OAKLAND, Calif., April 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) stress the critical thinking, problem-solving and analytic skills required for success in college, careers and life. Building upon its 18-year history of invention, innovation and proven results, Scientific Learning Corp. (OTCQB:SCIL) this month was awarded a new patent for a unique method to help students develop higher order thinking skills, which are required by the CCSS.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) awarded the new patent to Scientific Learning for the development of a novel method for building vocabulary knowledge through the use of analogies. This unique method is part of Gator Jam, one of five exercises in the Fast ForWord® Reading Level 5 program. Part of the Fast ForWord READING Series, Fast ForWord Reading Level 5 focuses on building the higher level reading and thinking skills that students need to pass college-preparedness exams such as the ACT and SAT, and literacy standards in middle school, high school, and beyond.
Within the Gator Jam exercise, students learn targeted vocabulary in the context of analogies, while also learning to analyze analogies and identify the semantic relationships they convey. In addition, the exercise incorporates Latin and Greek roots, suffixes and prefixes across the analogies. This helps students build a deep understanding of a word's meaning across different contexts and uses, as they sharpen their reasoning skills.
"To be patentable, an invention must be judged to be both novel and useful. By issuing this patent, the USPTO affirms that Scientific Learning has taken a truly innovative approach to developing vocabulary and high-level conceptual skills," said Robert C. Bowen, CEO of Scientific Learning. "Our portfolio of more than 80 patents is unique in the educational technology field. These patents reflect the intersection of educational best practices with novel instructional approaches emerging from research in neuroscience, human cognition, and technology. This is the foundation of our approach and the framework of all Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant products."
About Scientific Learning Corp.
We accelerate learning by applying proven research on how the brain learns. Learners can realize achievement gains of up to two years in as little as three months and maintain an accelerated rate of learning even after the programs end. For information, visit www.scientificlearning.com or call toll-free 888-810-0250.