Renaissance Learning: Case Study

Client Profile

Renaissance Learning’s educational software, designed for grades pre K-12, is used in more than 65,000 schools in North America. The company offers software programs, such as their flagship Accelerated Reader, and also operates learning centers that provide after-school and summer tutoring in reading and math.

Project Overview

Renaissance Learning wanted to institute a Summer Reading Program that would encourage children to read during the summer, a typically non-academic time. They wanted an engaging application that was simple to use and provided an incentive for children to read while monitoring their progress.

Laszlo Studios worked with Renaissance Learning to create a Rich Internet Application in OpenLaszlo that allowed children to browse an online catalog of books and create a Reading List, a library paradigm familiar to children. The participants in the program read books from their lists and then took quizzes online. Upon successful completion of a quiz, the students received virtual rewards - an opportunity to decorate an on-line room of their design, with a new item for each book read.

The application provided a rich user experience, tailored just for Renaisannce Learning's needs, without requiring special software to install on their customer's machines.

The project was very successful, and provided Renaissance Learning its first direct-to-consumer application.

Laszlo Studios’ Services Provided

• Project Management
• Requirements Analysis
• UI Design
• Design Mock-ups
• System Architecture Design
• Technical Design
• OpenLaszlo Development
• Server Integration
• Quality Assurance Testing