DALLAS, January 05, 2016 — Istation announces Fox Lab, a research and development lab that will push education technology forward
Istation announces its newest endeavor, Fox Lab, opening January 1, 2016. Fox Lab will function as a research and development space in which to push the boundaries of education technology. Using two key approaches, Senior Vice President of Technology Development John Schnurrenberger will investigate not only how various technologies might be used to enhance learning, but also how different pedagogical teaching methods could be better supported by technology. The lab aims to use this research to develop valuable tools and methods for learning.
After 17 years at Istation, John Schnurrenberger is ready to take ed tech to the next level, saying, “This is an exciting time for education. In the past decade, our understanding of how our brains learn, store and retrieve information has grown immensely. Computers are now openly welcomed in classrooms, and educators are beginning to see the enormous possibilities they bring to complement their teaching. The public perception that video games are just idle, checkout time for the brain is also changing as we learn that there is a lot more going on in the brains of gamers. This, along with the availability of affordable, powerful computing devices, gives us the tools to create deep and impactful learning experiences for all students. How to do this effectively and efficiently in such a diverse and dynamic environment as our education system is an enormous challenge. Fox Lab is our commitment to ensuring that Istation continuously seeks to produce the best learning environment for our students.”
Schnurrenberger, one of the founders of Istation and the developer of Istation’s client-side presentation components, will draw from knowledge gained over 30 years of working in high-tech and video game industries. He plans to explore the use of technologies such as gaming, virtual and augmented reality, video cameras, accelerometers, and handwriting, facial and speech recognition to deepen learning experiences. Additionally, the lab will research teaching methods and how teachers are using technology to improve the Istation program and make it a richer educational tool. With Fox Lab, Istation intends to remain at the forefront of education and technology development.
“Istation is thrilled to be recognized as an approved vendor of assessments in Ohio. Our program is built by curriculum experts to support educators and instill a love of learning in students. We look forward to serving and forming new relationships with educators throughout the state,” said Richard H. Collins, Istation Chairman and CEO.
Commenting on the opening of Fox Lab, Istation CEO and Chairman Dick Collins remarked, “John Schnurrenberger’s innovation and drive have been integral to Istation’s success. We are confident Fox Lab will continue to innovate ways to instill a deep love of learning and a confidence to succeed in all students who use Istation.”
About Istation
Founded in 1998 and based in Dallas, Texas, Istation (Imagination Station) has become one of the nation's leading providers of richly animated, game-like educational technology. Winner of several national educational technology awards, the Istation program puts more instructional time in the classroom through small-group and collaborative instruction. Istation's innovative reading, math and Spanish programs immerse students in an engaging and interactive environment and inspire them to learn. Additionally, administrators and educators can use Istation to easily track the progress of their students, schools and classrooms. Istation now serves over 4 million students throughout the United States and in several other countries.