Company
- What is Scientific Learning Corporation?
Scientific Learning is an Oakland, California based company that applies advances in neuroscience and cognitive research to accelerate learning. We produce unique, patented products, technology and implementation strategies that build the enduring brain fitness and processing efficiency required for learning, academic, and lifelong success. You might have heard of our Fast ForWord® family of products used widely in schools throughout the US and Canada, and in dozens of other countries around the world. (See "What is the Fast ForWord family of products?" below.)
Learn more- Who are the scientists behind the BrainSpark Learning and BrainPro products?
Scientific Learning is the brainchild of co-founders Drs. Michael Merzenich, Paula Tallal, William Jenkins and Steven Miller.
The work of these research scientists is at the forefront in the fields of learning and neuroscience; brain plasticity; auditory, developmental language, and reading improvements; psychology; behavioral algorithms; and multimedia technology. Learn more
- What is brain fitness?
Brain fitness relates to the brain’s ability to capture, process and retain information efficiently and effectively. Processing efficiency is how the brain functions to support learning and intellectual activity.
- What are the benefits of brain fitness?
When the brain’s processing skills become more efficient, substantial and quick gains in reading skills are often the outcomes. Our products use patented technologies that leverage the science of brain plasticity. By exercising processing skills through intensive, adaptive activity, actual physical changes occur in the brain. And those physical changes result in enduring gains in language and reading skills.
- What is the science behind BrainSpark Learning and BrainPro products?
At Scientific Learning, we understand how people learn new things and acquire new skills. Our expertise is based on more than 30 years of scientific research into how the brain learns.
We know that learning is strongest when certain conditions are met:
- Critical tasks are practiced at an appropriate frequency and intensity.
- Practice takes place at the right skill level for the individual child—a skill level that continuously adapts to keep the child challenged, but not frustrated.
- Multiple skills are “cross-trained” at the same time for lasting improvement.
- Rewards build as a child progresses, maximizing motivation.
- The learning environment feels “safe,” so children are encouraged to take risks.
- The content is age appropriate and engaging.
Our research scientists are experts in the fields of education and neuroscience; brain plasticity; auditory, developmental language, and reading impairments; psychology; behavioral algorithms; and multimedia technology.
We combine our scientific expertise with appropriate and effective technologies to create products that exercise children's brains and help them learn.
- What is the evidence that BrainSpark Learning and BrainPro products work?
BrainSpark Learning and BrainPro® products are based on current cognitive research about how the brain grows, learns, and retains information. Using proven neuroscience principles, BrainSpark Learning and BrainPro products exercise and develop the brain's processing efficiency, essential for academic learning and reading success.
- What is the Fast ForWord family of products?
The Fast ForWord® family of products (a total of ten different products) develops brain processing efficiency through intensive, adaptive exercises. Fast ForWord products offer tested, real-world results for parents, educators, and specialists around the globe.
The Fast ForWord products develop and strengthen speed, processing rate, attention, recall, and knowledge—the cognitive skills essential for learning and reading success (similar to the BrainSpark products). However, the Fast ForWord products cover a wider range of skills to improve additional critical language and reading skills such as phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, decoding, working memory, syntax, grammar, and other skills necessary to learn how to read or to become a better reader.
Fast ForWord reading intervention products support existing curriculum—they don't replace it. They align to state mandates and have been an important factor in Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) success. And, most importantly, the gains students achieve are lasting, the result of enduring positive changes in their processing skills and learning capacity.
BrainSpark Learning and BrainPro Products and Services
- What is BrainSpark Learning?
BrainSpark Learning is an online learning program for children who are at or above grade level. BrainSpark Learning may be purchased by parents. There are 2 products:
- BrainSpark Learning Ages 5-9
- BrainSpark Learning Ages 10 & Up
Children should work on their assigned product for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Children have access for up to four months from time of purchase.
- How will my child benefit from using BrainSpark Learning products?
Your child may be performing well academically, but he’ll need to practice those skills to keep from getting rusty – especially when school’s out over the summer. While he’s playing on the computer anyway, get in some ‘stealth learning’ with BrainSpark Learning and help your child thrive in the classroom.
- How much does BrainSpark Learning cost?
Each BrainSpark Learning product license is $200 for up to four months of access from time of purchase, for one child.
- How long will my child have access to BrainSpark Learning?
A BrainSpark license provides access for up to 4 months, but when protocol is followed, a child may complete in 3-6 weeks. Product access will expire when the product has been completed.
- What is BrainPro?
BrainPro is a consumer service that pairs online access to our renowned Fast ForWord® family of products and the remote support of a trained BrainPro Tutor. Parents may select BrainPro if they believe their child would benefit from an online tutor who will monitor the child’s progress, review results with parents, and recommend strategies to help the child. (See "What is the Fast ForWord family of products?" above.)
- BrainPro providers have extensive training and experience in helping children get the most benefit from the Fast ForWord products. The services offered here are educational services, and do not include speech language pathology, learning disability intervention, audiology or psychology services
Children should work on their assigned product for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. The BrainPro service is offered for a minimum four month subscription.
- How do I know if the BrainPro Service is right for my child?
