(ATLANTA, Georgia) July 10, 2018 — Thanks to a generous donation from the Atlanta Retailers Association (ARA) that was matched by the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, Alive Studios is equipping all 15 Gwinnett County Public Library branches with its evidence-based Learning alive™ kits.
Alive Studios is a Gwinnett-based software developer that creates mind-boggling learning experiences to increase student engagement and improve early literacy. Students are motivated and inspired as they interact with 26 virtual zoo animals while learning the essential fundamentals of reading and math. Alive Studios’ programs use a technology called augmented reality (3D without glasses) to bring lessons to life. The learning kits are currently being used in more than 3,500 classrooms around the country.
“We’re very excited to be the first public library in the country to roll out this program,” said Shelly Schwerzler, the development manager at Gwinnett County Public Library. The library system plans to make this highly engaging learning experience available to children all around Gwinnett. “Our youth services team will be incorporating this new way to learn about letters, words, and sentences into our existing early literacy programs,” Schwerzler added.
The Learning alive Plus kit that will be donated to each library branch includes 26 letter cards, 97 sight-word cards, and 84 word-family cards. Each card is interactive and triggers multiple 3D animations depending on the word or sentence that is created. While learning to identify and sound out each letter, children are able to hear, see, touch, build, and speak throughout the lesson. This multimodal approach appeals to a broad range of learning styles and abilities, increases long-term retention, and is especially effective with at-risk students and English language learners. Also included are three Interactive Stories and a full, supplemental math program aligned to state standards for kindergarten.
“We are so thrilled to partner with Gwinnett County Public Library and have Learning alive available to so many children around Gwinnett,” said Cynthia Kaye, Alive Studios’ CEO and Chief Zoo Keeper. “What a generous gift from the ARA and Community Foundation!”
Library staff will be installing the learning kits this summer and will receive training on how best to use the reading and math supplemental curricula within their programs. “Our plan is to introduce Learning alive in a couple of our summer programs and then do a full rollout this fall for back-to-school,” said Schwerzler. “We will be using an online assessment tool to monitor the program’s effectiveness and to help us provide the best service for our community.”
About Alive Studios
Alive Studios is a software developer that creates mind-boggling learning experiences to increase student engagement. Students are motivated and inspired as they interact with 26 virtual zoo animals while learning the essential fundamentals of reading and math. Alive Studios’ programs use a technology called Augmented Reality (3D without glasses) to bring lessons to life. For more information about Alive Studios and their mission to win literacy, visit AliveStudiosCo.com.
About Gwinnett County Public Library
The award-winning Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL) system was formed in 1996 after the dissolution of the Gwinnett-Forsyth Regional Library. For more than 20 years, GCPL has provided resources and services that enrich and inspire our community. The Library has 15 branches that offer free access to computers and WiFi, classes, materials, and programming for people of all ages. In 2016, more than 5 million items were checked out at GCPL, more than any other library system in Georgia. GCPL was recognized as a Top Workplace by The Atlanta-Journal Constitution in 2017 and 2018. For more information about Gwinnett County Public Library programs and services, visit GwinnettPl.org.
About Atlanta Retailers Association
The Atlanta Retailers Association (ARA) was founded in 1995 by a small group convenience store owner /operators and has grown to over 1,000 members. The ARA’s Board of Directors works to promote member interests by reaching agreements with major vendors, raising awareness regarding compliance with industry and government requirements, and encouraging best practices in business. The ARA also participates in projects that are beneficial to local, national, and international communities. In order to maximize the impact that ARA has on the communities it serves, the Atlanta Retailers Foundation (ARF) was created. Through its Foundation, the ARA, seeks opportunities to contribute positively to the quality of life of all Georgians through philanthropic contributions and community service projects.
Join Alive Studios’ BHAG!
Our BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOAL is to help shift the Nation’s Report Card from only 36% of our 4th-graders reading proficiently to more than 70% reading proficiently. #HelpShiftHappen
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Jacob Hanson
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