| Research Institute for Learning & Development to Launch Year-Long Study To Prove Efficacy of New Technology-Enhanced Metacognitive Strategies & Tools Research Study Aimed at Increasing Student Performance Receives $78,000 Grant from the Cisco Systems Foundation BOSTON, MA - October 2, 2006 - Lexington-based Research Institute for Learning and Development (ResearchILD) has just received a significant grant to fund a new year-long pilot and research study to measure the efficacy of two of its innovative metacognitive and executive functioning software applications designed to help improve academic performance. The Cisco Systems Foundation cash grant for $78,000 from the Cisco Systems New England Civic Council will fund the entire study being conducted at the Douglas School in Acton, Massachusetts, which will span the full 2006-2007 school calendar. The award was celebrated as part of ResearchILD’s 7th Annual “Pathways to Success” Benefit Thursday October 5th at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, Massachusetts. The research study will include a new peer mentoring program, as well as on-going professional development and support for the educators at Douglas School. The year-long study will also provide statistically significant research to document the efficacy of BrainCogs and EssayExpress - two software programs that are key components of this unique research and technology-based academic improvement program. The software was co-produced by ResearchILD and FableVision, an internationally-recognized educational media & technology developer and publisher. ResearchILD’s President and Director of Research, Dr. Lynn Meltzer shares, “We’ve spent over a decade converting research into practical tools that actually reach and support all learners – we expect that this study will further our mission to help millions of learners – challenged and mainstream – to thrive academically.” “Cisco Systems is a long-time proponent of combining technology and education to provide the tools that students need to succeed,” explains Peg Lovett, Corporate Philanthropy Project Lead with Cisco System’s New England Civic Council. “We believe that this blend of technology, media and research will help move the meter in improving the performance of many schools in Massachusetts.” Christopher Whitbeck, Ed.D., principal of the Douglas School, is excited about the new academic-research partnership. “The educators here are dedicated and talented teachers who are excited by their role as co- researchers in this study,” adding, “We hope to make a significant contribution to the understanding of how we as a nation can truly be a learner-centric profession, shifting from simply covering content to studying how children comprehend content and this pilot will lead the way.” This research project is part of the bigger initiative called “Drive to Thrive: Fostering Persistence, Effort, and Resilience”, which is a field research initiative designed to identify predictors of life success in students, especially those with learning and attention difficulties. As Dr. Meltzer explains, “The program develops learning strategies that foster effort and persistence, processes that are more important predictors of life success than IQ or skill level.” Dr. Bethany Roditi, Vice President and Director of Education at the ResearchILD understands it’s all about scale, adding “Our goal is to bring this work to as many students as we can and this generous support from the Cisco Systems Foundation will lay the groundwork for scaling out this research-based solution nationwide.” Funded initially with an SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the award-winning BrainCogs and Essay Express software applications are distributed nationwide and internationally through FableVision’s publishing group. The sales from the products provide an ongoing revenue stream to the Research Institute for Learning and Development to further their research and development of new strategies and tools to help all learners succeed. Along with the newly announced Cisco Systems Foundation grant, other financial supporters including Staples Foundation for Learning, Verizon Foundation, Boston Scientific, John Alden Foundation, and significant individual contributors such as Steven Beckhardt, former CEO of Iris Associates and IBM Distinguished Engineer. The BrainCogs and Essay Express software applications (www.fablevision.com/education) have won several major educational awards, including 2006 Parents Choice “Recommended” Award, Media & Methods Awards Portfolio, 2003 AEP Golden Lamp Award, Finalist, 2003 AEP Distinguished Achievement Award, District Administrator’s District’s Choice Award – Top 100 Products of 2002. As Gigi Devanney of John Hopkins University’s Center for Technology in Education, points out, “BrainCogs is truly the first really new and innovative software application I have seen in the last several years.” The software was also chosen as a featured web resource for the PBS special “Misunderstood Minds”. About The
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