Pearson's Assessment for Learning Group Launches Limelight to Connect Teachers More Closely with Students

New, Easy-to-Use Assessment System Transforms the Classroom with Integrated Testing, Reporting, and Instructional Resources

San Antonio, TX,: April 26, 2010 — The Assessment for Learning group (A4L) of Pearson today released Limelight™, a new, 21st-century assessment for learning tool designed to strengthen the connection between teachers and students as they work together to achieve learning goals. Using state-of-the-art technology, Limelight illuminates each individual student’s learning path for teachers, providing new insights into their abilities and the progress being made toward achieving academic success.

Limelight(TM) Learning illuminated With Limelight, teachers can quickly and easily embed classroom-based assessments into their daily instruction to generate results that individualize learning for students. The online system produces high-quality, trusted data conveyed in straightforward, easy-to-understand reports that can inform real-time instruction in the classroom and improve learning outcomes. Because Limelight also seamlessly integrates with current teaching technology, like interactive white boards and wireless response systems, educators can be confident that their classroom assessments are a part of the learning process – not separate from it.

“A teacher is such an important factor in student success,” said Kevin Brueggeman, chief executive officer of the recently formed A4L group of Pearson. “Therefore, we worked to create a user-friendly technology that lets teachers spend more time with their students and less time sifting through data and complex reports. Limelight enables teachers to quickly take advantage of the latest teaching technologies with ease.”

Limelight offers teachers a practical system for creating assessments – both online and in print – in as little as two minutes for immediate classroom use and provides fast access to easy-to-understand reports of relevant and timely data.

Limelight’s key features include:

Modularity – To meet the ever-changing assessment needs of school districts, Limelight offers multiple test item banks; different types of assessments such as user-created, computer-adaptive, and pre-constructed; and varying delivery methods like pencil-and-paper, online, and integration with learning response devices.
Computer-Adaptive Testing (CAT) – Computer-adaptive testing, which changes an assessment based on an estimation of a student’s ability after each response, helps to personalize classroom evaluations. With CAT, teachers have access to the most accurate, reliable information about an examinee because, unlike traditional pencil-and-paper tests, respondents do not all answer the same set of questions. This secure, online testing option can individually pace assessments and provide scores almost immediately.
Diagnostic Tests for Reading and Math – Online, reliable assessments afford educators the ability to assess and analyze data and intervene and re-test students when necessary. Teachers can use these analytical evaluations to understand students’ prior knowledge and skills, better determine strengths and weaknesses to individualize learning, and place students at appropriate instructional levels.
Integration with Classroom Teaching Equipment – Limelight closely integrates with classroom teaching technology such as interactive white boards and wireless response devices to create a richer, more enjoyable learning experience for students. For example, a teacher can incorporate Limelight questions into a daily classroom lesson by having students respond anonymously via personal response devices, immediately receiving feedback to help inform instruction and encouraging greater class participation.
Test Bank – Limelight’s test banks offer tens of thousands of standards-aligned questions that enable teachers to implement interim, benchmark, diagnostic and classroom assessments.
Alignment with New Common Core Standards – When the final Common Core State Standards are released, Limelight’s assessment items will align to those standards, allowing for the measurement of corresponding knowledge and skills.
Reporting and Tracking Capabilities – Visually appealing, easy-to-understand reports track student performance and facilitate data-driven decision making.

“Limelight, so named for how it illuminates student learning progress for teachers, is the first product of many to come from Pearson’s new Assessment for Learning group, a newly launched business focused on helping teachers personalize instruction for individual students,” said Brueggeman. “I believe that Limelight – as A4L’s flagship offering – will make a difference in class every single day for every single student because it closely connects teachers and students throughout the entire learning process to ensure academic success.”

For more information about Limelight and the Assessment for Learning group of Pearson, visit: www.PearsonLimelight.com.

About A4L and Pearson

The Assessment for Learning (A4L) group of Pearson combines Pearson’s expertise in assessment, instruction and digital technology to create innovative products and services that support educators in personalizing learning for each student. Formerly Educational Assessment, A4L’s products include Limelight™, GMADE™, GRADE™, WriteToLearn™, Pearson Inform™, Prevent™, MyVoice™, techSteps™ and Children’s Progress. Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the global leader in education and education technology, 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.