National Instruments Introduces LabVIEW Education Edition Graphical Software to Inspire Hands-On Learning

National Instruments Introduces LabVIEW Education Edition Graphical Software
to Inspire Hands-On Learning
Collaboration With Tufts University Results in Teacher-Tested Technology for
High-School Engineering Education

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 9, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- National Instruments
(Nasdaq: NATI) today introduced LabVIEW Education Edition, a high
school-focused version of its industry-standard LabVIEW graphical programming
software. The new edition is designed to help educators implement
project-based, hands-on learning for science, technology, engineering and math
(STEM) subjects. The software was developed in collaboration with the Tufts
University Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO), a leader in
integrating engineering into K-12 education. Working with Dr. Chris Rogers,
Tufts CEEO director and professor of controls and mechatronics, National
Instruments developed the software to help high-school teachers give their
engineering students hands-on experience with the same graphical system design
technology used by engineers and scientists throughout industry and academia.

"Engineering is a powerful motivator for learning math and science as it makes
it possible for students to be innovative and creative while learning," Dr.
Rogers said. "Computers are at the core of almost every experiment, robot or
data analysis, and the graphical nature of LabVIEW facilitates this creativity
and innovation on the programming side, even for beginning students. I look
forward to the day when the teachers are the skeptics and the students use
their math, science and engineering toolbox to create their own experiments to
convince the teacher."

LabVIEW Education Edition helps teachers implement engaging, project-based
learning as well as connect theory to real-world examples. The new version
works seamlessly with key educational hardware platforms such as LEGO®
MINDSTORMS® Education NXT, Vernier SensorDAQ and TETRIX((TM)), a metal
robot-building system by Pitsco, making it easy for teachers to integrate
hands-on robotics, measurements and data acquisition into their curricula. The
software's graphical drag-and-drop paradigm helps students learn key
programming concepts and develop analytical skills while gaining experience
with technology used in the professional world. The new edition also features
its own classroom-ready tools, including the Data Viewer, which graphically
displays sensor data; a virtual oscilloscope; and other virtual instruments
that give students hands-on experience with a variety of electrical and
mechanical engineering techniques. Additionally, LabVIEW Education Edition
includes a supporting curriculum and classroom activities directly available
from National Instruments, Vernier Software and Technology and LEGO Education.

LabVIEW Education Edition joins a full line of National Instruments
educational products that equip educators with hands-on learning technology.
LabVIEW, which is at the core of the academic product portfolio, is widely
used in leading educational programs including LEGO Education robotics,
Project Lead the Way, The Infinity Project and FIRST Robotics. Through
collaboration with these programs, National Instruments is inspiring and
educating today's students to become tomorrow's engineers and scientists.

"National Instruments is inspiring the next generation of innovators that will
tackle society's critical challenges," said Ray Almgren, vice president of
academic marketing at National Instruments. "As a result of our collaboration
with Tufts CEEO, LEGO Education, Vernier and others, LabVIEW Education Edition
gives educators a learning platform to help their students explore robotic
designs, measure phenomena and learn a variety of engineering concepts. By
customizing LabVIEW features for classroom use, we believe that this new
edition will inspire and engage students and help secure a bright future for
STEM education."

Readers can view a webcast about LabVIEW Education Edition features,
specifications and curriculum by visiting www.ni.com/academic.

National Instruments in Academia
National Instruments is committed to enhancing engineering and science
education worldwide by providing educators and students with powerful
graphical system design software and modular hardware to connect the
curriculum with the real world. Professors and students benefit from powerful,
professional tools such as NI LabVIEW graphical development software, which
helps students visualize and implement engineering concepts. The integration
of LabVIEW in the classroom creates an effective, dynamic learning environment
- from LEGO(®) MINDSTORMS(®) Education NXT in primary schools to research
laboratories in universities. For more information about NI academic products,
curriculum resources and discounts, visit www.ni.com/academic.

About National Instruments
National Instruments (www.ni.com) is transforming the way engineers and
scientists design, prototype and deploy systems for measurement, automation
and embedded applications. NI empowers customers with off-the-shelf software
such as NI LabVIEW and modular cost-effective hardware, and sells to a broad
base of more than 30,000 different companies worldwide, with no one customer
representing more than 3 percent of revenue and no one industry representing
more than 15 percent of revenue. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, NI has more
than 5,000 employees and direct operations in more than 40 countries. For the
past 10 years, FORTUNE magazine has named NI one of the 100 best companies to
work for in America. Readers can obtain investment information from the
company's investor relations department by calling (512) 683-5090, e-mailing
nati@ni.com or visiting www.ni.com/nati.

About Tufts CEEO
The Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) at Tufts University
(www.ceeo.tufts.edu) has been a leader in supporting efforts to integrate
engineering into K-12 education for more than 10 years. Informed by
educational research, the CEEO's outreach programs and educational technology
developments utilize the engineering design process to improve students'
excitement for learning in all subjects. The CEEO's graduate students, staff
and faculty analyze real classroom data, develop hands-on activity units and
design effective educational tools all in an effort to ultimately achieve the
goal of improving education through engineering.

LabVIEW, National Instruments, NI and ni.com are trademarks of National
Instruments. LEGO and MINDSTORMS are trademarks of the LEGO Group. Other
product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their
respective companies.

Editor Contact: Hilary Marchbanks, (512) 683-5937

SOURCE National Instruments

Hilary Marchbanks of National Instruments, +1-512-683-5937