ExploreLearning Awarded SBIR Phase II Grant

We are pleased to announce that, as of late yesterday, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded ExploreLearning a SBIR Phase II grant. The "formal" title of the project is called "Modular Online Simulations for Math and Science with Integrated Assessment of Complex, Standards-Aligned Learning Objectives."

For a translation of this mouthful, I turned to ExploreLearning’s very own Paul Cholmsky who will serve as the grant’s Principal Investigator:

With this SBIR grant, we hope to revolutionize assessment in math and science the same way ExploreLearning Gizmos™ are revolutionizing instruction. The grant will help us to develop the next generation of Gizmos which will be able to "think" -- they'll be able to determine what a student knows or doesn't know, automatically tailor subsequent instruction to best meet the needs of the student at a given point in time, and then generate progress reports for students, parents, teachers and administrators.

Better yet, says Paul:

With today's ever increasing emphasis on measurability and accountability, this new product will also automatically customize itself for the applicable state curriculum standards in order to provide each student with a clear roadmap for succeeding on NCLB-mandated tests."

CONGRATULATIONS and a pat on our own backs for this super feat! Of course, now the hard work (or is it the fun?) begins. In either case, we’ll be rolling up our sleeves and putting our noses to the grindstone! After we celebrate, that is, with some gelato from Charlottesville’s newest downtown eatery.