FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: |
Jim McNeely, Jr. |
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ScratchCat |
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(770) 674-5677 phone |
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(770) 752-7447 fax |
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Jim@ScratchCat.com |
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY VETERANS
LAUNCH SCRATCHCAT
ATLANTA (May 2, 2002) -- The cofounders of one of
America's most storied educational technology companies
are back on the scene, having formed ScratchCat to
publish DVD-based teaching materials for grades K-12.
Elizabeth Paxton and Ralph Heigl, who in 1982 cofounded
the company best known for its popular and groundbreaking
Windows on Science, Windows on Math and The Living
Textbook laserdisc products, have joined with Jim
McNeely, Jr. to develop and market all-new programs
using a visually based teaching methodology that ScratchCat
calls sight-based instruction.
"Most students are visual-spatial learners and
a significant number of them read below grade level.
Despite those realities, many traditional educational
publishers persist in offering products that introduce
students to new and difficult content through the
printed word," said Paxton, president of the
Atlanta-based company. "Using our methodology,
teachers grab and hold student interest while introducing
new concepts through compelling visuals, supported
by comprehensive lesson plans," she continued.
"And no, we're not anti-reading--far from it.
We simply contend that introducing students to new
content visually makes follow-on reading, writing
and hands-on activities more relevant, successful
and memorable."
Independent studies have shown that visually based
learning strategies can significantly improve student
achievement and attitude.
"We are very bullish about DVD for education
because, among other reasons, it is ideally suited
for whole-class instruction," said McNeely, the
Company's vice president of Sales and Marketing. "ScratchCat
is uniquely qualified to fill the sizeable void left
by the demise of laserdiscs. It's a market we know
very well."
The DVD player is widely considered the fastest-selling
consumer electronics product of all time with prices
starting at less than $100. The electronic instructional
materials market also is burgeoning, with an estimated
$1.5 billion spent for products in 2001.
ScratchCat's debut product is Fresh Science, a multiple-volume
series based on state and national science standards
for grades three through nine. The first unit in the
series, "Climate and Weather" is available
now. The DVD contains hundreds of videos and still
images that support five video lessons, five dual-mode
video quizzes and a 50-term illustrated glossary.
"ScratchCat programs aren't merely VHS videotapes
transferred to DVD with menus added, as are many of
the 'educational' DVD products on the market today,"
explained Heigl.
The Company also is developing products in other
disciplines, and plans to make release announcements
shortly.
"Our name conjures up the image of a cat standing
away from the pack, which is how we perceive ScratchCat
when comparing it to traditional educational publishers
and products," said Paxton. "That said,
we are looking forward to building rewarding and lasting
relationships with our customers, and we intend to
have lots of fun with them along the way. Stay tuned."
For additional information, please contact Jim McNeely,
Jr. at (877) 806-4746. The Company's Web site is www.ScratchCat.com.
ScratchCat and Fresh Science are registered trademarks
of ScratchCat, LLC.
Windows on Science, Windows on Math and The Living
Textbook are registered trademarks of SRA/McGraw-Hill.
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