E-Journal, Fun and Easy to Use Online Publishing Tool to Help Students Strengthen Their Writing Skills, Launched by Macmillan/McGraw-Hill

Business Wire, Sept 16, 2002

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 2002

E-Journal, a new and engaging tool to help students build their writing skills, was launched today by Macmillan/McGraw-Hill.

The recent announcement by the College Board of the decline in SAT Verbal scores reinforces the need for programs such as E-Journal, which can enhance students' comfort level with writing as well as their abilities in those key formative years of learning.

E-Journal is a fun, easy to use online publishing tool. Students can write journal-style articles about topics from their social studies curriculum, or current events, or any subject of interest. They may incorporate relevant photos and clipart and can post the material on a school's Intranet so others can read and respond. Writing assignments are included with the software, and are also printed in the Social Studies textbooks. E-Journal will be distributed with the new Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Social Studies program, or may be purchased individually.

"McGraw-Hill Education has been devoted to the enhancement of learning for over 100 years. Our expertise in curriculum and instruction coupled with developing technologies provides teachers with tools to improve student performance. By weaving E-Journal into their classroom activities, teachers can help students become more proficient writers," said Sari Factor, president, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill.

E-Journal was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab. Jack Driscoll, Editor-in-Residence of the MIT Media Lab said, "The poor writing skills of younger generations has been lamented for decades. Test scores confirm that more attention needs to be devoted to reading and writing. By making use of a medium students are comfortable with -- the computer -- we can help grow their talents in this area. In the process we may also create more than a few who are as passionate about writing as they are skillful."

A recent study conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) on behalf of the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that "students repeatedly said that the quality of their Internet-based assignments was often poor and uninspiring - if online assignments were even made at all." Douglas Levin, the director of the AIR study, said that students "want to be assigned more and more engaging Internet activities that are relevant to their lives. Many students maintain that this would significantly improve their attitude toward school and learning." The timely introduction of E-Journal can help respond to students' desire for higher quality Internet assignments as well as the clear need to enhance their writing skills.

Macmillan/McGraw-Hill will be offering E-Journal free of charge to schools obtaining their new Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Social Studies series for grades 3-6. While students of all ages can use E-Journal, by focusing on younger children and incorporating online journal writing into their day-to-day activities solid writing skills can be built early in life.

An example of an E-Journal exercise can be found on Macmillan/McGraw-Hill's Web site (www.mhschool.com/teach/ss) or you can request a sample copy of the CD teachers will receive by contacting Joseph Berman, Executive Editor for Technology, at joseph_berman@mcgraw-hill.com.

Macmillan/McGraw-Hill is a leading publisher of elementary school print and electronic products. It is a unit of McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a global information service provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education, and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's and BusinessWeek. The corporation has more than 300 offices in 33 countries. Sales in 2001 were $4.6 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.