News Facts:

• Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is expanding its commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education through a grant to the Museum of Science, Boston that will create a library of powerful video training tools increasing the impact of the Museum’s successful Engineering is Elementary® (EiE®) program.

• Elementary schools commonly lack compelling activities and reliable materials for fostering literacy in the “E” and “T” of STEM education. The 20-unit Engineering is Elementary program is designed to close that gap and create engaging hands-on activities to spark children's understanding of engineering.

• EiE fosters engineering and technological literacy among elementary school students and educators. EiE’s research-based, standards-driven, and classroom-tested curriculum integrates engineering and technology concepts and skills with elementary science topics. The curriculum has already reached more than 32,700 teachers and 2.7 million elementary school students in the U.S. since 2003-2004.

• Cognizant’s grant, part of its Making the Future education initiative, will enable the creation and collection of video training resources for elementary school teachers and support expanded and deeper implementation of the EiE curriculum. Video footage of these lively EiE lessons taught by exemplary teachers to children in actual classrooms helps demystify engineering for teachers unfamiliar with engineering concepts. The three-year project will expand EiE's reach to educators anywhere at any time, especially those who cannot attend face-to-face professional development workshops. The videos will be available online and in DVD format.

• In addition to a library of video training resources, Cognizant is providing funding to expand EiE to new professional development partners. Currently Cognizant is working with the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI), where Cognizant maintains a permanent presence, to enable NYSCI to become an EiE professional development partner and provide training to teachers on the curriculum.

• EiE is one of seven programs featured by Change the Equation as part of President Obama’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign to improve STEM education. Cognizant is a corporate member of Change the Equation.

• Funding for Cognizant’s grant to Engineering is Elementary is made through the Cognizant Technology Solutions Charitable Fund at the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program.

Supporting Quotes:

• “With the growing demand from teachers for EiE, Cognizant is helping us address one of our most critical needs—professional development. Educators have repeatedly asked us for a library of video resources—they want to see EiE in action with footage of real teachers grappling with actual classroom challenges. Most teachers don't know what engineering at the elementary level looks like. Videos bringing EiE to life will help them see. Cognizant’s support will make this possible,” said Christine Cunningham, a vice president at the Museum of Science, and director of EiE. “We especially appreciate Cognizant’s open-mindedness in asking, 'Where do you most need support' instead of pushing its own agenda."

• “Children are born engineers—they are fascinated with building, with taking things apart, and with how things work. However, elementary schools have traditionally done little to develop children’s engineering and technological literacy. Cognizant was impressed with the EiE curriculum, which not only integrates engineering and technology with elementary science topics, but also connects with literacy and social studies to foster creativity and critical thinking skills,” said Mark Greenlaw, Cognizant Vice President of Sustainability and Educational Affairs and Program Director for Cognizant’s Making the Future education program.

• “My students knew practically nothing about engineering or the science/math involved. Through the EiE curriculum, they gained an insight into their world and became interested in how things around them work,” said a teacher participating in a 2011 EiE study.

• “I have noticed since doing the unit, the children have been much more interested in science and have become little inventors. They often can be seen drawing creations of new machines or gadgets that they have invented,” said a teacher participating in this 2011 EiE study.

Supporting Resources:

Videos: Museum of Science Informational Video about Engineering is Elementary® (16 and 5 min. versions)

Brochure:Cognizant’s "Making the Future: Today’s Inspiration is Tomorrow’s Innovation"

Cognizant press release on Making the Future.

About The Museum of Science, Boston’s Engineering is Elementary® Program:

The Museum of Science, Boston is the only science museum in the country with a comprehensive strategy and infrastructure to foster technological literacy in both science museums and schools nationwide. A program of the Museum's National Center for Technological Literacy®, EiE engages children in engineering via storybooks narrated by child characters from around the world who face community-based problems. Students in the books and in class use creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork to engineer solutions to real problems via hands-on design activities. The curriculum spans the design of water filters and knee braces to cleaning up an oil spill.

Data indicate that children who participate in EiE learn more about engineering, technology, and science concepts when compared with a control group. Teachers also consistently report higher levels of engagement for all types of learners. EiE's design and inquiry-based approach fosters open-ended learning where there is no single correct answer. Further information on EiE units is available at http://www.mos.org/eie/20_unit.php.

About Making the Future:

Cognizant’s Making the Future education initiative was created to unleash the passion of young people in STEM disciplines by creating fun, hands-on learning opportunities. Through financial, in-kind and volunteer support for schools and nonprofits; advocacy; college scholarships; and its flagship Making the Future After-School and Summer Program, Cognizant seeks to develop 21st century skills like creativity, innovation, and collaboration that will create a brighter future for our children, preparing them to be tomorrow’s leaders in our global economy.

About Cognizant:

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, dedicated to helping the world’s leading companies build stronger businesses. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.), Cognizant combines a passion for client satisfaction, technology innovation, deep industry and business process expertise, and a global, collaborative workforce that embodies the future of work. With over 50 delivery centers worldwide and 130,000 employees as of September 30, 2011, Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500, the Forbes Global 2000, and the Fortune 500 and is ranked among the top performing and fastest growing companies in the world. Visit us online at www.cognizant.com or follow us on Twitter: Cognizant.