About LearningSoft

Hawaiian Students Use Wireless Handhelds to Collect Scientific Data and Aid Federal Research on Humpback Whales

In once in a lifetime fieldtrip has students participating in documentary hosted by Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau

Pembroke Pines, FL – Mar. 27, 2007 – About 25 students from Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii spent the day recently using their Indigo Learning System wireless handhelds to help the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) collect scientific data on humpback whales. The event was part of the new Sanctuary Research program created to address resource management for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce and conducts environmental research on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere.

As part of the project, a NOAA scientist visited the students’ classroom and showed them how to identify whale behaviors and to discriminate between whale markings in order to identify individual whales as well as how to use the Indigo handhelds to record observed whale behavior.

"What a great tool to use out in the field with students.....I was amazed at how comfortable the students were with using the Indigo. Once a whale was spotted, they were entering the code for the observed behavior and then pushing the upload button to send there data in to the teacher. No more wet, windblown and lost data sheets," said Patty Miller, Maui Programs Coordinator for NOAA.

Once onsite, students used the Indigo handhelds to complete and wirelessly submit observation data to NOAA for inclusion in its 2007 Whale Survey. The data will be pictographically incorporated into a classroom activity pack on marine conservation and data measurement and analysis. That activity pack will be available to all Indigo classrooms.

"Instilling a love for life-long learning and stewardship for our planet is at the core of what we aim to accomplish at EarthEcho,” said Philippe Cousteau, President of EarthEcho International. “To see the students in this project take up their citizenship in this digital, connected world, is such a hopeful sign for our future. These students are looking with care and scientific curiosity at their planet and asking how to make it better."

According to David Cole, CEO of LearningSoft, “The Jacoby Group is deeply interested in the environment and how it affects marine life. It is a great opportunity for our technology to play a role in this integration of education and conservation. For decades, the marine area within the sanctuary has served as an important laboratory for nature scientists seeking to better understand Hawaii's marine resources. To have any part in this first-of-its-kind project is an honor.” LearningSoft’s Indigo Learning System pilot project began in 2005 when the company partnered with the Hawaii Department of Education to place the wireless Indigo Learning System in the hands of 1,000 students.

As part of their participation, students became resources in a documentary filmed by Marine Studios and hosted by Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau, the grandchildren of the world-renowned ecologist Capt. Jacques-Yves Cousteau. The documentary is designed to show marine life in their natural habitat and the challenges they face. The students also partook in an onsite lecture give by the Cousteaus that outlined the significance of the data collection and the ultimate protection of the environment.

According to Cole, the company is planning a similar event this spring with their pilot schools in Georgia and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Interested parties can learn more about the project and view a photo journal by logging onto www.learningsoft.net.

In 2007 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, celebrates 200 years of science and service to the nation. From the establishment of the Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of the Weather Bureau and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the 1870’s, much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.

LearningSoft, a member of the Jacoby Group, produces affordable wireless computing platforms for education. Its flagship product, the Indigo Learning System, is a network of handheld computers developed specifically for assessment and instruction. Indigo provides instant feedback for educators to guide classroom decisions and ensures that students achieve success on "high-stakes" standardized exams. For more information visit www.learningsoft.net.

The Jacoby Group is committed to investing in the future of the communities in which it does business.

Our approach leverages the diverse core competencies of the group; melding education with research, energy and real estate to develop opportunities that empower today's and future generations. Current projects are providing public education outreach and technology to help school children succeed academically.

Supporting research in subjects as diverse as aquaculture, computational intelligence, marine biology, and energy, we recognize that findings in these fields not only advance our knowledge, but they can synergize to benefit the community as a whole.