University of Dayton Publishing (UDP Access)

An English-language learning platform, specially designed for classrooms in Latin America, featuring online/offline delivery via Avallain Unity as well as interactive textbooks and activities created with Avallain Author.

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Client

Founded in 2009, University of Dayton Publishing (UDP) is the result of an alliance between SM, a leading text book and children’s literature publisher, and the University of Dayton, a top-tier Catholic research university.

> 44.4 K

Subscribed Students and Teachers in 11 Countries

> 34.2 K

Digital Activities Created in Avallain Author

> 70

Interactive Textbooks and Readers Generated

Goal

To enhance University of Dayton Publishing English language courses with a learning management system suited to the realities of Latin American schools, available both online and offline, and offering a wide range of interactive resources.

Initial situation

University of Dayton Publishing (UDP) provides English language courses for markets throughout Central and South America. There is a strong demand for digital learning resources, but internet connectivity is variable.

UDP had a range of digital resources to accompany coursebooks, but these did not offer teachers the flexibility of online learning management, with course planning and progress reporting.

Customer requirements

University of Dayton Publishing required an online learning environment that offered enhanced digital editions of the course textbooks, with supporting interactive learning resources.

UDP Access should be able to operate with reduced internet connectivity, making full use of the digital media on any available Internet connection. To enable mobile learning, students and teachers should be able to use UDP Access on a tablet.

Challenges

Internet connectivity was, and remains, extremely limited in many of UDP’s markets. UNESCO estimated that in 2010, the proportion of connected primary schools in Brazil and Argentina, for instance, were only 41% and 29% respectively.

This threatened to limit the features and content of UDP Access. In addition, UDP required a learning platform that would suit both primary and secondary learners, whose needs and abilities differ. UDP Access would need to deliver a range of activities of various types and styles that are both rich and enticing, while also suiting the needs of both primary and secondary students and keeping within a reasonable budget and timeframe. Finally, Avallain would need to work and deliver a product in the medium of Spanish and work closely with UDP’s team in Mexico.

Solutions

We deployed Avallain Unity as the underlying learning platform, which provided app-based support for offline learning on PCs and tablets.

The accompanying apps deliver both the content and interface without an internet connection, and then synchronise with the platform when an internet connection is available. University of Dayton Publishing made full use of Avallain Unity’s flexible architecture and distinct design layer to create separate primary and secondary instances of the platform. Enhanced textbooks, interactive activities and other digital resources were created with Avallain Author, making use of custom design templates appropriate to primary and secondary students. UDP Access is now supported locally by Avallain’s newly established presence in Mexico, which forms part of our growing international network.

Outcomes

University of Dayton Publishing and Avallain collaborated over just 8 months to deliver UDP Access. To achieve this, we made full use of Avallain Author to empower editors and authors to focus on creating the extraordinary, engaging content for which UDP is renowned.

In the short development process, UDP developed thousands of interactive activities and numerous digital textbooks and readers. We worked closely with UDP, deploying Avallain Unity in order to quickly deliver a robust supporting architecture, with learning features appropriate to the realities of schooling in South and Central America. Perhaps the most notable among these was the offline learning feature, which now works seamlessly with the online platform. The result is a platform that is popular with students and teachers throughout Latin America, quickly attracting more than 44,400 users in 11 countries.

Client Testimonial

Lauren Robbins

Director of Publishing and Professional Services ELT

Grupo SM

"Our relationship with Avallain has allowed our digital offer to evolve from simple interactive content to our own groundbreaking platform that supports users both online and offline. We are delighted to have achieved a suite of digital services without technical distractions or obstacles."

Interested?

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Products used

Custom Learning Platforms, solved.

Avallain Unity

A robust and customisable learning platform architecture for implementing your bespoke learning management system. Leverage countless features that make it easier to publish, monitor and market digital educational content.

Avallain Author

The world’s most flexible and powerful eLearning authoring tool. Quickly and easily create original, interactive and responsive educational content - all with zero coding or development required.