The First Research-Based Solution to Focus Exclusively on Preparing
Middle and High School Students for Success in Algebra
PITTSBURGH, PA, February 2, 2006 – In response to state and national data indicating that students who succeed in algebra are more likely to graduate from high school and further their education, Carnegie Learning, a developer of interactive mathematics curricula, today launched Bridge to Algebra, an algebra readiness curriculum for middle school and high school students preparing for algebra I. Bridge to Algebra is designed specifically for students whose past math performance indicates little chance of success in algebra.
“Bridge to Algebra is the result of several years of research, market data, and a national trend indicating that a student who fails algebra in ninth or tenth grade is at significant risk of dropping out of high school,” said Dennis Ciccone, CEO of Carnegie Learning. “Recognizing that algebra is the gateway for all higher learning in math and sciences, Bridge to Algebra provides the tools for educators to reach these students early, before they are left behind.”
Bridge to Algebra is the newest solution in Carnegie Learning’s suite of proven, research-based Cognitive Tutor® curricula. The curriculum integrates interactive software sessions, text, and student-centered classroom lessons into a unique learning platform that emphasizes real-world problem solving and mathematics literacy. The Bridge to Algebra curriculum covers the five middle school content areas identified in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NTCM) and in most state standards: numbers, geometry, measurement, probability and statistics, and algebra.
More than 30,000 students nationwide are currently using Bridge to Algebra as part of a pilot program offered last fall to Carnegie Learning’s current Cognitive Tutor customers. Among the largest early adopters is the Los Angeles Unified School District, which purchased Bridge to Algebra last October for implementation with 12,000 middle school students beginning this semester. Other Bridge to Algebra implementations include schools in Baltimore County, MD, Everett Public Schools in Washington State, and El Paso Independent School District in Texas.
Customized Curricula Provides Individual Attention
Carnegie Learning’s Cognitive Tutor curricula are based on more than two decades of cognitive science research at Carnegie Mellon University that addresses how students think, learn, and apply new knowledge in mathematics. The Cognitive Tutor software, which contains an artificial intelligence component, tracks a student’s learning patterns to provide customized feedback and assistance along the way.
“Our solutions uniquely enable educators to provide individualized attention based on each student’s progress,” said cognitive psychologist Dr. Steve Ritter, senior vice president of research and development at Carnegie Learning, who helped to develop the Cognitive Tutor model. “Cognitive Tutor curricula are different from other educational solutions because they allow students to learn in their own styles and focus on the process of mathematical thinking to find the right answer. Independent studies show that helping students to improve their problem-solving and critical thinking skills improves their attitudes towards math, their overall performance and, ultimately, their test scores.”
Proven Methodology, Particularly with Title I and Special Needs Students
Independent studies of the Cognitive Tutor® Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Integrated Math implementations across the country including Miami-Dade County FL; Pittsburgh, PA; Moore, OK; and Kent, WA, demonstrate that Carnegie Learning’s solutions improve standardized test scores, student attitudes toward math and problem solving, and critical thinking skills. Research also indicates strong results with Title I and special-needs populations including Exceptional Student Education students, those with limited English proficiency, and students receiving free or reduced lunches.
About Carnegie Learning (www.carnegielearning.com)
Carnegie Learning is a leading developer of core, full-year mathematics programs as well as supplemental intervention applications for middle school and high school students. The company's Cognitive Tutor® is helping more than 325,000 students in more than 750 school districts across the United States succeed in math by integrating interactive software sessions, text, and student-centered classroom lessons into a unique learning platform for algebra readiness, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and Integrated Math programs. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes Carnegie Learning’s Cognitive Tutor Algebra I program as one of only two math curricula scientifically proven to have significant, positive effects on student learning. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Learning was founded by cognitive science researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in conjunction with veteran mathematics teachers.
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