GoClass Partners with Maricopa Education Services Agency on Engineering STEM Identity Initiative

NEW YORK, January 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Last November, the Maricopa County Education Service Agency (MCESA) was notified by the United States Department of Education that it is one of the Highest-Rated Applications for the Investing in Innovation (i3) 2013 Competition. The i3 competition is a highly competitive grant program that funded only four percent of its 618 applicants. MCESA's proposal, titled Engineering STEM Identities, was scored in the top five of all applications in its category and will be awarded $3 million over the course of three years.

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Through Engineering STEM Identities, approximately 2,300 students in 10 rural and urban school districts will use distance learning technologies, such as interactive video conferencing, to engage in STEM experiences and interact with STEM professionals. The research shows that by being immersed in STEM cultures, students build STEM identities, which positively influence their persistence in STEM. Through these authentic learning experiences that give students opportunities to envision themselves as "STEM learners and workers", students are far more likely to pursue future STEM careers. 

The i3 award is contingent upon MCESA securing a private-sector match of $450,000. LearningMate Solutions will contribute licenses to its GoClass platform to MCESA for this initiative. The total contribution is valued at $210,000 and represents nearly half of the partner funding MCESA needs to meet the I-3 grant proposal conditions.

The widespread adoption of cloud connected mobile devices in the consumer market has become a driver for change in the education enterprise. GoClass leverages this same technology momentum to enable teachers and students to engage with digital learning materials in a data-rich classroom workflow.

By putting digital content and connected devices in the hands of teachers and students, GoClass helps create a compelling and engaging environment for STEM education. GoClass incorporates advanced real-time evaluation tools that look at both learner behavior and content effectively to power state-of-the-art learning analytics that will eventually tie into the Arizona Department of Education's Instructional Improvement Systems.

GoClass has been well received by students and teachers as well as by industry experts who have evaluated GoClass from an instructional and technology perspective. GoClass received the IMS GLC Learning Impact Platinum Award for Innovation in R&D 2012 and was named one of Google's Top Tools for Teachers  in 2013.

Speaking on the partnership, Mohit Bhargava, President, LearningMate said, "We believe the Maricopa County Education Service Agency and the GoClass Team at LearningMate share a vision for what STEM learning can be. We believe effective learning happens in an environment that is inclusive, participative, encouraging of self-expression, immediate, grounded in civic values and supported by community participation. LearningMate is honored to partner with MCESA to help demonstrate how a technology-mediated learning environment can deliver on this shared vision for STEM education in a highly accountable, data-rich workflow designed to make teachers, students, administrators and communities successful."

Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Don Covey stated, "MCESA is fortunate to be supported by such an innovative partner. LearningMate understands that an investment in STEM education is an investment in the future of this state and country."

About GoClass. GoClass is a cloud-based teaching and learning platform for mobile devices. Visit http://www.goclass.com to create a free account and download the GoClass application from the Apple App or Google Play stores. GoClass, which debuted in January of 2012, currently has more than 50,000 users in over 70 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.goclass.com.

About LearningMate Solutions, Inc. LearningMate develops engaging, instructionally sound, interactive learning experiences on a variety of technology platforms and devices. The company has a significant presence in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and India. LearningMate serves a global clientele comprising education publishers, online schools, universities, government agencies, non-profits and education consortia. For more information please visit http://www.learningmate.com.

About Maricopa County Education Service Agency (MCESA). The Maricopa County Education Service Agency and its staff of expert practitioners and service-oriented professionals are dedicated to ensuring that the more than 700,000 school-age children in the county graduate college- and career-ready by building alliance partnerships to provide leadership, services and programs in the areas of Educational Innovation, Economic Management and Executive Leadership. Under the direction of the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools, the agency is also statutorily responsible for approximately 160 mandates related to education in Maricopa County, the state's most populous county and home to 63 percent of all school-age children in Arizona. For more information, visit http://www.maricopa.gov/mcesa.

If you would like more information about this release or would like to schedule an interview, please contact Danielle Holmes at +1-615-900-4109 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Learningmate.com

SOURCE LearningMate Solutions, Inc.