity to practice reading text orally, and
repeatedly, with personalized real-time verification, feedback and
support – making the most of each instructional minute.
Students can preview vocabulary, listen to a modeled fluent
reading of a passage, and read the passage orally. Using speech
recognition technology, Reading Assistant "listens" to each student
as he or she reads aloud. The software provides real-time
corrective feedback at the moment it is most effective, allowing
the student to self-correct and learn from errors. Clickable
glossary words with definitions available in English or Spanish
build vocabulary, and "Think About It" questions and quizzes at the
end of each selection help build comprehension. Teachers receive
assessment reports and can listen to audio samples of their
students as if they had been sitting next to them while they
read.
"In schools using Reading Assistant, students can improve their
reading grade level up to 50 percent more than students receiving
classroom instruction alone. But teachers across the country tell
us the real value of Reading Assistant isn't only that it helps
students learn to read better; it also helps student read to learn.
When students can read fluently and with comprehension, they are
better able to receive instruction and can improve their learning
in all subject areas," said Sherrelle Walker, chief education
officer. "Our results data shows this is true for students of
diverse ages and ability levels, including struggling readers,
English language learners, and those who are reading on grade
level. In many cases, students' confidence, motivation, and
attendance increase as well."
To give schools and districts maximum flexibility, Reading
Assistant's new web-based platform is deployed as a web-based
product from a single server at the district level and is easily
implemented for one student or thousands of students, in a variety
of learning environments including computer labs, classrooms,
before- and after-school programs, and summer school programs.
About Scientific Learning Corp.
We accelerate learning by applying proven research on how the
brain learns. Scientific Learning's results are demonstrated in
over 250 research studies and protected by over 55 patents.
Learners can realize achievement gains of up to two years in as
little as three months and maintain an accelerated rate of learning
even after the programs end. Today, learners have used over
3 million Scientific Learning software products. We provide our
offerings directly to parents, K–12 schools and learning centers,
and in more than 40 countries around the world. For more
information, visit www.scientificlearning.com or call toll-free
888-810-0250.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are
subject to the safe harbor created by the federal securities
laws. Such statements include, among others, statements
relating to new product features and related availability
dates. Such statements are subject to substantial risks and
uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially
as a result of many factors, including but not limited to: general
economic and financial conditions (including current adverse
conditions in government budgets and the general economy);
availability of funding to purchase the Company's products and
generally available to schools, including the expiration of
federal stimulus funding; unexpected challenges in product
development; and other risks detailed in the Company's SEC reports,
including but not limited to the Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended September 30, 2011 (Part II, Item 1A, Risk
Factors), filed November 4, 2011. The Company disclaims any
obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events,
or otherwise.
CONTACT: Media Contact:
Jessica Lindl
Senior Vice President of Marketing
Scientific Learning Corporation
(510) 625-6784
jlindl@scilearn.com
Investor Contact:
Bob Feller
Chief Financial Officer
Scientific Learning Corporation
(510) 625-2281
investorrelations@scilearn.com