Posted by admin on June 16, 2009 · Leave a Comment
By: Julio Ojeda-Zapata
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Mike Rothstein was doomed to use his hands, not his brain. This, the St. Louis Park native said, was the verdict of his high-school guidance counselor as he neared graduation in the early 1980s. Rothstein’s lifelong battle with dyslexia, a disorder that hampers reading and other commonplace skills, had left him lagging academically behind his peers. Still, he was convinced he was smart enough to make it in college. No, the counselor insisted. You’ll be a baker.
Rothstein, now 43, recalls blurting a few obscenities and stalking from the room, nearly convinced that staffer was correct but intent on trying to prove the person wrong. This set him on a path to eventually found Innovative Knowledge, an educational-software company that helps other kids attain their full school potential.
It was no easy journey. Unable to follow his friends to the University of Minnesota after high school, he settled for Normandale Community College but haunted the U’s Wilson Library in his spare time. It was there he met a nearly blind man listening to tapes – transcripts of his textbooks, as it turned out. Rothstein learned that the Library of Congress did transcription work for other blind people who requested it, so he said he was blind and got his audiobooks. (He still feels a bit guilty today about lying.)
Magically, he said, these recordings somehow helped him master printed text, too, and he finally became a reader. Rothstein was then accepted into the U’s General College, but found that taking class notes was a major challenge. Still, he was able to “keep adapting, keep finding new ways of breaking through to the next level.” He graduated with degrees in marketing and journalism and, not long afterward, embarked on his long career in software publishing. This culminated in 1999 with the founding of Silicon Valley-based Innovative Knowledge, which he says is now doing well.
Rothstein still faces doubters. Many don’t think educational software like his Innovative Knowledge titles can be a valuable complement to classroom lessons and after-school tutors. He argues his educational computer discs are different from “edutainment” platters, which he says are basically games with embedded lessons for kids. So, again, he finds himself on a stubborn mission to prove his skeptics wrong. Watch out, Rothstein says, he’s just getting going.
Posted by admin on June 16, 2009 · Leave a Comment
By: Julio Ojeda-Zapata
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Parents who see iPod fever as a pox may want to reconsider, says Mike Rothstein of education-software publisher Innovative Knowledge. His Silicon Valley firm has long provided hundreds of computer mini-courses for schoolkids. Now, the iPod is getting in on the fun. Almost anything found on computer DVDs, such as “Mastering Middle School” and “Mastering High School,” can now be moved to one of the Apple players for learning on the go, with only minor format changes for the tiny screen. It’s easy to pick and choose what gets onto the iPod. For example, we synced over “World Literature: Greek Mythology I” from the “Mastering Elementary School” disc. Individual lessons – including “King Midas.” “The Labors of Hercules” and “Jason and the Golden Fleece” – were then easily accessible via the iPod Notes menu, which is tucked within the Extras master menu.
Many lessons consist solely of audio, often with pleasingly mellifluous narrators, but video-based lessons also are available for those with newer video-compatible iPods. Innovative Knowledge offers nearly 500 individual lessons, which are divvied up in nearly 40 packages. But not all of these are iPod-compatible. “Preparing for Kindergarten” and “Mastering High School SAT Math” are iPod-less, for instance. About 15 packages do provide iPod compatibility, and new releases will all be iPod-ready. Material on Innovative Knowledge discs comes from several textbook publishers, the Meriam-Webster reference-book firm, teachers hired by Innovative Knowledge and the Weekly Reader, a famed series of classroom magazines and education supplements on all subjects under the sun.
As a result, content on the disks tends to be more reliable than what kids would dredge up via Google, and its age-appropriate and kid-safe, Rothstein says. It’s not intended to supplant classroom instruction, Rothstein adds, but it’s a potential cash saver for parents who might drop thousands on supplementary tutors or learning centers. “While those are great and definitely beneficial, parents shouldn’t overlook this software,” her says. “They’ll have a great tool right at their workstation.”
