Texas Instruments Announces Complete Solution for Science Classroom, Lab and Field at NSTA 2012 National Conference

DALLAS, March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments (TI), already  known for its leadership in math education technology solutions, is strengthening its foothold in science education with a complete solution for classroom, lab and field – including new digital science content which incorporates the  TI-Nspire™ CX graphing handheld and software.

The TI Nspired Learning interactive science classroom, which is a versatile daily teaching system for the classroom, lab and field, is designed to increase student understanding with real-world simulations in the classroom and comprehensive data collection and analysis in the field or lab.

To further enrich the TI Nspired Learning science experience, TI has teamed up with some of the nation's top STEM content providers to create interactive and dynamic activities for science teachers and students. TI-Nspire CX handhelds and software help students more easily visualize concepts with rich, colorful lessons that integrate real-world scenarios of science in action– from skateboarding to space exploration to car racing. All of the free activities are classroom-ready, aligned to curriculum and assessment standards, and fully customizable.

TI will demo its science solution in TI booth #336 at the 2012 National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) National Conference in Indianapolis, March 29 – April 1. Specifically, TI will showcase its collaborations with:

• PhET™^*. The PhET Project at the University of Colorado has delivered more than 60 million free educational simulations that are representations of real-life physical phenomena. TI will preview adaptations for a selection of these simulations, that when used with the TI-Nspire CX's interactive graphing capabilities, color screen and computer software, will bring middle school physical, life, and earth science concepts to life. These activities will be available through TI's Science Nspired online resource center, free of charge, in summer 2012.
• NASA. TI and NASA's Human Research Program Education Outreach (HRPEO) team will showcase its free Biology, Chemistry, and Physics activities based on NASA space exploration topics using TI-Nspire CX graphing technology. The educational content highlights science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers at NASA to interest students and encourage the pursuit of STEM studies through high school and college.
• Ten80 Education. TI will showcase its involvement in the Ten80 Student Racing Challenge: NASCAR STEM Initiative. This initiative is a "practice league" where middle and high school students use radio controlled cars and the TI-Nspire CX graphing technology to collaborate and create products in ways that mirror professional motorsports teams, engineers and green transportation designers. TI will host sessions in its booth that will include activities based on race engineering, aerodynamic design, alternative energy and creative engineering.

NSTA attendees will find NASA and Ten80 Education hands-on activities at the TI booth and free online at TI's Activities Exchange.

"By working with top-notch STEM content providers like NASA, Ten80 Education and PhET, TI is able to further demonstrate the learning power of TI-Nspire technology in middle and high school science," said Catherine Page, marketing programs manager for Texas Instruments Education Technology. "It's through these collaborations that we can effectively help students understand concepts in a deeper, more engaging way, with ready-to-use activities that cover real-world science topics."

Scientist and Actress Mayim Bialik to Attend NSTA
Newly-announced brand ambassador and spokeswoman for TI-Nspire CX science and math learning technology, Mayim Bialik, will also attend NSTA. Bialik, who holds a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA and also teaches science and math when she's not playing a scientist on TV's #1 science-based comedy, will interact with educators at TI's booth #336 and teach a NSTA session that shows the power of TI-Nspire CX technology in action across the science classroom, lab and field.

Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for Bialik at the TI booth on Thursday, March 29. TI and Bialik will host a Q&A session at the TI booth on Friday, March 30, 2:00-3:00 p.m. and will award autographed TI-Nspire CX handhelds and Teacher Software to those whose questions are chosen by Bialik to answer.  

For more information about Texas Instruments:

• Follow TI on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TICalculators   
• Follow TI on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TICalculators    
• Visit TI on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasInstrumentsCalc
• Visit TI online: education.ti.com

About Texas Instruments
Education Technology, a business of Texas Instruments, provides a wide range of tools connecting the classroom experience with real-world applications, helping students and teachers to explore mathematics and science interactively. TI's products and services are tested vigorously against recognized third-party research, which shows that the use of graphing calculators helps improve the mathematical skills of students and their attitudes toward mathematics. For more information, visit www.education.ti.com.

Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through manufacturing, design and sales operations in more than 30 countries. For more information, visit www.ti.com.

* PhET™ is a trademark owned by the Regents of the University of Colorado, which was not involved in the production of, nor do they endorse this product.

SOURCE Texas Instruments