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Instructional Technology Keeps Olympic Dreams Alive

May 03, 2007 05:00 PM Eastern Time

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(EON:Enhanced Online News)--High school senior Erin Short of Burke, Virginia is back on track to realize her Olympic dream of becoming an equestrian competitor, thanks to instructional technology. Short’s inspiring story won Pearson Digital Learning’s NovaNET essay contest. Students from all over the nation submit their stories about how the NovaNET software program helped them achieve their goals of graduation. This year’s theme was, “Unlimited Possibilities: A Stronger Future with NovaNET.”

“Without the priceless help and encouragement from my teachers at CEI and the NovaNET program, I know in my heart that I could not have made it to where I am and, more importantly, would never make it to where I am headed.”

Short was diagnosed with chronic, intractable migraines during her first year of high school. As she tried to move forward and keep pace in school, the pain was too much. “My grades and subsequently my hopes of competing in the Olympics began to plummet,” she writes. “I tore the [Olympic] rings from my wall as I found myself unable to train with the horses. My dreams were replaced with nightmares of failure and despair,” describes Short.

Summer school seemed to be her only option for credit recovery to make up her classes and that is when she was introduced to the Fairfax County Public Schools Computer Enhanced Instruction (CEI) program, which uses NovaNET so students can learn at their own pace and on their own time. Robert Eichorn, the Fairfax County Public Schools Teacher of the Year, was Short’s teacher. Eichorn says, “Erin is a gifted writer and exceptional student who required flexible scheduling and alternative instructional support. Erin’s ability to adapt quickly to NovaNET, collaborate with the teachers at CEI, and utilize the technology from home resulted in high academic achievement. Moreover, Erin exhibited a renewed confidence and the subsequent ability to handle all academic challenges,” he added.

Short’s essay expresses her gratitude, “Without the priceless help and encouragement from my teachers at CEI and the NovaNET program, I know in my heart that I could not have made it to where I am and, more importantly, would never make it to where I am headed.” She closes her essay with, “NovaNET did not make my dream come true. It gave me the tools and confidence to go after it.”

Short has her Olympic rings back on her wall and this summer will attend the Pearson Digital Learning summer conference where she will share her essay with approximately 1,400 people in Orlando, FL. As this year’s winner, accompanied by her mother and teacher Short receives an all expense paid trip to the conference and a few days of fun. Additionally, Short is the recipient of a scholarship that is solely funded by Pearson employees with matching funds from the company. The scholarship award can range from $3-5000 based on the year’s contributions.

The NovaNET essay contest began in 2001. This year a record-breaking 152 essays were submitted, the contest’s highest amount. Essays must be 500 words or less. Students are asked to write on a specific topic tied to how NovaNET improved their lives and helped them reach their goals of graduation or equivalent.

About Pearson Digital Learning At Pearson Digital Learning, our mission is to provide innovative, research-based digital learning solutions that elevate the art and science of teaching, and inspire children to reach their greatest potential. Reaching more than 20 million students annually, our products include: the SuccessMaker^® Enterprise and NovaNET^® educational courseware; the KnowledgeBox^® digital learning system; and the ELLIS^® solutions for English language instruction. Pearson Digital Learning is also the exclusive distributor for the Waterford Early Learning™ Programs, adaptive computer-based instruction developed by the Waterford Research Institute.

Pearson Digital Learning is part of Pearson Education, the world's leading integrated education company, which in turn is part of Pearson (NYSE: PSO), the international media company. More information can be found at: http://www.PearsonDigital.com/.