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Renaissance Learning Inc. (RLI) is an educational software company, publicly traded on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol '''RLRN'''. It is an international company, headquartered in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin , USA, with offices in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. HISTORY Accelerated Reader, the company's flagship product, was created in 1985 by Judi Paul. Judi and Terry Paul founded the company in 1986 under the name "Advantage Learning Systems" (ALS). The company's name changed to the current "Renaissance Learning, Inc." (RLI) in 1997. The couple own about 75% of RLI. Yahoo Finance Profile of Renaissance Learning, Inc. SUBSIDIARIES
SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE OVERVIEW The company creates educational software for K-12 schools, and over 65,000 schools in the USA use their software. Northwest Regional Education Laboratory description of the "School Renaissance" system. The software consist of assessments and tools for skills practice (e.g. math practice). Several of the software programs have been localized to various countries (e.g. UK, Australia, Canada, Germany). The company also provides hardware to assist with teaching, scoring tests, and other educational purposes. Desktop Desktop versions of Renaissance Learning software were designed to run in client-server or standalone environments, using Renaissance Learning proprietary databases, on Macintosh, Windows or Novell networks, to Macintosh or Windows clients. In the case of the client-server environment, the database was installed onto a server, and the client software was installed on any and all machines required to access the database. For a standalone installation, database and client software resided on the same computer. In these older software versions, the databases consisted of one unified student list, per licensed school building, with classroom and teacher assignments unique to each program, but easily duplicated between their software packages, to minimize redundant data entry. Thus for example, STAR Reading, STAR Early Literacy and Accelerated Reader could all use one master list of students, with customized classroom organization per program. Further, Accelerated Reader quizzes and Accelerated Math libraries, also licensed to a single school building, could be installed into their respective databases (in either the stand-alone or network setups). Renaissance Place Renaissance Place, a new, web-based system, runs on a Windows server platform, using SQL Server for the database, and Internet Information Services (IIS) to deliver a front end to any computer, on any platform, with only a web browser required to be installed. Renaissance Place hosts all three Types Of Assessment created by Renaissance Learning. Once a school purchases the software, students, teachers, and administrators can access the purchased software online by entering a user ID and password. Renaissance Place provides a number of benefits over the traditional desktop versions. Instead of installing software on each computer, students, teachers, and administrators can access all of the purchased software in one place. Teachers and administrators can access reports and data from any computer, and data is consolidated in one area. Just as with the client-server model for the company's older desktop versions, the Accelerated Reader quizzes of any type and Accelerated Math libraries are all still installed to the server, as these are still licensed to individual school buildings. Additionally, Renaissance Learning offers to host the school's data for a fee, reducing the time required of the school's technical specialist for maintaining a server. Hardware Renaissance Learning purchased AlphaSmart in 2005. For information on the AlphaSmart product line, see the AlphaSmart page. Recently, the company has created the Renaissance Classroom Response System, which is intended to aid classroom participation and assessment. Each student uses a wireless handheld device that looks like a cross between a cell phone and a calculator. The device has a small LCD screen with a number of buttons, including a phone-type number pad, ABCDE voting buttons, True/False buttons, and other miscellaneous buttons. Image of the CRS Using wireless technology, teachers can post questions and receive student responses without using paper-and-pencil quizzes or disruptive raise-your-hand techniques. The system can use built-in assessments or teacher-made assessments. Classroom Response System Homepage ASSESSMENT PHILOSOPHY Renaissance Learning, Inc. believes that there are three types of assessments, listed below in "Tiers". Some of the software created by the company fits into these three "Tiers." The company's pyramidal logo is a metaphor for the usage of most of its software. The lowest portion (or "Tier 1") are daily progress monitoring assessments like Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math. This type of software is designed to monitor skills practice and provide feedback on the impact of instruction. For example, Accelerated Reader monitors reading practice, and provides information concerning how well students are reading (like reading rates or amount of reading). " Tier 2 " assessments are periodic progress monitoring assessments like STAR Reading and STAR Math. This type of software is designed to provide information about student achievement. Basically, these assessments fit in between daily and high-stakes annual tests (like state tests). "Tier 3" assessments are high-stakes assessments like state or federal tests. The company provides a Tier 3-type assessment called AssessmentMaster, but Tier 3 assessment usually appear in the form of state tests. Tier 1 (Daily) Assessments
Tier 2 (Periodic) Assessments
Tier 3 (Annual) Assessments
PRODUCTS (SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE) Renaissance Learning, Inc. offers educational software and hardware. Below is a list of the company's software and hardware. See the company's webpage for a complete list of current software. Reading and English software
Math software
Writing software
Other software
Hardware
RESEARCH A number of independent agencies have found Renaissance Learning products to be technically sound. For example, the Comprehensive School Reform Quality Center (a government agency) ranked Renaissance Learning's comprehensive school reform model as third of 22 models. CSRQ Webpage See page 208. For more information on the scientific research that supports RLI's products, see the company's research webpage RLI Research Page Find research studies on RLI products. or go to the to find studies on RLI products. REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINK |
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