Akili, Cambridge University
Press, and ELT learning –
ebooks, enhancing learning
and teaching
Dr Samantha Rayner
Anglia Ruskin University
Aims of the project:
•to investigate the potential offered by
the ebook software package provided
by Blankpage in delivering text-book
materials to EFL students, and to
enrich those students’ learning
experiences as a result.
• to use 2 students (one third year
undergraduate Media student, one
postgraduate MA Publishing student)
to help research this project.
Both want to go on to work in
publishing, with special interests in the
digital side of the business; the
postgraduate will be able to use the
work to inform her MA dissertation.
to explore how the remit of this
professional course involves using
professional partners as part of the
pedagogical process, and how to
create successful projects that
benefit both the student, and our
publishing partners.
•
Outcomes:
• a paper in which students’ responses are
compared and summarised
• new online editions of textbooks by
Blankpage which will be available for
future teaching and learning cycles.
Background: Blankpage work with Cambridge University Press (CUP) to look at which text books academics use and to see what ways these can
• significant informed engagement and
familiarity with new software
technologies which can potentially
transform the way teachers deliver
material and the way in which students
respond to that.
• a presentation seminar to show the
conclusions of the project, and the MA
student will use the research to inform
her own dissertation, to be completed in
2010.
Teaching and Learning Strategy Links:
•SO3 : Provide flexible and accessible
approaches to learning
•SO4: Include measures and processes to
enhance employability prospects for students
•SO5 : Promote and support a culture in which
discipline and education practices are informed
by pedagogy, research and scholarship.
Background:
BlankPage work with Cambridge
University Press (CUP) to look at which
text books academics use and to see
what ways these can be adapted by
software into interactive ebooks that
can be accessed via PCs and laptops.
BlankPage is a Swiss developer
and provider of software solutions
for e-publishing, formed in 2007.
BlankPage offers companies
individualised, B2B solutions for
the distribution of electronic
books, newspapers and
magazines.
CUP are a major partner and stakeholder in the
new MA in Publishing, having worked closely
with the University in validating the degree and
in putting together content. The company
offers work placements for our students, and
has supported the course with mentoring and
with prize money , as well as sponsoring the
launch of CAMPUS, the Cambridge Publishing
Society.
Eric Baber
Innovations Director,
Cambridge
University Press
Bjorn Everts
Blankpage
consultant
Advantages:
•Employer engagement
•Real investigative projects for
undergrad and postgrad researchers
•Cutting edge learning tools for ELT
students and staff to engage with
Actions:
• Install Akili software on Language Lab
computers; establish test groups
• Run test session with students; ask set
questions
• Second test session; repeat questions
• Report and discuss findings with research
team
Project Management
• Regular meetings – Cambridge Campus,
London, CUP, via Skype
• Undergrad and postgrad researchers
report to academic and professional
supervisors , providing reports on
progress
• Undergrad and postgrad training in the
specialist software
Four Key Questions:
1.Did you find the software useful?
2.How accessible did you find the
software?
3.Would you prefer the software to a book
for study?
4.What additional features would you find
useful in an educational software
package?
Challenges:
•Managing expectations of professional
partners – Blank Page and CUP
•Ensuring undergrad and postgrad
researchers are adequately supervised and
gain experience in managing work loads and
in engaging with each other and with the
professional partners
•Working with internal systems to try and
effectively extract research data
Outcomes:
• Good working relationships with CUP
and Blank Page – basis for further
research
• Identified need for more specialised
research input
• Undergrad researcher: valuable work
experience, increased confidence
•Postgrad researcher: work-focussed
research experience, management
experience, presentation and report writing
development; presentation topic for
conference; context for dissertation proposal
• Academic: greater appreciation of the
needs of companies, and the limitations of
internal structures; furthering professional
connections for the MA course; building of
new and valuable learning/teaching
relationships with students – team work
success.
“Working with Andriani and Mihaela was a
very valuable experience and their
enthusiasm and professionalism was
outstanding. Both students were in a
position to understand the nuanced needs
of our target market whilst simultaneously
grasping the pragmatic requirements of
conducting a research project with a
private enterprise.”
Bjorn Everts
“This research project helped BlankPage
to realize that it needs to diversify, not
only the platforms on which it intends to
operate, but the target market it intends
to work with. As a result, BlankPage has
maintained its focus on publishers with an
intention of expanding beyond the
education market.”
Bjorn Everts
Empower our students
Akili, Cambridge University
Press, and ELT learning –
ebooks, enhancing learning
and teaching
Dr Samantha Rayner
Anglia Ruskin University