Englewood, Nov. 11, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hands-On Labs, Inc., (HOL), the producer of LabPaq, earned #1625 on Inc. magazine’s fifth annual Inc. 500|5000. It also earned #23 out of the top education companies. The Inc. 500|5000 is an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies and represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy - America’s independent entrepreneurs.
In a stagnant economic environment, HOL earned its ranking with sales growth of 167 percent over three years. The median growth rate of this year’s winners was 94 percent.
HOL releases its ranking during a significant time for online education. On November 9, the Sloan Consortium announced the 2011 Survey of Online Learning. This survey revealed the number of students taking at least one online course surpassed 6 million. Also this week, the United States Distance Learning Association is generating greater awareness for distance learning across all education levels with National Distance Learning Education Week. Last month, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) from HOL’s home state helped form an eLearning caucus to promote research on successes and failures in eLearning .
"The momentum behind online education is greater than it has ever been," said HOL President and CEO, Linda Jeschofnig. "I’m proud Hands-On Labs is contributing to this momentum for online science educators and students, and that our hard work is being recognized with an award like the Inc.500|5000."
In 1994, Linda Jeschofnig started HOL with her husband, Dr. Peter Jeschofnig. They were college educators who pioneered the concept of distance learners being able to do academically-aligned, wet lab experiments anywhere, anytime in the form of a LabPaq. They are the authors of Teaching Lab Science Courses Online, which explores the obstacles to teaching laboratory science courses completely online and solutions to overcome them.
Today, LabPaqs cover more than 350 campus-equivalent experiments spanning most science disciplines: Allied Health, Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Environmental and Forensic Science, Geology, Microbiology and Physics. They provide online students with the opportunity to fulfill science laboratory requirements without being on campus. LabPaqs allow administrators to expand science programs and increase course sections while eliminating related laboratory expenses.
Hands-On Labs is frequently recognized for the excellence and reliability of its products, which are in use by universities, community colleges and career colleges worldwide.
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