PRESS RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Robert Heal, Co-Manager
Email: bob@mattimath.com

Library of Popular Web-Based Math Tutorials Released Internationally on CD-ROM
CD Offers Interactive Math Tutorials to Stimulate Active Math Education for K-12 Students

LOGAN, UT, March 1, 2005--Project leaders for the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives for Interactive Mathematics (NLVM, http://nlvm.usu.edu), an online library of interactive math tutorials and tools, today announced that the NLVM, previously available only online, is now available in CD format. Educators and students with no or inadequate Internet access will now have access to a CD version of the popular NLVM Web site, which currently averages 1.5 million hits per day from users around the world. The CD additionally offers ‘save’ and ‘print’ functionality, valuable features not included on the NLVM Web site. MATTI Math, an educational software retailer, is the official distributor for the NLVM CD edition.

The NLVM Project was initiated in 1999 to develop a library of uniquely interactive, Web-based virtual manipulatives, or concept tutorials, for K-12 mathematics instruction. These manipulatives are designed to promote student engagement in the learning process, accelerate understanding of math principles. A Utah State University-based team of mathematicians and instructional design experts created the library as a broadly accessible resource that pioneers innovative approaches to mathematics instruction.

“The NLVM provides valuable learning tools for a broad spectrum of people, including students, teachers, parents, and home schoolers, as well as college students in education, mathematics and instructional design,” said Dr. Robert Heal, co-manager of MATTI Math. “Demand for a CD version of the popular online library has been extensive and international – we had 150 inquiries before the CD was even released, and orders have come in from as far away as Germany, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.”

The over 100 NLVM tutorial activities span math topics from kindergarten through twelfth grade levels, and development of new activities and features is ongoing. Apart from its exclusive ‘print’ and ‘save’ functions, the new CD edition’s contents nearly mirror the activities and special helps thus far developed and posted on the NLVM Web site. The CD format and exclusive new functionalities of the CD edition enhance the application of the NLVM tutorials.

“One of the added features is particularly significant – the ability to allow users to save their place when working on an activity,” Dr. Joel Duffin, MATTI Math project manager, said. “This gives teachers the ability to customize class assignments and presentations ahead of time, and for students to save their work for teacher review or to continue at a later session. The ‘save’ function significantly increases the software’s flexibility and the power of the interactive learning experience.”

Single- and multi-user versions of the CD can be ordered at http://www.mattimath.com. A portion of the CDs’ sales will help fund the NLVM work, currently funded partially by the National Science Foundation.

About the NLVM Project
Initiated under a grant from the National Science Foundation, the National Library of Virtual Interactive Manipulatives (NLVM) Project began in 1999 to develop a library of uniquely interactive, web-based virtual manipulatives, or concept tutorials, in the form of Java applets for K-12 mathematics instruction. Created by a team of mathematicians and instructional design experts at Utah State University, the NLVM tutorials are designed to promote student engagement in the learning process and offer teachers, parents and students worldwide a library of online resources to enhance their instruction and learning capabilities.

About MATTI Math
MATTI Math was founded as MATTI Associates LLC in 2001. The Utah-based partnership’s purpose is to select quality educational software and facilitate awareness and distribution to applicable markets. The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives CD is its premiere product. MATTI Math will be distributing products that add to the NLVM’s functionality, as well as future additions to the NLVM’s activities.

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