Learning.com Digital Learning Environment Wins SIIA CODiE Award for Best Course Management System

Easy-to-use course management system gives teachers simple tools to differentiate instruction, and for districts to distribute content to educators

Portland, Ore. – May 6, 2009
Learning.com is pleased to announce that its Digital Learning Environment was named Best Course Management System in the prestigious Software & Information Industry Association’s (SIIA) 24th annual CODiE Awards, announced May 5 in San Francisco.

Learning.com’s Digital Learning Environment helps teachers effectively integrate digital content from a variety of sources into their classroom instruction. Teachers using the Digital Learning Environment have tools to achieve differentiated instruction, customize content to their specific needs, and enhance student engagement through Web-based assignments and communication. The Digital Learning Environment is available for free to any school or district as part of their subscription to Learning.com’s curriculum or assessment products.

“Today, teachers have a variety of media and resources they can use for their lessons. The Digital Learning Environment makes it very simple for teachers to incorporate these different kinds of content into meaningful student engagement and instruction, and quickly and easily integrate those resources into lesson plans,” says William J. Kelly, Learning.com CEO. “We’re proud to be recognized for creating a system that empowers teachers to easily make an impact on student achievement.”

The Digital Learning Environment features include:

• Curriculum tools that make it easy for teachers to create, save and assign their own curriculum, and with one mouse click, assign it to students.
• Assignment creation tools that enable teachers and students to include multimedia content in the assignment and for students to submit work and respond online.
• An integrated communications function that enables students and teachers to discuss assignments outside of class time.
• Powerful journal capabilities that create interaction between teachers and students, and provide teachers with an excellent cross-curricular tool.
• Reports and online gradebooks that give educators insight on student progress, with detailed item, student and standards reporting.
• Anytime/anywhere access over the Internet.

This highly competitive award honors outstanding achievement and vision in the software, digital information and education technology industries. These are the only peer-reviewed awards within the software and content industries.

“Now in its 24th year, the CODiE Awards continue to recognize those companies providing the best new technology products and services across a broad array of industries,” noted SIIA President Ken Wasch. “In addition, its winners are a prolific testament to the power of technology to deliver innovative solutions to businesses and consumers. SIIA warmly congratulates all of the winners and nominees of the CODiE Awards, whose innovation is essential for continuing America's leadership in the global knowledge economy.”

This is Learning.com’s third CODiE award. Previous awards were received for its EasyTech K-8 technology literacy curriculum, and TechLiteracy Assessment, a psychometrically validated assessment of student technology proficiency.

Additionally, Learning.com provides these online curricula and assessment:

• Aha!Math – K-5 supplemental math curriculum that improves students' fluency and contextual understanding of critical math concepts.
• Aha!Science – supplemental science curriculum for grades 3-5 that builds students' understanding of fundamental science concepts.
• 21st Century Skills Assessment – Fully aligned to the ISTE NETS 2007 standards, and to key Partnership for 21 Century Skills outcomes, this assessment for Elementary and Middle School students provides valid data on their 21st century skills.