Petaluma, CA 94954
Fax: 707-773-2001
Email: info@intellitools.com
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INTELLITOOLSę CEO ARJAN KHALSA KEYNOTES AT OHIO SCHOOLNET CONFERENCE
Petaluma, California, February 5, 2002 Ā IntelliToolsÂ, Inc. (www.intellitools.com), for over 20 years the pioneer in learning solutions for the diverse classroom, announces that Arjan Khalsa, co-founder of IntelliTools and a nationally recognized education leader, offered the Keynote address today at the annual Ohio SchoolNet Conference, held in Columbus, Ohio.
Khalsaęs address, "Because 20 Million Students are Falling Behind," presents a compelling portrait of the important role computers can play in delivering essential curriculum content to students who fall behind. In Ohio and the United States, Khalsa notes, student progress is measured more thoroughly now than ever before. And results are clear: many students are not able to achieve according to the prescribed levels.
Who are these students? Khalsa notes that some 40% of the nationęs 55 million students are being left behind. Among Americaęs students, 24% are living in poverty. One in six speaks a different language at home. Another 10% have a diagnosed learning disability, while one in one hundred has significant disabilities.
Khalsa notes that teachers, administrators, and educational theorists are struggling to find solutions to meet the needs of these diverse students. Many agree that students have different learning styles. It would be optimal to educate students using a differentiated approach, so that a variety of learning modalities and needs could be addressed. But the problem is time and resources. Differentiation is hard.
Khalsa points out that according to research conducted by IntelliTools in reading and math, computers can play a key role in differentiating instruction, can help struggling readers gain mastery, and can help students with special needs to participate in classroom activities.
Computer software tools can be used to create activities that meet the needs of many diverse learners. Given a large quantity and variety of standards-based activities, computer technology can provide a safety net for those who are currently falling through the cracks. Special needs techniques, instructional technology expertise, and high-quality reading and math pedagogy can be melding to help 20 million students nationwide to succeed where they might otherwise fail.
Editors: For a full transcript of the Keynote Address, please contact Intellitools at: info@intellitools.com.
About IntelliTools, Inc.
IntelliTools®, Inc., a pioneer in learning solutions for the diverse classroom, has been producing award-winning classroom tools for K-8 education for over 20 years. The IntelliTools Classroom Pac is comprised of four integrated software programs - IntelliPics® Studio, IntelliMathics™, IntelliTalk II®, and ReadyMade™ Curriculum Activities - providing a complete set of resources for both general education and special education needs students. IntelliTools® Reading: Balanced Literacy, winner of the Technology & Learning Awards in two categories, is a nine-unit program providing a full year of literacy instruction at a first-grade skill level. These IntelliTools software products are fully accessible for standard keyboard and mouse users as well as its IntelliKeys® adaptive keyboard and switch users.
For more information contact:
Paula Irons, Director, Marketing
IntelliTools, Inc.
1720 Corporate Circle, Petaluma, CA 94954
(800) 899-6687; pirons@intellitools.com
