Education goes high tech

Learning English with pens and textbooks is out in the digital era so it's time to check out the newly-launched Cambridge digital education platform.

Setting a new standard in digital teaching and course material, it was launched in Beijing on Monday in a joint promotion between CollegePre - a Beijing-based educational technology company - Cambridge University Press and Cambridge Assessment, both departments of the University of Cambridge.

The partners are working together to launch Cambridge ClassServer - combining high-quality content and assessment from Cambridge University with cutting-edge technology to create a new approach to digital teaching and learning.

"Central to Cambridge's mission is the desire to raise standards. Higher standards can be achieved when software, content and assessment are integrated to provide students, teachers and parents with insights into performance and guidance for further study and teaching," Simon Lebus, chief executive of Cambridge Assessment, said.

John Tuttle, on behalf of Cambridge University Press, said: "We recognize that recent advances in presentation tools, tablets and data analysis provides the basis for a new dynamic digital learning experience."

Walter Wang, chairman of CollegePre, added: "Cambridge ClassServer provides a breakthrough in digital education that has the potential to revolutionize teaching and learning".

Cambridge ClassServer has been piloted at Dulwich College, Beijing. The first product will be released early next year.

Headmaster David Mansfield said: "We have road-tested the first version and can immediately see its potential. 21st century learning will require a high quality IT solution that brings the best materials together with the best learning opportunities and assessment feedback within an easy-to-access framework."