Sapling Learning to Present on Hot Educational Technology Trends During SXSWedu 2012 Conference

Sapling Learning to discuss the disenchantment of eTextbooks as a stand-alone teaching and learning tool.

AUSTIN, TEXAS (January 31, 2012) Sapling Learning, the leading provider of interactive

homework and assessment software for the Higher Education and High School sciences, announced it was chosen to present during SXSWedu, the second annual conference

focusing on innovations in learning.

SXSWedu 2012, which will occur March 6-8, 2012 at the Downtown Hilton in Austin, seeks to converge the wide variety of stakeholders who share an interest in 21st Century innovation and best practices. Attendees represent education professionals, including teachers, administrators and university professors, as well as business, industry and policy leaders who all share a keen interest in modernizing teaching and learning.

Sapling Learning’s presentation, eTextbooks are HOT! But *Still* Don't Matter, will cover eBooks’ place in the digital convergence taking place in the STEM education market.

Sapling Learning CEO James Caras, Ph.D., who visits a large number of college campuses each year, commented, “Students are fed up with paying hundreds of dollars for static print

textbooks that they primarily use as a reference. Educational technology trends suggest true digital convergence is realized when assessment, digital tutorials and remediation, media, virtual simulations, games, eBooks, learning performance analytics, and adaptive instruction are integrated into the teaching process.”

Continues Caras, “Simply putting textbook content in digital form is not enough, and does not lead to educational gains. In the STEM and other problem-solving disciplines, learning efficacy is accomplished through a digital convergence of problem-solving practice, simulations, and immediate coaching with passive references such as media and eBooks.”

The Sapling Learning SXSWedu presentation will address the following questions:

1. How do students use STEM educational resources and how is this different from educator perception?
2. How important is the textbook reference to STEM learning relative to other educational resources?
3. Are today's much-hyped eBooks any better?
4. What is effective and what does that mean for the future of STEM educational resources?
5. Are we heading towards immersive digital learning environments and what will they look like?

Those interested in registering to attend SXSWedu may visit http://sxswedu.com/attend.

Discounted registration rates are available through January 13. Attending press are invited

to register here: http://sxswedu.com/content/press.