Thesys International Establishes Relationship With Boise State University to Provide Professional Development Modules for Educators

ANAHEIM, CA--(Marketwire - Aug 3, 2011) - Thesys International, a new education business that supports schools with a hybrid online/classroom approach to education, has established a relationship with Boise State University's Department of Educational Technology by working with faculty member and former Department Chair Lisa Dawley to provide professional development tools in an innovative "learn as you go" program that allows educators to access content on demand.

Discovery-based learning is proven to work best for young students, and the same principle is at work for teachers. Rather than cramming a semester of content into a weekend seminar that educators may struggle to implement when they return to the classroom, the embedded modules work synergistically with course content. Teachers can advance their knowledge at their own pace and immediately bring their new skills to work in the school environment.

"The accessibility of professional development programs is dwindling alongside crippling school-district budget cuts," says Alan Rudi, Principal Solutions Strategist at Thesys International. "At the same time, teachers have increasing demands placed on them to keep up with more students and the exponential growth of technology. Our relationship with Dawley presents a fantastic opportunity for us to empower teachers and incorporate more effective learning techniques with a powerful program and an expert partner."

Boise State's tools are a natural fit for Thesys, given the university's recognition as a leader in education technology training and development. Ten years ago, the university launched the first fully online educational technology degree in the country. They're the largest trainer of K-12 teachers online and have incredible expertise in teaching online and developing digital curricula. Dawley and Kerry Rice, current department chair of educational technology, formed a company called Teacher Stream and developed nearly 100 professional development modules as a way to influence the market and educate teachers in ed tech. Thesys International is implementing four of those modules to support the teachers at schools using Thesys' hybrid education systems. The four modules are: Best Practices in Online Learning, Blended Learning, Effective Online Learning Environments and Student Success Online. Thesys enhances these modules for teachers to learn tools such as Glogster, mind mapping, digital timelines, wikis, quizlets, and others.

"Thesys continues to pioneer the field of hybrid education, and that culture of innovation is something we share," says Dawley, "This is a really cool way for schools and universities to work together. As education evolves, it's important that teachers are brought along on the journey. Many are eager to incorporate new technologies in the classroom, but fewer are granted the resources to do so."

Competitors typically charge additional fees for professional development courses -- something many schools experiencing budget cuts are reluctant to prioritize. Thesys has opted to include these valuable modules with its hybrid education curricula so that every educator has the opportunity to continue learning and growing in ways that ultimately benefit every student in the classroom.

Thesys International / Boise State University

Thesys International is the newest division of family-owned and -operated Fairmont Education Group, a leading educational provider in Southern California since 1953. It represents the culmination of thought, curricular innovation and evolution of the classroom. The company's hybrid learning model is an enhancement to the traditional classroom -- not a replacement for face-to-face instruction -- that equips teachers to teach a new generation of digitally savvy students.

About Thesys International LLC: Launched in 2010, Thesys International, LLC, is an educational service provider that supports schools with a hybrid online/classroom approach to education. As a division of the Fairmont Education Group, Thesys represents the culmination of thought, curricular innovation and evolution of the classroom Fairmont has supported since 1953. Thesys works alongside educators and provides UC-approved curricula that works with schools' existing standards and protocols to help students reach their full potential. Thesys International is dedicated to providing high school students the optimal balance of online and in-person learning, making education more relevant for a new generation. For more information about Thesys' turn-key systems and its innovative hybrid education approach, visit www.thesysintl.com, call 714-234-2727 or email arudi@thesysintl.com.