TOOL FACTORY, INC. AND GRANADA LEARNING TEAM UP TO BRING PROVEN TECHNOLOGY TO U.S. EDUCATORS

East Dorset, VT, May 3, 2001 - Tool Factory, Inc. announces today its partnership with Granada Learning, the leading publisher of educational software in the United Kingdom.  Granada’s innovative, curriculum-based products are used in over 95% of schools across the UK and exported to 30 countries worldwide, making Granada Learning the driving force in software solutions for schools everywhere.  

A Vermont-based company, Tool Factory, Inc. is publishing Granada's best-selling tools, as well as distributing Granada's top content titles through an extensive network of resellers. Developed by teachers and educators in the UK, the products being launched into the United States by Tool Factory have been evaluated and selected by American teachers.

The 61 Granada titles chosen by Tool Factory are geared for students in Pre-K to grade 12, and support the whole array of subject matter taught in American schools.  Titles range from Leaps and Bounds and Young Writers’ Workshop, fun products that help young learners develop literacy skills, to WWII Global Conflict and Science Explorer, award-winning titles for middle and high school students. 

Tool Factory is also publishing Granada Toolkit exclusively in the North American market under the name Tool Factory Workshop.  Currently the best-selling software in UK schools, Workshop is Tool Factory’s flagship product.  Under the Tool Factory company logo, the components of Workshop are titled Word Processor, Painter, Database, and Spreadsheet.  Every feature in the suite can be added or removed, making the software simple to configure for any student's age or ability level.  In fact, the program was adopted by 25% of UK elementary schools in the first five months of its launch because it fills an unmet need for a word processor appropriate for kids as young as five.   Confirming this, Granada earned over 30,000 new users of its software tools in March alone.

Cited as "The most child-friendly office suite to date" by Chris Drage of TES, Tool Factory Workshop includes over 1,000 pieces of clip art images and photographs, 30 videos, 80 audio clips, animations, and loads of tools that enable students to easily create their own multimedia projects in the classroom or at home.  Tool Factory Workshop is a one-stop shop for students and teachers who are eager to produce creative reports, presentations, databases, spreadsheets, works of art, and other impressive multimedia projects. 

In order to help classrooms take full advantage of the software and curriculum support materials, Tool Factory is conducting a regimen of training workshops.   In a half-day seminar, teachers learn how to operate a digital camera and turn their photographs into a class project using Tool Factory Workshop. Toshiba supplies the digital cameras, Tool Factory supplies the training, and all the participants go home with new knowledge and big smiles!

Tool Factory, Inc.

http://www.toolfactory.com/

Tool Factory, Inc. conducted an exhaustive search for unique educational software in various markets around the globe. Their flagship product line consists of 17 educational software tools that were hand-picked for their innovative contribution to computer-based learning.  Publishing alliances have been forged with Granada Learning, GPC Labs, LaunchPad Multimedia, and Altitude Productions.  In addition, Tool Factory is distributing educational software for 13 other well-established publishers from English-speaking markets.  Tool Factory’s premier catalog is jam-packed with best-selling software, featuring over 100 CD-ROM products, plus Toshiba digital cameras, and training workshops.

The Granada Learning Group of Companies

http://www.granada-learning.com

The Granada Learning Group of Companies is the leading force in UK education.   It currently serves over 95 per cent of UK schools with a catalog of over 800 software and hardware products.  With a wide portfolio of expertise in all key areas, its wealth of core capabilities includes software, video, textbook publishing, special educational needs publishing, training, testing and assessment, and online learning. Granada Learning involves educators in the production of all of its software products.

Granada Learning publishes innovative curriculum-based resources for the UK and over 30 other countries. It was formed in March 1998 when Granada Media Group acquired Yorkshire International Thomson Multimedia and re-branded the business as Granada Learning.

The Granada Learning Group of Companies also includes:

SEMERC is the top supplier of both hardware and software to the UK special needs market.

Letts Educational is the UK's largest publisher of revision materials, with 60 per cent of the home learning market and products for sale in approximately 2,500 shops across the country. Letts is also a major supplier of elementary schools, where 20 per cent of children use Letts literacy and math books.

BLACKCAT is an innovative publisher of educational software tools for early elementary schools.

NFER-NELSON provides test and assessment products for the UK education market, with its products widely used in over 75 per cent of UK schools.

Anglia Multimedia is a leading UK developer and publisher of curriculum CD-ROMs and software tools. Over 50 elementary and secondary products span the core subject areas of math, science, humanities and English. AngliaCampus is the UK's largest online education service with over 10,000 pages of learning material.

Tool Factory, Inc. Media Contact:

Kendra Ericson, kendra@toolfactory.com, (802) 375-6549 x-201

Tool Factory, Inc., 3336 Sunderland Hill Rd., Sunderland, VT 05250, USA

Granada Learning Media Contact:

Karen Dorrington, Karen.Dorrington@granadamedia.com

Granada Television, Quay Street, Manchester, M60 9EA, UK