EXPRESS YOUR SELFIE FOR A CHANCE TO BRING MAYIM BIALIK BACK TO SCHOOL

DALLAS, Aug. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- All across the country, students are getting ready for their close-up with their graphing calculator. A new contest, "Express Your Selfie," encourages students and teachers to submit a selfie with their favorite Texas Instruments technology. The winner and his or her class will receive a classroom set of graphing calculators and a video-conference call, in class, from Emmy-nominated actress and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) advocate, Mayim Bialik.

Bialik not only plays a scientist on the hit comedy, "The Big Bang Theory," but is a neuroscientist in real life. "I relied on my TI graphing calculator to gain a deeper understanding of abstract concepts in science and mathematics while earning my neuroscience degrees," Bialik said. "Using the 'selfie craze' to capture students' creativity and imagination will hopefully open their eyes to the captivating world of science and mathematics."

From now through Sept. 21, 2014, anyone over the age of 13 can submit a selfie with their favorite TI technology on Twitter or Instagram, using the caption, "I make math/science....with TI." Entrants must include the hashtag #tiselfiecontest.  You can view the official rules and see the selfie submissions at www.tiselfie.com.

"Whenever people find out I work for TI, they always get excited to tell me what TI calculator they use in their high school or college classes," said Dr. Peter Balyta, president of Texas Instruments Education Technology division. "This is a chance for everyone around the country to not only tell us, but to show us how they use our technology to explore difficult or abstract math and science concepts."

If you are in need of a graphing calculator for this school year, here are some tips for choosing the right one:

• Ask your student's teacher:  A graphing calculator may be the most important purchase you make for your student, so ask your child's teacher what he or she recommends and what will be used in class.
• Check high-stakes exam acceptance: All major exams, national and state, have specific calculator acceptance policies. Check to make sure the calculator you plan to buy is accepted before you make the purchase.
• Think long-term: Quality graphing technology will last students from middle school through high school and into college. Think about what math and science courses your student will be taking, be it Geometry, Algebra or Advanced-level Chemistry, so that the purchase can last a lifetime.

For more information about Texas Instruments:

• Follow TI on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TICalculators 
• Follow TI on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TICalculators  
• Visit TI on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasInstrumentsCalc
• Visit TI online: education.ti.com 

About Texas Instruments

Education Technology, a business of Texas Instruments, provides a wide range of tools connecting the classroom experience with real-world applications, helping students and teachers to explore mathematics and science interactively. TI's products and services are tested vigorously against recognized third-party research, which shows that the effective use of graphing calculators improves the mathematical skills of students and their attitudes toward mathematics. For more information, visit www.education.ti.com.

Texas Instruments TXN helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through manufacturing, design and sales operations in more than 30 countries. For more information, visit www.ti.com.

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SOURCE Texas Instruments