Smartphone Apps Raise Pupil Attainment

London, 21 April 2011

Primary school pupils who use educational apps on smartphones and tablets are performing better in school, research reveals.

The study, commissioned by Encyclopædia Britannica, reveals that two in five parents (40 per cent) who download educational apps say their child’s academic performance has improved as a result.

And not only are they helping to raise academic attainment, educational apps are also helping children every day, inside the classroom. The vast majority of parents who have downloaded an app (94 per cent) say they have helped their child with school work and projects, while more than half of parents with smart devices (58 per cent) actively encourage their child to download apps for exam revision, homework and learning about new topics.

The report also reveals that families with access to mobile devices are fully engaged with educational apps as learning aids, with the average smartphone-owning family downloading more than four since purchasing their device.

The report comes as two thirds of parents with smart devices (65 per cent) are calling for more educational apps to be developed, saying they encourage independent learning (63 per cent) and that children prefer to use them compared to other learning aids (46 per cent).

To help families and children discover the benefits of educational mobile apps this Easter weekend, Encyclopædia Britannica is offering all of its educational mobile children’s apps free for download at Britannica.co.uk/apps.

The Britannica Kids apps, which normally cost £4.99 each, provide exclusive Britannica content on the Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Dinosaurs, Volcanoes, Rainforests and the Solar System and will be available for free between midnight today (21st April) and midnight on Monday 25th April.

All of the apps are created for children aged 8 – 12 and contain Britannica’s expert curriculum-based content. They are fully interactive and offer a range of games, puzzles, videos and photos and are specifically designed to help children with homework, projects and exams.

Ian Grant, Managing Director of Encyclopædia Britannica UK, said: “Britannica is committed raising educational standards and we’re delighted to offer parents and families the chance to access all of our educational apps for free this Easter weekend.”

“It’s great that families are fully embracing new technologies when it comes to their children’s education and that they’re starting to see tangible benefits to academic attainment, both in and out of the classroom.”

Sue Atkins, Author of “Raising Happy Children for Dummies” and parenting blogger, said: “In a busy, hectic, stress-filled world of trying to get children interested in learning and being curious about the world, we need to engage them in new ways, and what better way than to download Smartphone Apps.”

“As a parent myself, I welcome this brilliant new way to help my daughter with her revision.”

To download Britannica’s educational apps for free this Easter, please visit: Britannica.co.uk/apps

About the Research:
Research was carried out online by PCP among 510 UK parents of children aged 5 – 11 with access to at least one smart device, in March 2011.

About Encyclopædia Britannica
Britannica was founded in Edinburgh in 1768 at the height of the period of European history known as the “Enlightenment”. Its aim was to become the worldwide leader in reference, education and learning.

It is the most comprehensive and oldest continuously published reference work in the English language and is revered worldwide for its editorial integrity. Britannica strives to help its users become confident global citizens, by delivering expert and up-to-date knowledge and being global leaders in providing a source for life-long learning.

Encycloppædia Britannica (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of Encycloppædia Britannica Inc. who are leading providers of learning and knowledge products. Britannica is proud to be one of the world's most trusted sources of information.

In 2011 Encyclopædia Britannica was named as one of the UK’s most respected brands in the annual Consumer Superbrand Survey. The same survey also listed Britannica as the UK’s second strongest media brand, following the BBC.

About Britannica Online & Mobile:
Today Encyclopædia Britannica has a larger and more diverse line of online and mobile products than ever before. Our outlook is shaped by our tradition of excellence and an understanding of what knowledge seekers need in the digital age.

Britannica's Online Academic Edition delivers relevant, web-based content for further and higher education. It is continuously updated, revised and developed with new articles, allowing its users to research confidently with expert information and a host of research tools designed to support advanced study.

In 2002 Britannica introduced Britannica Online School Edition, a comprehensive reference and education service specially designed for primary and secondary schools. It has undergone several significant upgrades in the years since.

In 2006 Britannica introduced Britannica Online Public Library Edition, delivering three products in one, including separate home pages for adults, students, and children. The product allows libraries to tailor the product to their patrons' needs.

In early 2011 Britannica launched three titles in a series of educational mobile applications for children. The Volcanoes, Rainforests and Ancient Egypt apps will be followed by further project-based programmes later in the year.

Image Quest was launched in January 2011 to provide one million digital images to universities, colleges and schools. Fully rights-cleared for educational use, Image Quest brings together collections from the National Geographic, Getty Images, and Oxford Scientific and many others, into an easy-to-use online portal.

For further information about Britannica and its products, please visit: http://www.britannica.co.uk/

About Concentric Sky (app developer)
Concentric Sky offers high-end web development and consulting services with a focus on emerging technologies such as Social Media and the iPhone. Founded in 2005, the company has rapidly become a leader in the space, recently signing an exclusive development partnership with social media pioneer Mashable.com. Concentric Sky is based in Eugene, Oregon and consists of about 50 software engineers and technical professionals. For more information: www.concentricsky.com

Follow Britannica on Twitter: @Britannica_UK Britannica Flickr Feed: www.flickr.com/photos/britannica_image_quest/

For further information, please contact:
Eoghan Hughes
PR Manager
Encyclopædia Britannica
(0044) (0)20 7500 7800
ehughes@britannica.co.uk