Microsoft And National Science Teachers Association Launch New Web Site To Promote Excellence In Science Education

Innovative High School Science Curriculum That Implements New National Standards Is Now Available Free On The Internet

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ST. LOUIS, March 28, 1996 -- In a major effort to put quality science education materials directly into the hands of teachers, Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT) and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) today announced the free distribution of a field-tested, comprehensive curriculum for high school science as part of the Global Schoolhouse (GSH), a popular education resource area on the Internet. The new GSH web site, launched at the NSTA Convention in St. Louis, Mo., gives science educators in-depth descriptions of the content components of the now National Science Education Standards (NSES) and science teaching materials designed to achieve those standards.

At the GSH web site, teachers now have immediate access to learning resources developed by the NSTA, called "Micro-Units," for more than 80 topics in biology, chemistry, Earth and space sciences, and physics. The materials are linked to the National Science Education Standards recently developed by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. For teachers, Micro-Units include materials for helping students learn the content of the unit, along with assessment tools. Student materials provide basic activities, hands-on investigations and readings for each unit.

"Developing this Internet site with the NSTA is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to help build what we call the Connected Learning Community," said Jonathan Lazarus, vice president of education strategic relations for Microsoft. "Members of the education community can share best practices and build on each other's work. Students and teachers alike will have access to rich learning resources at their fingertips."

"With the increasing importance of science and technology in our daily lives, it is more important than ever that all students have the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills a quality science education can develop," said Bill Aldridge, NSTA director of special projects. "Working with Microsoft to make this standards-based curriculum available on the Internet will have an immediate impact on the quality of science education not only in the U.S., but globally."

The overall curriculum framework and the Micro-Units are the work of the Scope, Sequence and Coordination of High School Sciences (SSC) project, an NSTA initiative funded by the National Science Foundation. In addition to supporting the now science education standards, the curriculum's integrated and coordinated design reflects the best research on how students learn. High school students study all four natural sciences every year across all grade levels, instead of the traditional "layer cake" pattern of a single science subject each school year.

Before being posted to the web, materials are reviewed by experienced science teachers, teaching scientists and research scientists as well as field-tested in schools. Curriculum materials for the ninth-grade level are available now; materials for 10th through 12th grades will follow. Science teachers who download and use the nearly 2,000 pages of free materials also can provide feedback to help improve the curriculum.

To organize these extensive resources and provide multiple links between curriculum areas and the science standards, Microsoft developed this site using Microsoft(R) Internet Information Server, a new, easy- to-use web server publishing solution, and Microsoft BackOffice(TM), an integrated family of server software built on the Windows (TM) Server operating system.

Visit the SSC web site at http://www.gsh.org/NSTA(underscore) SSandC/. The site is hosted on the Global Schoolhouse, developed jointly by the Global SchoolNet Foundation and Microsoft. The NSTA science curriculum is the first step in Microsoft's larger effort to work with curriculum experts and experienced educators to develop rich educational resources on the Internet including a curriculum repository for lesson plans and classroom tools; a teacher resource center for information on teaching standards, information about in service training and conferences; and a library of innovative classroom projects.

Microsoft's work with the MSTA is part of the company's continuing initiative to help create a global Connected Learning Community in which all students have access to technology and the tools and skills to use information effectively today and for a lifetime. In addition, Microsoft is committed to motivating students' lifelong interest in science and technology education by supporting and developing science based software and teacher's activity guides for use at home and in the schools, such as Scholastic's The Magic School Bus(R) series for exploration of the human body, the solar system and the ocean, and Encarta(R) 96 Encyclopedia and Encarta(R) 96 World Atlas.

Founded in 1944, the National Science Teachers Association, based in Arlington, Va., is the world's largest professional organization dedicated to improving science teaching at all levels -- preschool through college. NSTA's 53,000-plus members include science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives and others involved in science education. NSTA holds many conventions each year. More than 15,000 people will attend its 1996 national convention in St. Louis, which provides 1,000 exhibits of resources for science learning in schools and colleges.

NSTA publications include the bimonthly news magazine, NSTA Reports!, Quantum, and teacher-oriented magazines at each level: Science and Children for elementary school, Science Scope for middle school, The Science Teacher for high school, and Journal of College Science Teaching for college teachers. A new NSTA magazine, Dragonfly, aimed at young children will debut in St. Louis. For more information about NSTA call 800-722-NSTA.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

NOTE: Microsoft, BackOffice, and Encarta are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Scholastic and The Magic Bus and logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Note to Editors; If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft please check out the Microsoft home page at http://ww.microsoft.com/corpinfo. To receive Microsoft press releases by fax, please call 800-859-5915 within the U.S. or 201-333-0314 internationally.

CONTACT: Joelle McGinnis or Jim Sarlo of Marcy Monyek and Associates, 312-263-2135, or monyek@msn.com; or Cindy Workowsky of the National Science Teachers Association, 800-722-NSTA or cworkowsky@NSTA.org