Pearson Showcases Online Curricula for Educating Scientists of Tomorrow at National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference

Hosts 18 Thought-Provoking Workshops by Renowned Educator-Authors

Philadelphia,: March 18, 2010 — President Obama recently called strengthening America’s role as the “world’s engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation” the key to developing our country’s future leaders. This week at the 2010 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Conference in Philadelphia, the education, technology and services company,: Pearson, will showcase its innovative programs that give teachers the next-generation tools for educating those U.S. scientists of tomorrow the President and our country are counting on.

News Image In 18 presentations throughout the three-day conference, Pearson’s renowned educator-authors will demonstrate how research-based science programs combined with powerful technology are revolutionizing science education and helping students build 21st century skills. Thousands of science teachers from around the country will learn about Pearson’s two new secondary science programs, Interactive Science and “Miller & Levine Biology,” which are infused with technology and feature video, virtual labs and interactive activities that personalize learning and take students on real-life journeys of scientific discovery.

Don Buckley, co-author of Pearson’s new: Interactive Science program and Director of Technology at The School at Columbia University, reveals how this new middle school curriculum takes learning to the next level, allowing students to both learn science concepts and build critical collaboration, networking, multi-tasking and cognitive skills. Interactive Science enables middle school students to read, write, draw, graph and self-assess all in one place, actively engaging students with real-world content. Taking full advantage of technology to personalize learning, Interactive Science’s robust online learning environment, MyScienceOnline.com, engages students with videos, state-of-the-art virtual labs, interactive activities, vocabulary games, research opportunities, content-related math problems and self-assessments.

Featuring best practices in science instruction and aligned to NSTA standards, Interactive Science is based on Dr. Grant Wiggins’ Understanding by Design model and focuses on interactive, visual and differentiated learning strategies to help teachers provide personalized learning for all students. Dr. Wiggins will share how the Understanding by Design model can support science instruction in his NSTA conference presentation, “The Big Questions of Science! Starting With the End in Mind Using Understanding by Design.”

In several special workshops, Ken Miller and Joe Levine, internationally renowned scientist-authors of the nation’s bestselling high school biology program named for them, will present innovative ways to address the hot topics being discussed in high school classrooms around the country. Like Pearson’s middle school program, the award-winning “: Miller & Levine Biology” features a digital path that is engaging thousands of students across the country on a virtual science journey. Through Biology.com, students meet their partners on this science adventure – a team of “ecogeeks” who created real experiences by infusing curriculum topics with a new relevance for students. Described by Levine as “science reality TV,” “Untamed Science” offers the perfect blend of energy, enthusiasm and solid scientific knowledge. Two of the ecogeeks are also hosting a workshop at the conference where they will show teachers how they integrate their own videos into science instruction.

The presentations by Pearson authors at the 2010 NSTA Conference emphasize the company’s deep commitment to harnessing technology to personalize and improve learning. More details about the thought-provoking workshops follow:

Thursday, March 18

Explore the Next Generation of Instructional Technology – Karlie Termotto, 7:30-9 am – Workshop Room 113C
Green Approaches to Inquiry in the Chemistry Classroom – Ed Waterman, 9:30-11 am & 3:30-5 pm – Workshop Room 113C
The Next Generation of Physical Science Virtual Labs! No Clean-Up Required – Brian Woodfield, 11:30 am-1 pm – Workshop Room 113C
Methods and Resources to Improve Scores on the AP Chemistry Exam – Ed Waterman, 1:30-3pm – Workshop Room 113C
From Science to Engineering – Kathryn Thornton, 9:30-11 am – Workshop Room 113B
What’s at the Heart of Science Teaching? – Inquiry, Evidence and Thinking – Michael Padilla, 11:30 am-1 pm – Workshop Room 113B
Planet Diary: Using Current Events to Engage Your Students in Science – Jack Hankin, 1:30-3 pm – Workshop Room 113B
The Digital Path and New Media Literacy – Don Buckley, 3:30-5 pm – Workshop Room 113B

Friday, March 19

Save the World! Earth Science for Today’s Classroom – Michael Wysession, 8-9:30 am – Workshop Room 113B
New Tools, New Insights and New Ways of Understanding Science With “Miller & Levine Biology” – Ken Miller and Joe Levine, 10-11:30 am – Workshop Room 113B
Increasing Physics Enrollments – Paul G. Hewitt, Noon-1:30 pm – Workshop Room 113B
The Big Questions of Science! Starting with the End in Mind Using Understanding by Design – Grant Wiggins, 2-3 pm – Workshop Room 113B
Real Issues, Real Data, Real Choices: Teaching Environmental Science in Today’s High School Classroom – Karlie Termotto, 4-5:30 pm – Workshop Room 113B

Saturday, March 20

The Origin After 150 Years – Teaching the Science of Darwin’s Great Idea in the Climate of Controversy – Kenneth Miller, 8-9:30 am – Workshop Room 113B
What’s Up With the Flu? Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease Come to Life – Joe Levine, 10-11:30 am – Workshop Room 113B
Untamed Science! How to Make your Own Science Videos From Scratch – Suze & Danni

Noon-1:30 pm – Workshop Room 113B

Inquiry in the Classroom – Zipporah Miller, 2-3:30 pm – Workshop Room 113B

About Pearson

Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the global leader in education services, education technology and school solutions, provides innovative print and digital education materials for preK through college, student information systems and learning management systems, teacher professional development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry. Pearson’s other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information, go towww.pearsonschool.com.

For more information, press only:

Kate Miller, Pearson, 800-745-8489
Lisa Wolfe, L. Wolfe Communications, 773-227-1049

March 18, 2010