Posted by admin on June 7, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Math
Algebra
- Equations
- Functions
- Inequalities and Equations
- Introduction to Algebra II
|
Fractions
- Basic Fractions
- Common Denominator
- Mixed Numbers
- Decimal Numbers
- Multiplication and Division of Fractions
- Mixed Numbers and Decimal Numbers Together
|
Geometry
- Basic Geometry: Terminology
- Basic Geometry: Theorems
- Basic Geometry: Area
- Volume of Solid Objects
|
Pre Algebra
- Basic Algebra: Algebraic Rules
- Basic Algebra: Coordinates
- Algebra: Real Numbers & Their Graphs
Rapid Calculation Method |
U.S. History
African American History
- Cultural Heritage
- Activists and Abolitionists
- Artists
- History
- Jazz
- Major Works
- Musicians
- Writers
- Organizations and Ideas
- The Harlem Renaissance
American West
- Cattlemen
- Cowboys
- The Early West
- Explorers and Mountain Men
- Homesteaders
- Indians
- Movies
- The Mythic West
- The Real West
Civil War
- Abolition
- Abraham Lincoln
- Civil War Battles
- Pre-war Territories
- Reconstruction
- Slavery
- The Confederacy
- The Generals
- The North Before the War
- The South After the War
|
Foreign Policy (1788-1933)
- America’s Imperial Era
- Non-Entanglement and Westward Expansion
- The American Response to WWI
- The Interwar Period
Foreign Policy (1933-1963)
- America and the New Postwar World
- Cold War Stabilization
- The Early Cold War and the Korean Conflict
- The Interwar Period
- The United States in WWII
The Great Depression
- Banks
- Hoover
- Economic Background
- Foreign Affairs
- Historical Background
- Labor Movement
- The New Deal
- Roosevelt
- Stock Market
|
Jacksonian Era
- America in the Jackson Era
- Economics in the Jackson Era
- Politics of the Jackson Era
- Second Bank of the U.S.
- The Man Andrew Jackson
- The States Rights Issue
Social Reform
- Abolition and the Abolitionist
- African Americans and the New Deal
- Business Abuses and Reforms
- The Great Depression
- Historical Background
- The Labor Movement
- The New Deal
- Slavery
- Post-Civil War Reforms
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Reconstruction
- Concepts and Ideas
- Condition of African Americans
- Events
- People
- Politics
- Post-Civil War
|
Industrial Revolution
- Industry
- Technology
- United States
Late 20th Century
- Awakening Voices
- The United Nations and the Balance of Power
- A Booming America
- Social and Political Movements
- Technology and Our Future
U.S. History Videos
- Early Explorers
- Early Settlers
- The American Frontier
- The Oregon Trail
- Native Americans
- Plymouth Plantation
- Civil War
- Federal Government
- Immigration to the U.S.
|
World History
Columbus and the Age of Discovery
- Cradles of Civilization
- The French Revolution
- The Scientific Revolution
- The Late 20th Century
19th Century Nationalism
- Nationalism and Napoleon
- Nationalism in Triumph
- Philosophy of Nationalism
- The 1848 Revolutions
- The Birth of Nationalism
- The Congress of Vienna
- The Origins of Nationalism
- The Road to War
- The Spirit Grows
20th Century Nationalism
- Colonialism and Imperialism
- Gandhi and Indian Nationalism
- Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese Nationalism
- Indian Independence and Partition
- Indian Nationalist Organizations
- Nationalism: An Overview
- Nigeria and African Nationalism
- Vietnam after World War II
Romanticism and Revolution
- Introduction to Romanticism
- Industrial and Social Change
- Romantic Literature
- Rule vs Revolution
- Journey Toward Democracy
- The Rights of Individuals
|
Causes of WWI
- Causes of War: Imperialism
- Causes of War: Nationalism
- Geography
- Historical Facts and Concepts
- Industrial Revolution
- People, Places, and Dates
- Rivalry Among Nations
- Causes of WWII
- Beginnings of World War II
- Geography
- Historical Facts and Concepts
- People, Places, and Dates
- Results of World War I Civilization and Writing
- Mesopotamia and Sumeria
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Far East
- Ancient China
- The Americas
- Phoenicia and Greece
Early Middle Ages
- The Fall of Rome
- The Dark Ages
- Religion and Literature
- The Rise of Feudalism
- The Crusades
|
Fascist Dictatorships
- Fascism Beyond Italy and Germany
- Geography
- People
- Hitler and Germany
- Mussolini and Italy
- Vocabulary
- World Events
Greek and Roman World
- Alexander the Great
- Great Greek Thinkers
- Greek and Roman Art, Literature, and Architecture
- Greek City-States
- Life in Ancient Greece
- Military Maneuvers and Conquests
- Pre-Imperial Rome
- Roman Leaders
- The Roman Empire
Victorian Era
- Britain Beyond the Victorian Era
- Britain in the Victorian Era
- Elsewhere in the World
- Geography
- The Industrial Revolution
- London and its History
- Victoria and Her Family
|
Imperialism
- Africa
- Historical Context
