WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hatch®, the leading early childhood education technology provider, announces the latest release of their iStartSmart tablet today at the National Association for the Education of Young Children Professional Development Institute (NAEYC - PDI) Conference in Minneapolis. Available immediately, iStartSmart 4.0 remains the only tablet technology research-tested to improve math and literacy skills, and is part of the EDDIE Award-winning family of iStartSmart solutions offered exclusively by Hatch.
“iStartSmart Mobile is a standards-based, adaptive technology that allows children to advance through increasing levels of competency and enables teachers to monitor individual progress,” said Ginny Norton, Hatch’s President. “This gives teachers the power to make informed instructional decisions, which is demonstrated to improved child outcomes when used according to best practices.”
Award-winning iStartSmart software allows children to advance through a series of research-based activities as they develop competency in 18 kindergarten readiness skills critical for early school success. iStartSmart supports educators with tools that facilitate data-based instruction and early intervention, allowing them to understand each child’s skill level, pinpoint areas of difficulty and redirect the software to refocus learning in those areas.
The latest version of iStartSmart Mobile improves the secure environment in which children interact, making it easier to ensure that time with technology is educationally appropriate. After the update, users will receive free software upgrades, and the addition of a QR Code reader allows Hatch to create custom tablet environments for children, teachers, and administrators.
“These were the largest improvements our customer base requested, and we delivered all of them at once,” noted Dana Love, PhD, Vice President at Hatch. “Children in our at-risk population should be given an opportunity to use the best technology available for early learners, and that means technology which has been tested in the real world. We’re proud to remain the only tablet technology research-tested to improve math and literacy skills.”
Pilot programs have shown that iStartSmart Mobile can narrow the technology gap and the achievement gap for at-risk preschoolers. Teachers can quickly and easily understand the diverse needs of every child and the data rolls up into classroom, school and district level dashboards. With cloud-based Hatch Reporting, administrators now have a pulse on early learner progress like never before.
A 2012 scientific research study demonstrated that children’s scores on standardized tests improved and advanced above the national average after using the iStartSmart system on a consistent basis during a school year. Study results also showed a direct correlation between improved test scores in literacy and math and progression in those same areas in the iStartSmart software.
About Hatch®, the Early Learning Experts:
Since 1984, Hatch® has transformed the lives of more than 500,000 children with technology and classroom materials that prepare them with essential skills to succeed in school and beyond. From interactive hardware to adaptive software and classroom supplies, Hatch is the leading early learning solutions provider nationwide. Child-appropriate hardware; research-based content tied to standards; and individualized progress monitoring tools combine to create complete classroom solutions that improve fundamental math, literacy, and social-emotional skills. For more information, visit www.HatchEarlyLearning.com.