Newcastle firm offers downloadable revision guides

May 13 2010 by John Hill, The Journal

NEWCASTLE-based company Soundbite Learning is tapping into the educational potential of the iPhone by offering downloadable GCSE revision guides.

The Charlotte Square firm launched in October 2008 with a plan to develop revision guides using both audio and video that can be absorbed by a student on the move.

While it initially targeted the home market for its product, it launched a subscription service for schools at the turn of the year.

Soundbite Learning was set up by Anthony Coxon and Ian Thompson and received funding of £300,000 from the North East Equity Matching Fund, private investors and North East Finance’s Design and Creative Fund.

Mr Coxon said: “We saw a gap in the market for audio visual content for iPods and iPhones. It makes the content more accessible and students can pick it up and read it wherever they are.”

GSCEpod offers over 360 podcasts in 10 different subjects, from geography to maths and science. Students can download the podcasts to digest revision guides voiced by professional teachers, accompanied by visual aids.

Mr Coxon said: “They’re like flashcards, but on an iPod with audio alongside. In the case of something like maths it runs through examples stage by stage, and there are 3,000 images in that section alone. You can download it and run through it until you understand it.”

Advances in technology allowed the company to launch a subscription for schools in January. Schools were increasingly making use of Virtual Learning Environments (VLE), through which students could gain access to school resources from home.

Now GSCEpod is available through these systems for students at schools such as Gateshead’s Thomas Hepburn Community School, Newcastle City Learning Centre and Heworth Grange Comprehensive School.

Soundbite Learning says that downloads have now cleared the 100,000 mark, and that it is working with 110 schools across the UK.

While the company currently employs four staff, it hopes to expand once it develops its product to include a testing element in September. It is working with Middlesbrough-based Assyria Game Studio to develop this area.

Mr Coxon said: “The idea is to allow students to test themselves on things with educational value in a gaming format.”