PASCO scientific Announces Revolutionary New Discovery-Based Science Learning Environment

ROSEVILLE, CA, Mar 24 (MARKET WIRE) --
School administrators struggling to develop students' 21st century science
skills in the face of a dwindling pool of dedicated science teachers have
good reason to be optimistic. PASCO scientific today announces the SPARK
Science Learning System(TM), an all-in-one discovery-learning environment that
seamlessly integrates the power of probeware with inquiry-based content and
assessment. With its large full color display, finger-touch navigation and
completely intuitive data collection and analysis capabilities, the SPARK(TM)
system redefines the concept of easy-to-use -- keeping the focus on learning
science.

"The SPARK system is unique in concept, design and application," said
WayneGrant, Ph.D., chief education officer at PASCO. "With a strong belief that
technology should be invisible to the user, we conceived a device so
simpleto use and so intuitive that teachers and students can use it once and
pickit up a week later without missing a beat. It also had to be lightweight,
mobile and
rugged so students could move about the classroom or in the field while
conducting experiments. And finally, it had to be easy to collect and view
data alone or in collaboration with others."

With the SPARK system, students can explore the world around them and make
their own scientific discoveries. They can ask significant questions, gather
data,
reflect on data, and interpret their findings. SPARK, which stands for sense,
perceive, analyze, reflect and know, builds on a science learning process that
empowers teachers and energizes students.

"PASCO's SPARK Science Learning System is a terrific environment designed to
put
scientific exploration in the hands of students where it belongs," said David
Thornburg, Ph.D., Executive Director at the Thornburg Center and
world-renowned visionary. "At a time when we are concerned with the
development of skills in the STEM areas (science, technology, engineering and
mathematics), the SPARK system brings concrete measurement to students in a way
that stimulates their creativity and interest in pursuing science as an
activity,
not as sterile writings in a musty textbook."

The SPARK Science Learning System was designed to become the center of a
school's discovery-based science learning environment, providing both teacher
and student embedded support for exploring scientific concepts. The system
includes more than 60 pre-installed SPARKlabs(TM), standards-based guided
inquiry labs in
a unique electronic notebook format. These SPARKlabs completely integrate
background content, data collection and analysis, even assessment -- all
within the same environment. Students need no longer navigate to a separate file
for instructions or even refer to paper manuals. Everything they need to
support inquiry is right there in context.

The SPARK system builds on a student-friendly, rugged mobile device with
just
two buttons -- supporting one-handed start and stop of data collection for
either
left or right-handers. The System includes two sensors -- temperature and
voltage -- and students can connect up to two additional PASPORT(R) sensors,
including PASCO's unique line of MultiMeasure Sensors(TM). The full color,
high-resolution screen provides ample room for multiple representations of
data -- show graphs, digits and meters in the same view. The System is
powered by a LINUX mobile operating system, encapsulated to make it invisible to
the user.

PASCO will publicly unveil the SPARK Science Learning System to educators
attending
the National Science Teachers Association's national conference that runs
Thursday
through Sunday at the Boston Convention & Exposition Center. The product will
be
shown in PASCO Booth 1563.

The SPARK Science Learning System has an introductory, pre-shipping price of
$299 through Aug. 31. It will ship this fall. For information on The SPARK
Science Learning System call 800-772-8700 or visit www.pasco.com/SPARK.

About PASCO scientific

PASCO scientific is a leading developer of innovative, technology-based
solutions for
hands-on science. PASCO's team of over 165 includes former and current teachers,
educational researchers, engineers and many more. Throughout its more than
40-year history, PASCO has focused exclusively on science education --
designing, developing and supporting better ways of teaching and learning
science. Today, teachers and students in more than 60 countries throughout
the world use PASCO solutions.

The SPARK Science Learning System, SPARK, SPARKlabs, SPARKbooks, SPARKvue
and
MultiMeasure Sensors are trademarks of PASCO scientific. PASPORT is a
registered trademark of PASCO scientific.

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