- India
- Latin America
Industrial Revolution
Napoleonic Era
- Background
- His Military Exploits
- His Political Accomplishments
- The Person and his Family
Religions of the World
- Gods and Prophets
- Important People
- Places of Worship
- Religion and Society
- Religion in History
- Religious Beliefs
- Religious Ceremonies
- Sacred Writings
|
Science
English/Literature
English
- 8 Parts of Speech
- How to Write Punctuation
Literature
The Ancient World: The Renaissance
- A Survey of Greek and Roman Classics
- A Survey of Medieval Literature
- A Survey of Renaissance Literature
- A Survey of the New Testament
- A Survey of the Old Testament
- Origins of European Literature
Biographies
- Other Authors, Artists and Entertainers
- Other Political Figures
- Reading and Writing Biographies
- The Life and Times of John F. Kennedy
- The Life and Words of Mark Twain
- The Life and Work of Marie Curie
|
Charles Dickens
- America in Perspective
- Aspects of Literature
- Biographical Notes
- English Society
- Historical Background
- Human Nature
- Prejudices
- The Biographical Dickens
- Views on America
Ernest Hemingway
- A Farewell to Arms
- Adams: The Nick Adams Stories
- Background
- For Whom the Bell Tolls
- The Old Man and the Sea
- The Snows of Kilimanjaro
- The Sun Also Rises
Shakespeare
- Elizabethan Age
- Elizabethan Stage Production
- English History
- Shakespeare’s Life
- Shakespeare’s Literature
- Shakespearean London
- Shakespearean Theater
|
Drama
- Elements of Drama
- Historical Trends Literary Movements
- Elements of Drama: Problems and Techniques
- Elements of Drama: Structure
- Elements of Drama: Terms
- Elements of Drama: Values
- Playwrights
- Theater
Short Fiction
- Authors and Works: Post WWII
- Authors and Works: Realism
- Authors and Works: Romanticism
- Authors and Works: WWI – WWII
- Fiction as an Art Form
- Fiction as History
- Fiction as Social Commentary
- The American Short Story
Understanding Poetry
- Interpretation: Reading and Meaning
- Poetry: Its Content
- Poetry: Its Form
- The Interpretation of a Poem
|
The Enlightenment – The 20th Century
- Reason and Enlightenment
- Romanticism and Realism
- The Beginnings of Modern Literature
The World in Roman Times
- Empires in Roman Times
- Rise of the Roman Empire
- Literature in Roman Times
- Imperial Rome
- The Rise of Christianity
Greek Mythology
Practical Writing – The Yearling
Narrative Writing – Kidnapped |
Posted by admin on June 5, 2009 · 2 Comments
San Jose, CA (PRWEB) May 25, 2008 — To support learning in and out of the classroom, Weekly Reader Corporation, a leading publisher of classroom magazines and educational supplements, and Innovative Knowledge, a leading San Jose-based educational software developer, have teamed up to provide its popular Weekly Reader: Mastering series of educational software to schools free-of-charge. If a student purchases the software, Weekly Reader and Innovative Knowledge will donate a single user installation to the student’s school.
“Weekly Reader’s educational software is developed to support classroom curriculums and improve the learning process among students of all grade levels and learning stages,” said Michael Rothstein, president and co-founder of Innovative Knowledge. “It’s our goal to help students learn more effectively and improve their comprehension. Through our research, we determined that supplemental learning needs to complement teaching and are providing schools with our breakthrough learning process based on the interest from their students.”
The donation of educational software to schools is particularly timely as more supplemental educational material and software is purchased between December and February than any other months of the year to assist students who may have had a challenging first semester, according to Rothstein.
The Weekly Reader: Mastering series of educational software incorporates “The Learning System,” a proprietary multi-sensory approach to learning, in its software. It is designed to engage and involve students on multiple levels using interactive questions, cutting-edge graphics, and video and audio. The text is accompanied by background audio which helps students read along and improves their reading comprehension and speed. The animation and video also helps to increase their attention span and provides a multi-sensory approach that can make the learning process more interesting and enjoyable.
The educational software that is being donated to schools includes: Weekly Reader: Preparing for Kindergarten; Weekly Reader: Mastering Elementary School; Weekly Reader: Mastering Middle School; Weekly Reader: Mastering High School; Weekly Reader Preschool Series: Getting Started in Math; Weekly Reader: Mastering Elementary & Middle School Math; and Weekly Reader: Mastering High School Math & the SAT.
