NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Copia, the socially-driven digital content platform that provides customized, interactive solutions for students, educators and publishers, today announced an enhanced version of its learning solution specifically designed to meet the needs of K-12 students and educators. The platform, available across iOS and Android devices and desktop computers, is currently being piloted in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest school district in the country. The pilot was run by the blended learning design firm The Alvo Institute.
Since the summer of 2012, 230 students and four teachers have utilized Copia across different text intensive subject matters in the New Open World (NOW) Academy in Los Angeles with the goal of improving students’ reading skills and their ability to use reading to learn. According to research conducted at the beginning of this pilot program, 77% of participating students reported they were nervous when given a reading assignment because they could not understand what they were reading. Many admitted that, as a result, they did not participate fully in class or were unable to complete assigned homework. Mid-pilot results confirm that Copia is making reading more accessible to even the most reluctant and struggling readers. Final pilot data will be released by The Alvo Institute by the end of June.
“The opportunity to pioneer a technology-based program aligns with our school’s mission and vision,” said Dr. Charles Flores, Principal at the NOW Academy. “The partnership with Copia has allowed our students to further develop 21st century skills through the use of interactive digital texts in the classroom.”
Copia’s K-12 learning solution is designed to improve student reading and learning through the following features:
- Seamlessly embedded ancillary tools such as dictionaries, study-aids and other supporting material that prevent interruptions to reading flow and protect students from embarrassment related to comprehension difficulties
- Advanced technology integration capabilities including a new “Speak” option that reads highlighted text aloud to the student
- Ability for students to embed questions for their teachers privately in the text to remove the stigma around asking questions in the classroom
- Social sharing and highlighting to support a collaborative, engaged learning environment that allows for crowd-sourcing of information and questions
- Ability for educators to annotate texts and implement quizzes and assessment tools on either a one-on-one or group basis
“As a former teacher of English learners and struggling readers myself, I am thrilled by the reading supports Copia embeds in one device,” said Rebecca Tomasini, Founder and CEO at The Alvo Institute. “In Los Angeles, where a large percentage of students are learning English, we are seeing the Copia environment help students avoid the struggles and humiliation of a traditional classroom as they accelerate their acquisition of English.”
By providing a unique set of digital learning tools – aggregating all relevant content on one seamless platform, and giving teachers the power to customize the learning experience for each student – the Copia solution reinvents the classroom experience for both students and educators.
“In today’s fragmented educational ecosystem, we need to keep our sights set on the most important goal: helping teachers support greater student achievement,” said Ben Lowinger, EVP of Copia. “Over the past 12 months, we’ve diligently integrated pilot feedback into our platform to meet the needs of students and teachers, all while providing an unmatched opportunity for publishers to reach students in the most interactive, relevant ways possible.”
Highlights from the post-pilot data will be shared by Tomasini at the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) during the Book Expo of America (BEA) on Wednesday, May 29 in New York during a session entitled “From Textbooks to Learning Platforms: Implications for Education Publishers.”
About Copia
Copia is a socially-driven digital content platform that is helping educators, publishers and students unlock the power of digital and non-digital educational material through the use of an integrated platform that marries and unifies people and content through a socially driven learning environment. Copia's unique platform reinvents the e-book experience and enriches previously static content, making information available through a "one-stop-shop" across tablets, smart phones, Macs and PCs. Copia's digital educational content has undergone explosive multi-genre growth in the form of e-books, videos, native apps, virtual courses and more. Copia reaches over 900 college campuses world-wide. Its growing international presence includes the U.S., Brazil, Australia and Spain. Copia Interactive, LLC is a DMC Capital Funding, LLC portfolio company, a privately held growth equity firm serving companies in consumer technology sectors. For more information, call 212-229-8400 or visit www.dmccapitalfunding.com and www.thecopia.com.
