Houghton Mifflin Co. News Release - 07/09/04

GW and Houghton Mifflin Show Commitment to Technology with Launch of E-Learning Companion

New Book Prepares Students for Success with Online Technologies and Protocols

WASHINGTON - July 9, 2004 - The George Washington University and Houghton Mifflin Company announce the publication of the E-Learning Companion: A Student's Guide to Online Success. The comprehensive book and corresponding Web sites, written by GW Educational Technology Leadership Professors, Drs. Ryan Watkins and Michael Corry, are designed to give both the tech-savvy and those new to Internet-based learning tools and computer applications best practices and tips to improve e-learning skills and enhance students' success.

One of the first books of its kind, the E-Learning Companion is meeting the demand of a significant and growing market by providing students with a resource that incorporates technology skills and study strategies to help them succeed in the online learning environment. Today, well over three million students enroll in online courses each year, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. According to a 2003 survey by Market Data Retrieval, a leading education market research firm, 94 percent of post secondary schools use a "course management system to extend communications between professors and students beyond the classroom environment for distance learning and traditional classes on college campuses." These e-learning tools include online grade books, messaging and chat rooms, interactive forums and new software applications for reports and presentations.

GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg called the book "a reference, a toolkit, a mentor." "You'll find it a lot easier to succeed in school with it than without it," said Trachtenberg, who wrote the foreword for the book, which the nearly 2,600 GW freshmen will receive courtesy of the University when they arrive on campus in the fall. "GW is committed to providing its students access to technology. In addition to the E-Learning Companion, students have high-speed access in the residence halls, Wi-Fi access in several locations on campus and numerous state of the art laboratories throughout campus."

Corry, who along with Watkins is intimately involved with designing and delivering e-learning courses, said, "Online learning requires a different skills set and study behaviors than classroom learning. We are very excited to be partnering with Houghton Mifflin to arm students with the tools it takes to be successful in a technology-centric learning environment."

The E-Learning Companion provides students with a quick-reference guide for developing the necessary technology skills to achieve success in any college course that uses online technology. In addition to providing students with information on basic hardware and software requirements, a glossary of technology lingo and extensive technology tips, the book covers topics such as online time management strategies, goal setting and developing positive online relationships. Accompanying the text is a Web site that provides 32 online tutorials, activities, self-assessments and other resources.

"Technology training is such a crucial step in the development of young students, but is often overlooked by universities," said June Smith, executive vice president, College Division of Houghton Mifflin. "The E-Learning Companion prepares students not only for success in college, but also teaches them how to communicate and work collaboratively in our technology-based society."

Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Company is one of the leading educational publishers in the United States; publishing textbooks, instructional technology, assessments and other educational materials for elementary and secondary schools and colleges. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers, and offers computer-administered testing programs and services for the professional and certification markets. With its origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation.

Located four blocks from the White House, The George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the nation's capital. The University offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 140 countries.

For more information about Houghton Mifflin, visit www.hmco.com.
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CONTACT:
Nicole Evans
Public Relations Specialist
Houghton Mifflin Company
617-351-3817
nicole_evans@hmco.com