Developed to support classroom activities, but designed for use in the library or at home, the software can be downloaded to an iPod or Nano and operates on both the Mac and PC operating systems for use with mobile and desktop computers, and CD and DVD drives. Parents and students can purchase the Weekly Reader: Mastering series at retailers nationwide including Target, Fry’s Electronics, Office Depot, Office Max, Micro Center, Apple Stores, J&R.com, Amazon.com, and at www.thelearningsystem.com.The software ranges between $19.95 and $29.95 per title.
Background on Innovative Knowledge
Innovative Knowledge is a division of Fogware Publishing which is an established CD-ROM publisher of fine brands including Merriam-Webster and Weekly Reader. Innovative Knowledge sells its products through leading distributors and retailers nationwide.
For additional details , please contact Innovative Knowledge at (650) 598-7616,
email press@innovative-knowledge.com, or go tohttp://www.thelearningsystem.com.
Filed under Press · Tagged with
Posted by admin on June 4, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Math
| Basic Math
Fractions
- Basic Fractions
- Common Denominator
- Mixed Numbers
- Decimal Numbers
- Multiplication and Division of Fractions
- Mixed Numbers and Decimal Numbers
Together
|
Multiplication
- Basic Multiplication
- Multiply by 5’s and 10’s
- Review 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 5’s 10’s
- Multiply by 9’s
- Multiply by 4’s, 6’s, 7’s, 8’s
- Symmetry in the Multiplication Table
- Multiply 2 Digit Numbers
- Multiply Multiple Digit Numbers
Division
- Basic Division
- Large Number Division
|
Pre-Algebra
- Algebraic Rules
- Coordinates
- Real Numbers and their Graphs
Geometry
- Basic Geometry: Terminology
- Basic Geometry: Theorems
- Basic Geometry: Area
- Volume of Solid Objects
|
Math Videos
- Beginning Math Vocabulary
- Charts, Graphs and Diagrams
- Learning to use the calendar
- Learning to use Graphs
- Learning about sorting and grouping
|
History
Becoming a Nation
- American Colonists
- Colonial Life
- Early U.S. Government
- Great Britain
- Growing Friction
- Organized Protest
- The American Revolution
- The Constitution
Columbus and the Age of Discovery
- Ancient Explorers
- New Frontiers
- The Age of Discovery
- The Life and Maritime Career of Columbus
- The New World
- The Voyages of Columbus
- World Exploration during the Middle Ages
|
Covered Wagons/Westward Expansion
- Pioneers and the Great Plains
- The Santa Fe Trail
- Life on the Santa Fe Trail
- Wagons West
- Caravan Life
- The Mormon Trail/Other Routes West
Cradles of Civilization
- Ancient Egypt
- New Stone Age
- Old Stone Age
- The Fertile Crescent
|
Expanding our Nation
- A Strengthening Nation
- America Expanding
- An Age of Transportation
- Pioneer Life
- Resistance to Expansion
- Texas
- The Early United States
- Western Exploration
- Western Settlers
Exploring and Colonizing
- Explorers and Navigators
- The First Americans
- The French in the New World
- The Middle Colonies
- The New England Colonies
- The Spanish in the New World
- The World Before Columbus
- Virginia and the Southern Colonies
|
Staying One Nation
- Fighting the Civil War
- Life as a Slave
- Moving Toward War
- Rebuilding Our Nation
- Settling the Last West
History Videos
- Native North Americans
- Early Explorers
- Early Settlers
- The American Frontier
- Plymouth Plantation
- The Oregon Trail
- Federal Government
- Washington D.C.
- Our Government
- Our Country
- Immigration to the U.S.
- U.S. Symbols
- U.S. Celebrations
- Presidents’ Day
- Columbus Day
- Thanksgiving
|
Geography
Maps and Globes
- The Geographic Grid
- Time Zones and Seasons
- Understanding Maps
- Mapping Conventions
- Mapmaking and Types of Maps
Using an Atlas
- Using an Atlas
- Where in the World?
