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For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Lea Iaricci, LCSI
Click here for ways to contact LCSI
E-mail: lea@lcsi.ca
INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PUBLISHERS JOIN
FORCES
LCSI, FableVision, Generation YES,
Inspiration Software, SchoolKit & Tech4Learning form The Constructivist
Consortium
Torrance, CA - June 18, 2007 - A new marketing
alliance, The Constructivist Consortium, will be launched at the
National Educational Computing Conference, June 24-27, 2007 at the
Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The Constructivist
Consortium represents unprecedented collaboration between six publishing
companies committed to children, creativity and constructivist learning.
Veteran educator Dr. Gary Stager serves as the executive director of the
Constructivist Consortium. "Working together, the six companies can
increase their visibility in a chaotic marketplace," said Stager. "These
companies recognize that computers are important instruments in the
lives of kids and all support an unprecedented variety of learning
experiences expressed through personally meaningful projects. Computers
don't need to be used in passive ways or to reinforce outdated classroom
practice." This common mission unites the six Founding Member companies.
The Constructivist Consortium's collaborative marketing and advocacy
efforts are intended to celebrate classroom innovation. The
Constructivist Consortium's companies see it as part of their corporate
and civic missions to give voice to creative educators and create venues
in which they may be refreshed, inspired and feel less isolated. To this
end The Consortium is sponsoring The Constructivist Celebration, a
sold-out full-day event at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on June 24th. A
second event is planned for NYSCATE 2007 in Rochester, NY.
Dr. Stager says, "At a deeper level we are establishing community to
break down the barriers to communication often as impermeable as the
cinderblock walls of school. The Constructivist Celebration unites more
than 100 educators from around the world who will spend a day creating
together - with laptops and clay and software and the Atlanta Botanical
Garden as constructive material. Each participant will receive software
from the member companies and will return to their schools or districts
excited about new tools and more importantly, a renewed confidence in
their professional practice." Award-winning artist, author, software
developer and animator Peter Reynolds and Gary Stager start the day with
a keynote address followed by five hours of hands-on creativity and a
closing discussion designed to excite the imagination of the attendees.
Member companies produce products designed to inspire classroom
creativity and place children at the enter of the learning process.
Information about The Constructivist Consortium and its member companies
may be found at
http://www.constructivistconsortium.org. Contact Gary Stager at
gary@constructivistconsortium.org for more information or to arrange
interviews with Consortium members.
Quotes from Founding Members
"Today, more than ever, educators need to see that there are
alternatives to rote learning and testing. LCSI is happy to join with
other likeminded publishers and educators who believe that in order for
students to be prepared for the challenges of the 21st century, it's
important to engage them with exploratory learning environments where
they construct their own knowledge by building on new and powerful
ideas." (Susan Einhorn, President of Logo Computer Systems, Inc.)
"When students use visual learning to construct their own
knowledge, they focus not just on the subject or lesson being taught,
but on the process of learning. As a result, they build the thinking
skills necessary to achieve at the highest levels and to become
successful, contributing members of 21st century society," said Mona
Westhaver, president and co-founder, Inspiration Software. "As a
founding member of the Constructivist Consortium, we are proud to
collaborate with other education companies who share our vision for the
ways that technology can help educators create student-driven learning
environments." (Mona Westhaver, President and Co-Founder, Inspiration
Software.)
"This new network brings these innovative firms together in a powerful
new way - all of us are intent on making creating a pervasive movement
to bring constructivist sensibilities to bear in all classrooms." (Paul
Reynolds, President of FableVision)
"Tech4Learning is committed to empowering students with the creative
application of computers and is proud to join with the other companies
on efforts to raise awareness about the constructivist uses of
technology in education." (David Wagner, President of Tech4Learning)
"With the effectiveness of educational technology being questioned, the
Ed Tech industry is morally obliged to help schools separate the wheat
from the chaff. At SchoolKiT, we believe the Constructivist Consortium
will help educators to be critical consumers so that students do use
technology effectively to think and act critically and creatively."
(Adam Smith, President of SchoolKiT)
"Technology offers students the opportunity to create, learn, and
collaborate in ways never before possible. All these companies working
together means teachers will find more support as they empower students
to own their own learning." (Sylvia Martinez, President of Generation
YES)
Logo Computer Systems Inc. (LCSI) was incorporated in
1980 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. LCSI develops and markets
a line of award winning constructivist educational products, including
the critically acclaimed MicroWorlds line of school products, Enriched
Math, Journal Zone and the My Make Believe family of early learning
software. As an award-winning publisher of software for K-12 schools,
LCSI is active around the world in major technology projects that are
instrumental in transforming education.
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