Connections Education, Leading Virtual Education Provider, Wins Multiple EDDIE Awards for Curriculum Excellence
Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) October 16, 2013 -- Connections Education (http://www.ConnectionsEducation.com), a leading virtual education provider for students in grades K-12, has been honored with four national awards for curriculum excellence. Part of the global education company, Pearson (http://www.pearsoned.com), Connections Education was named a winner of four ComputED Gazette’s 18th Annual Education Software Review Awards (EDDIE Awards) for its outstanding curriculum offerings. The award-winning curriculum spans the entire instructional spectrum, from core academics to remediation, career and technology education, and fine arts. 2013 marks the fourth straight year that Connections Education has won these curriculum honors.
Connections Education won 2013 EDDIE Awards in the following categories:
MIDDLE SCHOOL:
Science Website: Science 8
Science 8 is a core academic course, taught online, for students in 8th grade and based on the framework for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). NGSS focuses on science and engineering practices; Earth, life and physical science core ideas; and fundamental crosscutting concepts vital to relating the various fields of science and developing a scientific worldview. The course provides students with opportunities to engage in inquiry-based investigations, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) projects, and hands-on and online activities that encourage students to make connections, collaborate, and reflect on their learning.
HIGH SCHOOL:
Vocational Training Website: Career and Technology Education
Released in 2013 and in response to a growing demand for career education, Connections Education’s more than 20 Career and Technology Education courses allow students to explore a variety of careers and gain career-specific knowledge in fields such as sociology, criminal justice, law, astronomy, finance and more. Linking school-based learning with workplace knowledge and skills, the courses include engaging multi-media content, personalized study guides, interactive exercises, and more. The courses are organized in 16 different “Career Clusters®” developed by the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) and span STEM, Law, Public Safety, and Corrections & Security. The courses are offered as electives to high school students enrolled in Connections Academy virtual schools; school districts and other organizations may purchase the courses from Connections Learning by Pearson.
MUSIC/FINE ARTS:
Music Website: Juilliard eLearning Music
(MULTI-LEVEL)
Debuted in early 2013, Juilliard eLearning is a series of online music education courses for students in grades K-12 developed by Connections Education with the world-famous Juilliard School. Gaining attention for innovation, creativity and quality, Juilliard eLearning adds a 2013 EDDIE award to it growing list of honors. Courses in the series include: Experiencing Music (grades K-2), Discovering Music (grades 3-5), Exploring Music (grades 6-8), and Living Music (grades 9-12). Through the course series, students gain a foundation in music theory, composition, and notation, and an introduction to Western classical music and music from around the world. Courses include engaging multi-media lessons and tools like virtual instruments and a music sampler while musical concepts and techniques are reinforced with demonstrations, recordings, and video performances by Juilliard faculty, students, and alumni.
REMEDIATION:
GradPoint™
(MULTI-LEVEL)
GradPoint is a collection of more than 180 standards-based online courses for students in grades 6-12 and includes core subject areas, foreign languages, electives, Advanced Placement, as well as the aforementioned award-winning Career and Technology Education courses. The 2013 EDDIE award recognizes GradPoint for its remediation applications, though the courses support multiple education objectives and programs such as blended learning, credit accrual, dropout prevention, summer school, credit recovery, and more. Hallmarks of GradPoint include an award-winning learning platform, a more personalized approach to learning, and flexibility in terms of when and where learning occurs—a real benefit for students looking to earn the credits they need in order to earn a high school diploma or GED. GradPoint is offered by Connections Learning by Pearson.
The EDDIE Awards recognize innovative and content-rich programs and websites that augment the classroom curriculum and improve teacher productivity, providing parents and teachers with the technology to foster educational excellence. Selection criteria include academic content, potential for broad classroom use, technical merit, subject approach, and management system. Winners are selected from titles submitted by publishers around the world. CompuED Gazette has served as an online education resource for educators, parents and students for more than 17 years.
About Connections Education
Connections Education is a leading provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual education solutions for students in grades K–12. Since 2001, the company’s Connections Academy division has delivered individualized learning to students through virtual public schools and a private online academy. In the 2013–14 school year, 26 Connections Academy virtual (online) public schools operate in 23 states and expect to serve more than 45,000 students from across the U.S. The Connections Learning by Pearson division meets the needs of schools, school districts, and other institutions looking to develop and enhance their online learning programs. Connections Learning by Pearson delivers a full range of targeted digital learning solutions to the K–12 education community including online courses, a program for homebound students, a digital learning platform, a private online school, blended Nexus Academy high schools, and Thurgood Marshall Collegiate Academies for middle school students. More than 1000 schools, school districts, state departments of education and other educational institutions, serving tens of thousands of students throughout the United States and beyond, are already utilizing Connections Learning by Pearson products and services. Connections Education is committed to expanding quality education through technology and helping students achieve both academic and personal success. For more information, call 800–382–6010 or visit http://www.ConnectionsEducation.com. Connections Education is part of the global learning company Pearson (NYSE:PSO).
Allison Bazin, Connections Education, +1 (609) 247-0275, [email protected]
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