importance of the findings:
performance against national norms. Those
reports reduce teachers' administrative
Improved learning based on neuro-
duties and provide feedback that helps teach-
science may be the first dream to be
ers, administrators, and parents understand
realized. Educators, for the most
which methods are successful and to deter-
part, ignore (or are ignorant of) the
mine where resources should be allocated.
mechanisms by which the brain
Independent studies conducted on the com
-
changes so that it is capable of, say,
pany's behalf indicate that use of the
deductive logic. But make no mis-
Accelerated Reader improves standardized
test performance in reading.61 (See Appendix,
take: the brain capable of logic is
physically different from the brain
Table A.4.)
that is not. . . . With Fast ForWord,
A third example of innovation comes
made by Scientific Learning Corp.,
from TRO Learning Inc., which has designed
they set about changing the brain so
computer-based educational and training
that it recognizes such lightning-fast
programs to provide adolescents and adults
59
phonemes.
with problem-solving skills that are transfer-
able to the workplace. For example, TRO
Scientific Learning is an example of how Learning's Math Problem Solving program
the profit motive spurs innovative research incorporates mathematical concepts into
and development to the benefit of students. "real-life situations like building a road or
By funding research on how information is growing lilies in a greenhouse."6 2 T R O
transmitted and processed by the human Learning's product line includes programs
brain, companies like Scientific Learning for reading, writing, language, math, science,
could radically alter the way educators social studies, technology, and job skills. The
attempt to transmit knowledge to children programs, which can be accessed on CD-
and adults alike.
ROM or over the Internet, include an initial
Another company, Advantage Learning assessment of skill level and provide feedback
Systems, Inc., provides learning information that tracks the student's progress.
systems for K12 schools in the United States
New technologies also make it possible
and Canada. A learning information system for students to take courses that are not
is computer software that drills students on offered in their own schools. Apex Learning
Scientific
their lessons and provides teachers with lets students access online courses and prac-
Learning has
assessments of students' progress. Advantage tice tests for Advanced Placement exams,
developed educa-
Learning Systems' Accelerated Reader pro- which allow students with satisfactory scores
gram consists of computer-based multiple- to receive credit at many colleges.6 3 The
tional software
choice tests on literature. Quizzes are avail- online classes are available in 10 subject areas
based on 25 years
able on approximately 20,500 books appro- including calculus, economics, and govern-
priate to students in grades K12, and teach- ment, and each consists of about 25 students
of brain research.
ers can select books that they feel will be most and an AP teacher. Students have flexibility
The software has
useful and create their own lesson plans about when and how they study and can par-
been shown to
using the computer program.6 0 Advantage ticipate in online classroom discussions.
Learning Systems offers similar programs in They e-mail comments and assignments to
dramatically
math and grammar. Those programs drill their teachers and receive feedback and
improve the lan-
students with sets of problems and offer grades online.
guage and read-
Apex enrolled 150 students in a pilot test
instant feedback, highlighting and correct-
of two products in January 1999. Of those
ing the students' mistakes.
ing skills of chil-
Educators receive reports on students' students, 50 completed the course and 32
dren aged 4
performance; some programs include a data- took the AP exam.6 4 More than 80 percent of
base that lets teachers compare a student's those who took the exam passed it, and close
through 13.
10