Renaissance Classroom Response System Available to U.S. Schools

23 November 2005

Renaissance Learning(TM), Inc., (Nasdaq: RLRN), provider of computerized assessment and progress monitoring tools for pre-K-12 schools, has announced the Renaissance Classroom Response System (CRS), a breakthrough wireless response system that offers educators the ability to obtain immediate feedback and real-time accountability for all students in the classroom is now shipping in bulk quantities. The CRS provides teachers comprehensive real-time data in an easy to read graphical format in order to optimize their lessons and deliver individualized instruction. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001108/RENAISSANCELOGO ) "We just recently started using the Renaissance Classroom Response system and already are seeing a difference. The immediate feedback we receive is such a great way to gauge the progress of each student, and helps me determine the lessons I need to review," said Dawn Deher, English Teacher, Milford (Delaware) High School. "My students' enthusiasm and engagement in class has increased substantially. Several of my students have said to me that they wished they had the Responder available to them in their other classes because they see how it helps them in the learning process." The CRS uses leading radio frequency (RF) technology and best of class, easy-to-use interactive software with a remote wireless Renaissance Responder(TM) handheld device. The Responder encourages participation by all students by allowing them to respond to verbal prompts or answer questions on quizzes and tests. The real-time scoring helps educators provide immediate intervention and individualized attention for each student supporting explicit systematic direct instruction of skills. By using the Renaissance Classroom Response System, educators can wirelessly send questions, individual notes, and assignments to a high resolution LCD graphical display on the student's Responder eliminating the need to print documents or use a projector or TV screen. The CRS also comes with a full-featured calculator and campus alert system. "The Renaissance Classroom Response System provides significant classroom efficiency in identifying problem areas in real time -- at the point of its occurrence -- allowing more time for educators to spend on targeted instruction," said John Hickey, chief executive officer and president of Renaissance Learning, Inc. "Grading student assignments, and creating tests and quizzes is very time consuming work for teachers, but now with CRS teachers can create the test questions in a fraction of the time it takes using traditional methods. Renaissance AccelTest, the software incorporated into CRS grades assignments instantaneously and automatically records results in the grade book." For more information, visit http://www.renlearn.com . Renaissance Learning, Inc. Renaissance Learning, Inc. is a leading provider of computerized assessment and progress monitoring tools for pre-K-12 schools and districts. Adopted by more than 68,000 schools, Renaissance Learning products give students and teachers continuous feedback to inform instruction and help teachers and administrators motivate students, dramatically accelerate learning, and improve test scores. Renaissance Learning has seven U.S. locations and subsidiaries in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom.

Source: PR Newswire