Sun Microsystems and NCS Pearson Bring E-Testing To State Classrooms Using The Sun One Platform
SANTA CLARA, CA — March 19, 2002 — Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced
that it is working with NCS Pearson and its state assessment services to provide
high-stakes electronic testing and measurement services based on the Sun[tm]
Open Net Environment (Sun ONE) platform. The open standards Sun ONE platform
enables Sun and NCS Pearson to offer a solution that helps schools score and
record tests quickly, allowing for immediate feedback and reporting; provide
faster access to learning information; integrate statewide assessment and classroom
instruction and organize student schedules.
Sun and NCS Pearson are helping transform the traditional testing process –
from delivery to reporting – by bringing a comprehensive set of Web-based test
processing systems and services directly to customers’ desktops. The new e-testing
services solution successfully uses the Internet’s ease of use and flexibility
to improve the testing process and help speed turnaround times for student scores,
while increasing the accuracy of data collection. The solution is based on Sun
ONE, Sun’s vision, architecture, platform and expertise that enables the development
and delivery of services on demand.
"States are looking for reliable, cost-effective solutions from trusted
partners as they increasingly leverage technology to implement new services
such as high-stakes testing to determine eligibility for grade promotion and
graduation," said Kim Jones, vice president of global education and research
for Sun Microsystems. "Leveraging the Sun ONE architecture and strong relationships
and programs within the iForce Initiative will help enable educational institutions
to implement new services that both integrate with existing infrastructures,
and which are designed for continued innovation."
NCS Pearson and Sun built and pre-tested this educational solution in Sun’s
iForce[sm] Ready Center in Menlo Park, Calif. The companies teamed to build
and refine the new solution to meet security requirements. Sun’s iForce Ready
Centers are an integral part of the iForce Initiative and are a key manner through
which Sun and its iForce community are "collaborating for customer success."
Sun’s iForce Initiative brings together Sun, its customers and its partners
to create and deliver solutions that help customers leverage the network to
improve business processes.
"The Sun platform provides the security, reliability and scalability features
required for deployment of high-stakes state assessment programs. By working
with Sun in their iForce lab, we were able to demonstrate that our application
in Sun architecture performed to our expectations," said Wayne Ostler,
director of electronic testing, NCS Pearson.
About NCS Pearson
NCS Pearson is a global provider of applications, services and technologies
for education, testing, assessment, government and complex data management.
The company operates as a business of Pearson Education, the world’s largest
integrated education company, which in turn is part of Pearson plc, the international
media and education company.
Sun Microsystems in Education
Sun is a leading provider of open network computing solutions to colleges and
universities around the world, powering academic, research and high performance
computing systems, campus administration, digital libraries and student instructions
systems. In addition, Sun is committed to connecting the world’s students to
the Internet, beginning with primary and secondary schools and extending to
all levels of higher education. For more information: www.sun.com/edu
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision — "The Network Is The Computer[tm]"
— has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a
leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that
power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to take their businesses to
the nth. Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web
Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, iForce, Solaris and The
Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems,
Inc. in the United States and other countries.
