Pearson and Knewton to Bring Adaptive Learning Technology to Thousands of Underprepared College Students

Pearson’s MyLab/Mastering programs to integrate Knewton Adaptive Learning Platform

LAS VEGAS—January 11, 2012 — Today, Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, and Knewton, the adaptive learning pioneer, will announce the first suite of MyLab/Mastering offerings that will be powered by the Knewton Adaptive Learning Platform.

The announcement will be made at today’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Higher Ed Tech Summit, where Knewton CEO Jose Ferreira, and Pearson President of Higher Education English, Mathematics and Student Success Greg Tobin will participate on a panel to discuss the parameters of the partnership and the future of higher education.

In November 2011, Pearson and Knewton announced plans to create a new wave of personalized learning products.

“Personalized learning is a linchpin for the overall future of education,” said Greg Tobin of Pearson. “Incorporating Knewton’s technology into our MyLab/Mastering programs is leading the industry’s charge toward this new era of customized and personalized education.”

The first products will be used by hundreds of thousands of students in developmental programs across the country, including developmental mathematics, developmental English and developmental writing.

The two companies will be expanding the partnership in 2012 and 2013 to include collegiate mathematics, statistics, freshman composition, economics and science, among other areas.

“Starting this fall, Pearson course materials powered by Knewton will start adapting to each individual’s unique learning needs,” said Jose Ferreira, founder and CEO of Knewton. “Students generate a tremendous amount of high-stakes data that Knewton can analyze to ensure they learn in the most effective and efficient way for each. It is a new frontier in education.”

Pearson’s award-winning MyLab/Mastering programs have personalized learning for millions of students around the globe, delivering proven results for institutions looking to improve student performance and lower costs. Demand for the MyLab and Mastering programs continues to grow, with more than 9 million student registrations in 2011.

About Knewton’s Technology

The Knewton award-winning Adaptive Learning Platform uses proprietary algorithms to deliver a personalized learning path for each student, each day. Knewton’s technology identifies each student’s strengths, weaknesses, and unique learning style. Taking into account both personal proficiencies and course requirements, the platform continuously tailors learning materials to each student’s exact needs, delivering the most relevant content in the most efficient and effective form.

Since launching two first-year college math courses – College Mathematics and College Algebra – plus a self-paced Math Readiness with Arizona State University at the CES Higher Ed Tech Summit last year, Knewton has partnered with some of the largest education institutions in the US, including The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Penn State University (PSU), Mount St. Mary’s University, and Washington State University (WSU). In the fall, Knewton raised a $33 million dollar round of funding, led by Founders Fund and Pearson, and announced a partnership with Pearson to create the next wave of personalized, digital education products.

About Pearson

Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, has global reach and market-leading businesses in education, business information and consumer publishing (NYSE: PSO). The company provides innovative print and digital education materials, including personalized learning programs such as MyLab/Mastering; education services including custom publishing; and content-independent platforms including the EQUELLA digital repository and Pearson LearningStudio for online learning programs.