MathSoft to Host The Physics Classroom; Physics Tutorial to Continue as Top Resource for High School Physics Students Through StudyWorks Online

Business Wire, July 31, 2001

Business/Technology Editors

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 31, 2001

MathSoft Engineering & Education, Inc., the leading provider of interactive math, science and engineering software products and content, today announced that it will host The Physics Classroom (www.physicsclassroom.com), an extremely popular tutorial Web site written for high school physics students. The Physics Classroom will supplement MathSoft's StudyWorks Web site (www.studyworksonline.com), a leading educational site devoted to math and science education for students in grades 6-12.

The Physics Classroom, originally developed as a volunteer project in 1996, was created by physics teacher Tom Henderson at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois. Due to the site's popularity, the server load became excessive for the school to support. Rather than dismantle the site, which receives over 1,000 visitors per day and is linked to by approximately 750 other Web sites, the school began to search for a host to support The Physics Classroom. MathSoft, the developer of the award-winning StudyWorks!(R) product lines, was selected because of the complementary nature of its Web site, its high quality math and science software products, and its pioneering use of collaborative e-learning technology to advance math and science learning.

"The Physics Classroom complements the StudyWorks Online Web site, and our philosophies are similar--namely, to offer high quality educational content for students in an interactive, fun and challenging manner," said Chris Randles, CEO of MathSoft Engineering & Education, Inc. "By sponsoring The Physics Classroom, we are giving more students and educators access to the site and creating additional opportunities for its growth as a valuable resource in education. This supports a top MathSoft priority, creating better overall opportunities for students and teachers to take advantage of the Web for math and science learning."

"The popularity and success of an unadvertised, home-made Web site like The Physics Classroom show how creative uses of information technology can pay off in the important task of advancing pre-college science and math learning," said Bob Black, director of marketing and publications, American Society for Engineering Education. "Not only engineering but all sectors of the workforce will benefit from students getting interested and excited about science and math through programs like this one."

The Physics Classroom includes "The Physics Tutorial" covering all concepts of basic physics with easy-to-understand language, multimedia animations and colorful graphics, from Newton's Laws to the Ray Model of Light. "Check Your Understanding" sections provide an opportunity for students to assess their progress. "The Multimedia Physics Studio" includes animations that further explain major physics concepts. Other resources on the site include "Physics Help", graphing practice and other tutorial activities. The site may be accessed at www.studyworksonline.com.

"Through its work with StudyWorks Online, MathSoft has established itself as a pioneer in the world of online education and math and science publishing," said Henderson. "The StudyWorks Online Web site, because of its cutting-edge approach to e-learning and established position in the educational community, is a natural host for The Physics Classroom. Working with MathSoft allows us to grow the content and technology of the site so that it can continue to deliver innovative education opportunities for students and teachers via the Internet."

About the StudyWorks! Product Line

The award-winning StudyWorks! product line includes the most complete educational math and science software titles and online resources for helping students and adults alike learn, explore and understand key subjects in a powerful but easy-to-use environment. The software uses patented technology to offer the simple look and feel of a written page, combined with an interactive environment that features live examples, colorful multimedia displays and step-by-step lessons. All StudyWorks titles offer innovative Internet features, including the new industry-standard MathML technology (with the inclusion of IBM techexplorer(TM) Hypermedia Browser, Professional Edition) for exchanging math and science content on the Web.

StudyWorks is available in four packaged software versions: StudyWorks Mathematics Deluxe, StudyWorks Middle School Deluxe Math, StudyWorks Science Deluxe and StudyWorks Math Success.

StudyWorks Online (www.studyworksonline.com) is a free Web learning site delivering proven, innovative and engaging learning tools that help students develop an understanding of math and science concepts traditionally taught in grades 6 and higher. StudyWorks Online gives students, parents and teachers access to high-quality content, interactive activities, real-world examples, diagnostic testing, monitored learning forums and personalized homework help. Unlike other academic Web sites, StudyWorks Online provides comprehensive materials that bring math and science to life.