Released on: May 21, 2008, 7:39 am

Press Release Author: Seward Inc.

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: The First 4,000 Words: Keys to School Success

Press Release Body: On June 10-12, 2008, Greg Sales (President and CEO, Seward Inc.)
and Jayson Richardson (Project Manager, Seward Inc.) will present a poster session
about The First 4,000 Words Project at the IES Third Annual Research Conference
(http://ies.ed.gov/director/conferences/08ies_conference/), a conference presenting
the broadest assemblage of grant and contract recipients conducting education
research funded by IES.
Seward Incorporated has developed and tested The First 4,000 Words Project aimed at
students in grades 1-4. The web-based multimedia system employs automated speech
recognition features for teaching the meanings and practicing the pronunciation of
the 4,000 most frequently used English words seen and heard by these students. The
target populations are English Language Learners, struggling readers, and children
of poverty who have small vocabularies relative to their peers.
Seward created two 40-item, group administered vocabulary placement tests - one for
listening, the other reading - which tested a stratified random sample of words from
the target pool. The tests were piloted, refined, and administered to 548 students
in three Minneapolis/St. Paul area schools. A mix of ELL and native speakers (N=16)
who scored in the mid ranges on the tests were recruited to use the prototype
software.

Please use this link for more information about The First 4,000 Words Project.

Greg Sales has been designing and developing technology-based training for nearly 30
years. He has applied his e-Learning expertise for a variety of clients including
Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and universities. In addition to
recommending customized training solutions, Greg provides consultation on the
development of comprehensive e-Learning strategies to organizations seeking to
improve training productivity while reducing costs. Prior to founding Seward Inc.,
Greg was a professor of instructional design and technology and program chair at the
University of Minnesota.
Jayson Richardson is a rising expert in the field of information and communication
technology for development (ICT4D). He has over 10 years of experience developing
international / intercultural programs. Jayson has worked as a manager in various
capacities on projects including: an international student teaching project; an
international teacher exchange program; an ICT in education project in Cambodia; and
an educational software development project.

About Seward Incorporated
Seward Incorporated is a leader in the design and development of custom eLearning
and eBusiness solutions for corporate, academic, and government clients locally,
nationally, and internationally. Founded in 1990, Seward Inc. has conducted
information architecture and infrastructure consulting, design and development
services for a wide variety of public and private entities, including 3M,
HealthPartners, Medtronic, Target, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities,
University of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Education, U.S. Department of
Education, and the U.S. State Department. For more information, call 612-721-4444 or
visit http://www.sewardinc.com or http://international.sewardinc.com.



Web Site: http://www.sewardinc.com

Contact Details: 2200 East Franklin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55404

(612) 721-4444

vfrank@sewardinc.com