CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - January 22, 2009) - Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. today introduced Britannica SmartMath, a formative assessment and online, interactive math practice tool for Grades 1-6 developed by Hong Kong-based PLANETii (http://www.planetii.com/corpsite/index.jsp).

An engaging and highly interactive program, Britannica SmartMath consists of more than 35,000 practice questions within 91 math topics that together form a closely intertwined mathematics program correlated to educational standards. It combines questions and activities with an adaptive platform that individualizes student learning. Amusing avatars and an award system create a fun, game-like environment that engages students.

Britannica SmartMath also helps schools address the assessment provisions in the U.S. No Child Left Behind Act, which require that they assess student learning and provide evidence of improved performance. As a formative assessment program, Britannica SmartMath measures what students have learned and provides data to inform subsequent instruction with interpretive and diagnostic reports that identify each student's academic needs. The results of these assessments are used to differentiate instruction and maximize what each student learns.

"This is the future of math instruction," said Michael Ross, a senior vice president at Britannica and general manager of Britannica Digital Learning. "It's fun and engaging for students and a powerful, easy-to-use formative assessment tool for teachers. It's on the cutting edge of incorporating feedback into the learning process. Educators, parents and students now have real-time measurable results of student performance and a way to track student progress."

The introduction of Britannica SmartMath comes just after Britannica resumed distribution of its Mathematics in Context middle school mathematics curriculum late last year. Ross confirmed that the two initiatives are related and represent Britannica's intention to move beyond the company's historical focus on reference and provide more products that are highly useful in classrooms.

Schools interested in Britannica SmartMath or any of Britannica's products can go to http://info.eb.com or call 1-800-621-3900.

About Encyclopaedia Britannica

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. is a leader in reference and education publishing whose encyclopedias and other products can be found in many media, from the Internet to cell phones to books. A pioneer in electronic publishing since the early 1980s, the company also still publishes the 32-volume Encyclopaedia Britannica, along with services such as Britannica Online School Edition and new printed products such as Britannica Illustrated Science Library. Britannica's editorial operation is overseen by some of the world's most distinguished scholars. The company makes its headquarters in Chicago.