Texas Instruments new TI-Nspire(TM) Navigator(TM) system delivers wireless collaboration to the classroom

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Jan 14, 2010, 10:30 ET

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Math and science educators can bring a powerful level of learning energy and excitement to their classroom as the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ wireless classroom network system becomes available to schools across the nation. The TI-Nspire Navigator system empowers teachers and students alike with a flexible new learning experience that encourages an interactive, collaborative classroom.

For teachers, the wireless network is a potent way to gauge student understanding and foster student engagement. For students, it's an interactive tool that enables them to become more responsible for their own learning.

The TI-Nspire Navigator system connects TI-Nspire™ and TI-Nspire CAS™ handhelds equipped with a wireless cradle to the teacher's laptop and projector. Teachers can assess student progress instantly through tools such as the quick poll and screen captures. With data gathered from these tools, teachers can adjust their instruction to make sure all students understand the concept at hand before moving on to the next topic. As a result, students are more engaged in learning. TI-Nspire handhelds help students build critical thinking skills and explore cause-and-effect relationships in mathematics through real-time manipulation.

Other benefits of the TI-Nspire Navigator system include:

Reducing class time spent on administrative tasks by providing teachers with a fast, efficient way to distribute, collect, save, grade and record student work and other files
Gaining access to resources like Algebra Nspire and Geometry Nspired, which enable teachers to get to the math faster through classroom-ready lessons that are aligned to textbooks and state standards.

Donald Worcester, mathematics instructor and curriculum leader at Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Fla., is one of about two dozen educators who have piloted the TI-Nspire Navigator system in recent months. The pilot* included a wide range of math classes and involved about 3,000 students nationwide.

Worcester, a T3™ Regional instructor for the Teachers Teaching with Technology organization, a professional development organization solely sponsored by TI, said that he has witnessed an increase in engagement and collaboration as students delve more intently into math concepts. As a result they become more responsible for their own learning.

"The TI-Nspire Navigator system lets students compare work and explore incorrect answers in a non-threatening environment," Worcester said. "In five minutes, I can get an assessment of where my kids are and adjust my lesson accordingly. I can make sure none of my students gets left behind day-by-day and over time."

Melendy Lovett, president of Texas Instruments Education Technology, said the TI-Nspire Navigator system is the latest example of the company's commitment to providing teachers with the tools and resources they need to help their students succeed.

"Our customers tell us that the TI-Nspire Navigator system helps to facilitate learning because it gives educators powerful insight into student understanding," Lovett says. "We want teachers to be able to focus on the mathematics using technology as a teaching and learning tool. Our classroom-ready activities and professional development programs ease the technology learning curve and enable teachers to focus on the math, not figuring out how to use the technology."

The TI-Nspire Navigator system is available now through instructional dealers. For more information on the TI-Nspire Navigator system, visit www.ti-nspire.com or Booth No. 1221 at FETC 2010.

About Texas Instruments

Education Technology, a business of Texas Instruments, provides a wide range of tools and resources to connect the classroom experience with real-world applications, to help students and teachers to explore math 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 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.

*As part of the pilot, TI provided Worcester with the classroom equipment.

SOURCE Texas Instruments