04/21/2009
Media Contact:
Jessica Lindl
Vice President of Marketing
Scientific Learning Corporation
(510) 625-6784
[email protected]
Investor Contact:
Robert Feller
Chief Financial Officer
Scientific Learning Corporation
(510) 625-2281
[email protected]
Oakland, Calif. - April 21, 2009 - Parents often hear about the importance of their child's physical fitness, but what about brain fitness? Research shows that by regularly exercising brain-processing skills, children can create physical changes in the brain that result in enduring gains in language and reading skills. To help parents help their children prepare for success in learning and life, Scientific Learning (NASDAQ:SCIL) today introduces BrainSpark Learning.
BrainSpark is a family of interactive, online learning programs that help children increase their brain power through fun and engaging exercises. Designed for children ages 5 - 13, the exercises work together to produce lasting improvements in brain fitness, focusing on five cognitive building blocks critical to learning success: speed, processing rate, attention, recall and memory, and knowledge (SPARK). A five-day free trial of BrainSpark Learning is being offered. Go to http://www.brainsparklearning.com/ for more information.
BrainSpark Learning is customized, adapting to each child's level to maximize his or her learning potential. As with physical exercise, consistency is important. Thus, BrainSpark Learning is designed to be used 30 minutes a day, five days a week with a rewards program to motivate the child. Points that children earn for the games can be redeemed for gift cards to retailers such as Target, Amazon.com, and Sports Authority, donated to charity, or exchanged for virtual rewards in the online "world."
To help parents monitor their child's progress, BrainSpark Learning provides a Weekly chievement Report. The easy-to-read report gives parents information about their child's progress in the five key SPARK areas and how each is linked to the research and science upon which it is based. The reports also give parents the information they need to encourage and support their child's accomplishments, and help their child achieve success.
"BrainSpark puts parents in charge of their child's learning by giving them the tools to prepare their child for success in school and beyond," said Andy Myers, president and CEO of Scientific Learning. "We know, from more than 30 years of brain research, that to increase a child's brain power, we need to improve the underlying cognitive skills that build brain capacity. By exercising these processing skills through intensive, adaptive activity, we can create actual physical changes in the brain that can result in quick and substantial gains in language and reading skills. Plus, when kids can process more effectively, they're more motivated to learn and have better self-esteem - which, as parents know, can have positive effects in all areas of their lives."
BrainPro Tutors
Learners who need more comprehensive brain training have access to BrainPro tutors. BrainPro tutors help parents monitor their child's progress, review results with parents, and recommend strategies to help the child. To ensure parents and children get the most benefit from the BrainPro service, it is offered for a minimum four-month subscription.
Availability
The BrainSpark and BrainPro online learning programs are delivered directly over the web. Additional information can be found at http://www.brainsparklearning.com/.
BrainSpark Learning and Fast ForWord Products
Scientific Learning products are based on more than 30 years of research into how the brain learns. The BrainSpark online learning programs were created from the company's Fast ForWord® family of products, which are currently in use in more than 5,200 schools across the country. The Fast ForWord family of educational software products accelerates learning by developing the student brain to process more efficiently. Students who use Fast ForWord products often make an average gain of one to two years in reading skills in as little as eight to 12 weeks.
About Scientific Learning Corp.
Scientific Learning creates educational software that accelerates learning by improving the processing efficiency of the brain. Based on more than 30 years of neuroscience and cognitive research, the Fast ForWord® family of products provides struggling readers with computer-delivered exercises that build the cognitive skills required to read and learn effectively. Scientific Learning Reading AssistantTM combines advanced speech recognition technology with scientifically-based courseware to help students strengthen fluency, vocabulary and comprehension to become proficient, life-long readers. The efficacy of the products has been established by more than 550 research studies and publications. For more information, visit http://www.scientificlearning.com/ or call toll-free 888-358-0212.