| Press Release |
|
For Immediate Release CONTACT: Charlene Blohm |
 |
Thinkronize Introduces netTrekker d.i. with Innovative Text-to-Speech Support
netTrekker d.i takes differentiated instruction to the next level with new Read Aloud feature to support special needs learners
Cincinnati, OH - netTrekker d.i., the safe Internet search engine specifically designed to support differentiated instruction, is now available with text-to-speech support. The award-winning product by Thinkronize has helped thousands of educators individualize instruction for all levels of learners, and now the product's 180,000 educator-selected resources are more accessible and adaptive for special needs students. The new Read Aloud feature automatically reads text back to the user with just the click of a button.
The Read Aloud function is extremely user-friendly, allowing students to simply highlight sections of text within the netTrekker d.i. product interface, on a netTrekker d.i. search result, or any definition provided by the Dictionary/Translation Hot Key. The highlighted text is then read aloud for students who may need additional audio support or reinforcement. Included in every subscription to netTrekker d.i., this new function serves as a powerful addition for both students and educators.
netTrekker d.i., with Read Aloud support, now eligible for IDEA funds, ultimately reduces the strain of reading for those who may have visual impairments, have learning disabilities or for those who find it hard to concentrate for long periods of time. "Since 1998, more than 8 million students have been served under IDEA each year," said Christine Willig, president of Thinkronize. "In addition to providing special needs students with equal opportunities for learning, it is critical that these students are not marginalized from their technology savvy peers. netTrekker d.i., offered with Read Aloud, provides students with special needs a way to comfortably participate alongside their classmates."
In addition to text-to-speech support, netTrekker d.i. works efficiently to assign each prescreened resource a readability measure based on Lexile® ratings and eight other popular methods. Also, an entire section of netTrekker d.i. is filled with customized ELL content to help teach English as a second language, addressing a growing need in K-12 education today.
Many school districts nationwide already see netTrekker d.i. as an essential classroom learning tool, with more than 8.3 million students in 14,000 schools across the country currently using the search engine. netTrekker d.i. has also been recently honored as the Best Educational Website in the reference category by the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) and awarded a prestigious Codie Award for being the Best Instructional Solution: Classroom Management by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA).
About the netTrekker Product Suite
The netTrekker product line includes award-winning educational
search products for both the education (netTrekker classic and
netTrekker d.i.) and consumer markets (netTrekker home).
Unlike ordinary search engines, products from the netTrekker suite
provide fast and easy access to only the best, pornography-free, educational
resources from the entire Internet in a safe, organized, standards-aligned
format. Using netTrekker search engines, educators, school
librarians, students, and parents save valuable time because they are directed
to relevant, reliable, educator-selected websites every time - meaning less
time spent on searching and more time focused on learning. For more
information about the netTrekker suite, visit
www.netTrekker.com.
About Thinkronize
Thinkronize, an Internet developer of award-winning K-12 educational
products, was founded in 1999 and
grew out of a passion for and commitment to enhancing teaching and
learning with the Internet and standards-based online resources. The
company's flagship product, netTrekker classic, was launched in
October 2000 and has won 11 industry awards for education excellence since
its inception. Thinkronize currently serves nearly 8.3 million students
in 48 states, including adoptions by key districts and states nationwide,
making it one of the fastest-growing companies in the education industry.
In recent years, the company has expanded the netTrekker product
line to include two-time award-winning netTrekker d.i., designed
for use in schools to help educators meet individual students' learning
needs, and netTrekker home, available for purchase by parents whose
district or school has not yet purchased a netTrekker school
subscription. For more information visit
www.thinkronize.com
or phone 877-517-1125.
# # # #