- Race for the State
- Race for the Capital
Florida
- Cities
- Early Development
- Exploration and Settlement
- Florida’s People
- Geography and Climate
- Modern Florida
- Native Americans
- The Keys and the Everglades
- Wildlife and Habitats
|
Alaska and Hawaii
- Human Settlement
- Location Characteristics
- Travel, Trade and Communication
- Physical Characteristics
- Regional Characteristics
The Land and it’s People
- Human Settlement
- Location Characteristics
- Travel, Trade and Communication
- Physical Characteristics
- Regional Characteristics
Texas
- Civil War and Reconstruction
- Exploration and Settlement
- Famous Texans
- Geography and Climate
- Modern Texas
- Native Americans
- Revolution and Independence
- Texas Cities and Counties
|
Midwest
- Business
- Jobs
- Human Settlement
- Location Characteristics
- Travel, Trade and Communication
- People
- Physical Characteristics
- Regional Characteristics
- Terms of Geography
Northeast
- History
- Human Settlement
- Location Characteristics
- Travel, Trade and Communication
- Physical Characteristics
- Regional Characteristics
- Terms of Geography
Southeast
- Human Settlement
- Location Characteristics
- Travel, Trade and Communication
- Physical Characteristics
- Regional Characteristics
|
Southwest
- Human Settlement
- Location Characteristics
- Travel, Trade and Communication
- Physical Characteristics
- Regional Characteristics
The West
- Human Settlement
- Location Characteristics
- Travel, Trade and Communication
- Physical Characteristics
- Regional Characteristics
- Features
The Rockies
- Human Settlement
- Location Characteristics
- Travel, Trade and Communication
- Physical Characteristics
- Regional Characteristics
|
Science
Animals
- Adaptations
- Amphibians and Reptiles
- Bird Behavior
- Ecology
- Evolution
- Fishes
- Insects
- Life Cycles of Insects
- Mammals
- Structure of Birds
Animals and Their Senses
- Hearing
- Sight
- Smell
- Taste
- Touch
Classification of Simple Organisms
- Monerans and Protists
- Sponges and Coelenterates
- Mollusks
- Worms
- Echinoderms
- Arthropods
|
Diseases
- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Parasites
- Fungi
- How Diseases are Transmitted
- Non-communicable Diseases
- Allergies
- Heart Disease
- Glandular Disease
- Skeletal Disease
- Nervous System Disease
- Cellular Disease
Observing Living Things
- Dolphins and Whales
- Seals and Sea Lions
- Fish and Tidal Pool Animals
- Pelicans
- Exploring the Tropical Rain Forest
- In the Jungle
- Along the Rivers
- In the Treetops
- People and the Tropical Rain Forest
Physical Features of Earth
- Dolphins and Whales
- Seals and Sea Lions
- Fish and Tidal Pool Animals
- Pelicans
- Exploring the Tropical Rain Forest
- In the Jungle
- Along the Rivers
- In the Treetops
- People and the Tropical Rain Forest
|
Clouds
- How and Why Clouds Form
- Classifying Clouds
- How Clouds Help Predict the Weather
Plants
- People and Animals Help Plants
- Plant Varieties
- Plants Adapt to Environments
- Plants Breathe
- Plants Eat
- Plants Grow
- Plants Help People and Animals
- Plants Reproduce
Solar System
- Earth Quiz
- Inner Planets
- Moon Quiz
- Outer Planters
- Physical Science Terms
- Space Flight History
- Stars
- Space Flight Principles
|
Earth Science
- The Earth
- Atmosphere
- Desert Life
- Deserts
- Life on Earth
- Mountains
- Oceans
- Weather
- Rocks and Minerals
- Structure of the Earth
Science Videos
- Our Five Senses
- Food and Nutrition
- Tooth Wisdom
- Rainy Day Recess
- Rainy Day P.E.
- Keeping Clean
- Let’s Explore: Down by the Water
- Let’s Explore: Around the Farm
- Let’s Explore: In the City
- Let’s Explore: In the Woods
- A Closer Look at the Earth
- A Closer Look at the Moon
- A Closer Look at the Planets
- A Closer Look at the Sun and Stars
- Bones and Muscles
- Heart and Blood
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Simple Machines
- The Earth, Moon and Space Flight
- Stars and Planets
- Earthquakes and Mountains
- Weather and Climate
|
English/Literature
English
- Eight Parts of Speech
- Reports and Personal Letters
- Rules of Punctuation
- Using a Dictionary
|
Robinson Crusoe
- Analytical Expository Writing
- Robinson Crusoe
- Wyeth
|
Treasure Island
- Sensory Descriptive Writing
- Treasure Island
- Wyeth
|
Greek Mythology
- Jason and the Golden Fleece
- King Midas
- Orpheus and Eurydice
- The Labors of Hercules
- The Wandering of Ulysses
- Baucis and Philemon
- Daedalus and Icarus
- Perseus and Andromeda
- The Trojan War
- Theseus and the Minotaur
|
