Press Releases
Contacts:
Richard Blake, Harcourt Education, (407)
345-3987
[email protected]
Rebecca Renshaw, Quantum Simulations,
Inc., (724) 733-8603
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 19, 2002
HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON PARTNERS
WITH QUANTUM® TO OFFER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TUTORS OVER THE INTERNET
ORLANDO - Holt, Rinehart and Winston
(HRW), a recognized leader in textbook publishing and online learning
tools for secondary education, announced today that it has entered
a long-term agreement with Quantum Simulations, Inc., a leading developer
of artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring technologies. HRW will offer
Quantum Intelligent Tutors for high school chemistry, high school
physical science, high school integrated science and middle school
physical science over the Internet. HRW and Quantum® will showcase
the tutors at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Conference
in San Diego, California, March 27-30, 2002, with plans to release
the products for the fall school year.
The agreement with Quantum® is part of
HRW's strategic initiative to offer robust e-learning curricula along
with textbooks, providing a complete, integrated multi-media learning
experience for teachers and students. HRW will offer the Quantum Tutors®®
on a subscription basis.
"Our market research shows that tutorial
programs are the number one supplement requested by teachers," states
Ellen M. Standafer, Vice President of Science Product Development
at Holt, Rinehart and Winston. "As states struggle with increasing
graduation requirements in science, standards-based instruction and
high stakes testing, teachers are looking for targeted solutions to
ensure mastery of core concepts. The use of Quantum® Intelligent Tutors
will undoubtedly ensure proficiency in core skill areas such as writing
formulas, balancing equations and understanding stoichiometric relationships.
I have never seen a software product that compares instructionally
and pedagogically with the Quantum Intelligent Tutors and am especially
pleased with how it dovetails with our program philosophies."
"HRW is the first textbook publishing
company to utilize AI technology for chemistry and physical science,"
states Rebecca Renshaw, Executive Vice President and spokesperson
for Quantum®. "For the first time ever, students, teachers and schools
will have a truly intelligent tutor embedded in the highest-quality
online textbooks."
"Our dialogue-driven technology takes
HRW's online learning to a level never available before," adds Dr.
Benny Johnson, President and CEO of Quantum® and co-developer of the
company's patent-pending AI technology. "The Quantum Tutors actually
converse with students, providing real-time feedback based on the
students' work entered into the software. The Tutors respond to student
questions, give hints, show correct next steps and even explain why
a step is correct or incorrect using scientific principles."
Collaborative research conducted by
Quantum® and Duquesne University, the Pittsburgh Public Schools and
the University of Kentucky indicates that students using Quantum Tutors®
show significantly improved achievement.
Holt, Rinehart and Winston is
a leading publisher of textbooks and educational materials for grades
six through 12. It is part of the Harcourt Education Group, America's
premier provider of instructional materials and standardized tests
for grades K through 12. Other Harcourt Education companies include
Harcourt School Publishers, Steck Vaughn, Rigby, Harcourt Trade and
Harcourt Educational Measurement. Since July 2001, Harcourt Education
has been a member of the Reed Elsevier plc group. For further information,
please visit www.hrw.com
or www.harcourt.com.
About Quantum®
Quantum Simulations, Inc. develops artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring,
assessment and professional development software that empowers teachers
and inspires students from middle school through college to improve
their knowledge and appreciation for the sciences. Teacher tested
and approved by educators across the United States, Quantum's AI software
is proven in research studies to improve comprehension, problem solving
skills and test scores by as much as 50%. Quantum's intelligent tutoring
engines are integrated with existing web-based learning products,
providing a strong competitive edge for distributing partners. A "technology
think tank," Quantum® is funded and supported by the U.S. Department
of Education, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes
of Health. For more information, please visit www.quantumsimulations.com.
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