Schools Selected to Trial New Educational Resources

London, 16 November 2011

Schools in Scotland, Cambridgeshire and East Anglia have been specially chosen to trial a new online resource to help with exam preparation and revision.

Britannica SmartStudy will be available to both primary and secondary schools throughout the regions to help students with revision for exams in a range of cross-curricular subjects at Key Stage 2, 3 and GCSE levels and for Scottish examinations.

The new resource from Encyclopædia Britannica encourages independent learning through a games-based approach to study and facilitates effective homework, revision and exam practice by setting students challenges and earning points with a variety of quizzes and games.

Britannica SmartStudy also supports effective teaching within the classroom and at home. Teachers can use the software to set self-marking homework and receive meaningful reports with detailed gap analysis to identify weaknesses, monitor progress and help improve learning outcomes for their students. The reports can also be tailored, helping to personalise student learning experiences and allows teachers to create and share learning materials.

For more information, teachers and students can visit: www.britannicasmartstudy.co.uk

John Meehan, UK Schools Manager at Encyclopædia Britannica, said: “Games-based learning has, in recent years, become extremely popular with teachers and students, encouraging them to take an independent approach to their education. Academic papers from high-profile educationalists also support the notion that learning through play is highly effective in raising standards.”

“As part of our commitment to raising educational standards, Britannica believes that teachers and students in Cambridgeshire and East Anglia can really benefit from Britannica SmartStudy and its unique games-based approach to learning”.

Britannica SmartStudy is the latest development from Encyclopædia Britannica’s online educational publishing programme, which includes Britannica Online School Edition, Britannica Pathways: Science and Britannica Image Quest.

Notes to editors:

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 publish clear, current and correct information, based on a scientific approach to knowledge.

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.

Encyclopædia Britannica (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of Encyclopædia 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. Britannica was one of only eight media reference companies to make the top 500 brands in the UK and was the only one to be listed in the top 50.

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.

Since launching in 1994 Britannica Online has grown and developed an extensive range of online products for learners of all ages. The largest and most comprehensive is the Online Academic Edition, which 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. For schools, the Online School Edition provides a comprehensive reference and education service specially designed for primary and secondary schools, while the Online Public Library Edition, delivers three encyclopedias for different levels, under one product.

Alongside the traditional encyclopedias, Britannica has also increased its offering to educational institutions through two innovative products, Image Quest and Britannica Pathways: Science. Image Quest provides access to more than two million stunning images, sourced from some of the best collections in the world. Britannica Pathways: Science supports effective teaching for students aged 11 – 14 and tackles common misconceptions through interactive and discussion-led resources.

In 2011 Britannica began an ambitious mobile publishing programme, launching nine titles in a series of educational mobile apps for children aged 8 -12 on a range of platforms. The nine titles were shortlisted as finalists in the 2011 e-learning awards in the Best use of Mobile Learning category. Following the launch of Britannica Kids Apps, a series of 60 games-based revision apps for Key Stages 2 – 4 will be released in the near future under the Britannica SmartStudy brand.

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

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

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CONTACT:

For further information, please contact:
Eoghan Hughes
PR Manager
Encyclopædia Britannica
DDI: +44 (0)20 7500 7805
Fax: +44 (0)20 7500 7878
ehughes@britannica.co.uk