You might prefer to the BrainPro service if any of these apply:
- You think your child would benefit from more intensive products with patented ‘sound’ modification embedded in some of the exercises, and/or
- If you would like a professionally trained tutor to help you interpret your child’s progress and/or
- You would like a professionally trained tutor to assist you in getting your child to cooperate and/or
- You think your child could benefit from use of more than one product and/or
- You think that your child would benefit from four or more months of tutoring
- How much does the BrainPro Service cost?
Parents are provided with two options to purchase the BrainPro Service. Both include a minimum four month commitment. The price for the four-month subscription may be paid as follows:
- $1500, paid at the time of initial subscription; or
- $2000, paid in $500 installments charged at the beginning of each subscription month.
This four-month subscription includes both the BrainPro Tutor services and online access to the Fast ForWord products to which one child is assigned.
After the initial four months, the child’s subscription will be automatically renewed, and your credit card will be charged, $500 per month.
Parents may choose to renew a four month commitment at an upfront renewal fee of $1500 in lieu of the monthly fee. If after the initial four month subscription, you wish to stop your child’s participation in BrainPro, you must call a BrainPro Representative at 866-331-6579 no later than two weeks before the end of a subscription month.
- What is the difference between BrainSpark Learning and BrainPro?
The BrainSpark Learning program is designed for children who are at or above grade level. The program is used online at home, under the supervision of a parent. Children have access to the selected product for up to four months from time of purchase. Technical assistance is available via email.
The BrainPro service is designed for children who would benefit from an online tutor to monitor his/her progress, review results with parents, and recommend strategies to help the child. BrainPro offers more intensive products, and families select a trained BrainPro Tutor to monitor the child’s progress. Children have access to a variety of products based upon each child’s need, and the recommendation of the BrainPro Tutor. Parents subscribe for a minimum of four months, and the subscription continues as long as they choose. Professional and technical support is available through the BrainPro Tutor.
- How long will it take for me to see a difference in my child?
Being that BrainSpark Learning and BrainPro products are adaptive to each child’s responses, and there is a recommended schedule for each product (30 minutes a day, five days a week), results will vary. Many parents notice a variety of improvements in their child in as little as two weeks (memory, attention/focus, self esteem, etc).
- How are reward points awarded?
100 reward points are awarded for each percent complete on a product. Your child can earn up to 10,000 total reward points. You can keep track of your child’s percent complete with the Weekly Achievement Report.
Getting Started
- How do I begin using BrainSpark Learning?
The BrainSpark product is accessible online. You may purchase product access directly online with a valid credit card. When you purchase product access you will be required to agree to our Terms of Service.
- How do I begin using BrainPro?
Please contact a BrainPro Representative at 866-331-6579, available Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM MST to 5:00 PM MST.
- What if I change my mind?
Please see our Switch, Refund and Cancellation Policy for a description of rights you may have to switch among products or to obtain a refund. Switches and refunds are only available under the terms of that Policy.
Technical Help
- Will my computer be able to run the BrainSpark programs?
Most recent computers will be able to run the BrainSpark programs. You will need:
- A PC or Mac computer
- 1Ghz or faster Intel or 100% compatible processor
- 256MB RAM
- A sound card
BrainSpark works on these Windows and Mac operating systems:
- Windows Vista with service pack 1 or later and XP with service pack 2 or later
- Mac OSX 10.4.11 and 10.5.6 or later
Internet Connection
- BrainSpark and BrainPro online learning programs are delivered directly over the web. A DSL or faster broadband speed is required.
Browser Compatibility
BrainSpark works on these browsers:
- Internet Explorer 6 and 7; we do not support Internet Explorer 8 (PC)
- Firefox 3 (PC/Mac)
- Safari 3 (Mac)
Flash 9 or 10
- BrainSpark and BrainPro will automatically direct you to get Flash if it is not already installed, and will always provide the latest version.
- Not sure if you have Flash 9 or 10? Try our Flash checker
You are responsible for making sure that you have adequate equipment and software to use the BrainSpark or Fast ForWord products.
- What kinds of headphones can be used?
Use high quality stereo headphones that are designed for use with digital signals and completely cover the ear. Some headphone sets with two earpieces are not stereo, so be sure the sound comes out of both sides. We strongly recommend headphones with a padded headband and ear cups.
- What should I do if I am having trouble logging in?
If you have forgotten your account password, enter your email address on our Forgot Password page and a new password will be emailed to you. After logging in with the new password, be sure to change your password on your My Account page.
If your child is having trouble logging in to BrainSpark, check the Login Passport that you had the option to print when you assigned your child to the product. You can also access your child’s username and password information from your My Account page where you can change the password. If you do not have access to the My Account page for the child, and you need the child’s password reset, enter the child’s username on our Forgot Password page and a new password will be emailed to the email address(s) entered when assigning the child to the product.- I still have questions or need technical assistance. How do I contact BrainSpark?
How to contact us:
BrainSpark Customers: Please log in and use the Support link in your Dashboard navigation to submit a question.
BrainPro Customers: Please contact your BrainPro Tutor.
Not yet a customer? Use this form to contact us.
Privacy
- Is my personal information safe?
We take the necessary security measures to protect your credit card and other confidential personal information. We also encrypt the information you send us during the checkout process, so that it cannot be read while in transit. Read our Privacy Policy