iCAN Named SIIA Education CODiE Award Finalist for Best PK-12 Personalized Learning Solution and Best Instructional Solution in Other Curriculum Areas

WASHINGTON, DC, March 28, 2013 (Press-News.org) Eugene, Oregon-based AVANT ASSESMENT today announced that iCAN was named a finalist for the 2013 SIIA Education CODiE Awards for Best PK-12 Personalized Learning Solution and Best Instructional Solution in Other Curriculum Areas. The SIIA CODiE Awards the premier award for the software and information industries, and have been recognizing product excellence for 27 years. The awards have over 75 categories and are organized by industry focus of Content, Education and Software.

This year's program features 23 Education categories, several of which are new or updated to reflect the latest industry trends and business models. Winners will be announced during a special awards dinner at the nation's leading education technology conference, the Ed Tech Industry Summit, in San Francisco on May 6.

iCAN is a cloud-based tool that brings standards into the classroom to facilitate formative assessment and learning. iCAN supports teachers and students to seamlessly integrate student-created evidence with instruction and curriculum in a single, online portfolio. Architected for any set of standards or sets of performance criteria, iCAN is currently used by World Language and English Language Learners (ELL). Integration of Language and Common Core State Standards is a current initiative.

Students demonstrate learning and competence by providing digital evidence of their skill in the target subject. Personalized learning pathways are developed through teacher-student collaboration. Continuous teacher feedback, along with parent review through a parent portal, creates a partnership that reinforces student responsibility for learning.

- Students self-assess, set goals and respond to instruction through understandable, actionable learning objectives while building comprehensive digital portfolios (including text, audio and video) of evidence of competency.

- Teachers communicate expectations, guide students with ongoing feedback, and continuously monitor and evaluate progress towards proficiency.

- Parents participate in their student's learning path with access to their student's tasks and portfolios.

iCAN currently includes ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, Texas ELP Standards, Florida World Languages Standards and WIDA CAN DO Descriptors, with more to come.

"We are honored that iCAN is a CODiE finalist for the second year in a row. Avant is committed to building practical tools for assessment and evaluation that help facilitate interaction among teachers, students and parents," said Mike Patterson, President and CEO of Avant Assessment. "Competency-based learning is part of the future of education and Avant has provided competency-based assessments for over ten years. We are excited to have a tool that is part of the improving landscape of education."

"We're pleased with the innovative educational technology products that made it to this stage. All of this year's finalists show great promise, and they should be proud of their finalist status," said Karen Billings, vice president of the SIIA Education Division. "I look forward to seeing them all in May at the Ed Tech Industry Summit."

Details about each finalist are listed at http://siia.net/codies/2013/finalists.asp

Avant Communications Contact: Mary Beth Saddoris, 888-718-7887, marybeth.saddoris@avantassessment.com

SIIA Communications Contact: Laura Greenback, 410-533-1943, lgreenback@siia.net

About SIIA
SIIA is the leading association representing the software and digital content industries. SIIA represents approximately 700 member companies worldwide that develop software and digital information content. Information technology (IT) and software security are critical issues to SIIA's members, many of whom strive to develop safe, secure and state-of the-art products that effectively serve their commercial and government customers alike, while protecting their intellectual property. The SIIA Education Division serves and represents more than 200 member companies that provide software, digital content and other technologies that address educational needs. The Division shapes and supports the industry by providing leadership, advocacy, business development opportunities and critical market information. For more information, visit www.siia.net/education.

About Avant Assessment
Avant believes that every student can communicate and thrive in a diverse world, and that every educator can be confident in guiding student learning with data, evidence and observation. A leader in proficiency assessments, Avant provides valid, reliable tests for language learning in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. With expertise in linguistics, assessment, technology and education at their foundation, Avant's solutions build student and teacher confidence in real-world learning and deliver accurate standards-based data to inform the learning process. Delivered via the web, Avant's tools are easily accessible, personalized and engaging. With iCAN, STAMP and Placement, every student can be ready to thrive in a diverse world. For more information, visit www.avantassessment.com.