Partner Spotlight: A colorful graphic showcasing the collaboration between Book Creator and Stour Academy Trust. The image features the logos of both organizations with vibrant stars, representing their innovative educational partnership.

As a pioneering multi-academy trust, SAT integrates cutting-edge tools like Book Creator to empower students, enhance creativity, and foster inclusive learning environments. Dive into their journey and discover the transformative impact on teaching and learning!

TThe Stour Academy Trust is a pioneering multi-academy trust committed to transforming education through innovative use of technology. We prioritise equitable learning opportunities, engagement, and unique experiences for all students.

As a Microsoft Showcase System, all eight of our schools have achieved Showcase status, demonstrating our dedication to cutting-edge educational practices. Our Stour21 initiative drives this vision forward, integrating tools like Book Creator alongside immersive VR, and AR.

Why Book Creator? A perfect fit for our vision

The Stour Academy Trust (SAT) first heard about Book Creator through professional networks and educational technology conferences (where innovative tools for enhancing student engagement and creativity are frequently discussed). As an early adopter of digital educational tools, SAT is always on the lookout for platforms that can transform the learning experience.

The decision to use Book Creator was driven by its unique ability to turn students into authors and creators. As a Book Creator Ambassador since 2017, I have witnessed firsthand how this tool can publish children's learning, create books across subjects like science and topic studies. Book Creator's multimedia capabilities, ease of use, and the transformative impact on student engagement and inclusion made it an ideal choice for our educational needs. It empowers students of all ages and abilities to create, read, and publish their own digital books, fostering creativity and enhancing literacy skills in an interactive and inclusive way.

Empowering students: creativity in action

Book Creator has significantly transformed the teaching and learning experience at SAT by fostering engagement, providing unique experiences, and ensuring equitable learning opportunities. One notable example involves students with autism. These children, who typically worked below their current year group and struggled with writing, were introduced to Book Creator along with the dictation and audio tools.

By demonstrating how their books could be published and read by people worldwide, the students' enthusiasm and dedication to their work increased dramatically. One student, upon learning that his book would be shared globally, expressed a desire to start over to ensure it was the best it could be, saying, "If everyone is going to read this, it will need to be the best book I can do."

Book Creator’s multimedia features, such as the ability to add audio and visual elements, have empowered students to express themselves in ways that traditional methods did not allow. This has been especially beneficial for students with varying abilities, as it provides them with alternative ways to demonstrate their understanding and creativity.

A screenshot of a page in Book Creator with the question, "What is your favorite thing in Book Creator?" Harriett, a grade 3 student, shares that she enjoys helping with others' books, writing, and adding pictures. The page includes a pink book cover titled The Pink Princess with an image of a girl in a pink dress holding a rose. The book is credited to Harriett, Lucy, Daisy, and Robyn.

🌟 "Helping others, writing stories, and adding pictures is what I love most about Book Creator! 📖✨ Here's my favorite book, The Pink Princess by Harriett, Lucy, Daisy, and Robyn. 💕👑"-Harriet, Year 3

The positive impact on student engagement and inclusion has been immediate and profound, with students becoming more motivated and invested in their learning. Book Creator has not only enhanced the academic experience but also helped students develop a sense of pride and accomplishment in their work, ultimately leading to a more inclusive and dynamic learning environment at SAT.

A screenshot of a page in Book Creator with the question, "Do you have a book that you're especially proud of?" Daisy, a Year 3 student, responds with the text: "Because I really hard work in them," written in bold pink font. The background is green with diagonal white lines.

🌟 "I'm especially proud of my books because I work really hard on them! 💪📚" - Daisy, Year 3

The rollout: building confidence and capacity

Rolling out Book Creator across SAT involved a comprehensive, multi-step process that ensured effective implementation and maximized impact on teaching and learning.

Trustwide Training: We began with trustwide training sessions to familiarize all educators with Book Creator's features and capabilities. These sessions were crucial in building confidence and enthusiasm among staff.
Dedicated Digital Champion: We appointed a dedicated digital champion responsible for spearheading the integration of Book Creator. This individual provided ongoing support, ensuring that teachers felt comfortable using the tool and could troubleshoot any issues that arose.
Resources and Support: We developed and distributed a range of instructional materials, including video tutorials and how-to guides, to provide teachers with the resources they needed to successfully integrate Book Creator into their classrooms. These materials were accessible and easy to follow, catering to various levels of technical proficiency.
Roadblocks and Solutions: While the rollout was largely successful, we encountered a few roadblocks. Initially, some teachers were hesitant to adopt new technology, fearing it would add to their workload. To address this, we emphasised the long-term benefits of using Book Creator, such as increased student engagement and streamlined lesson planning. We also provided one-on-one support to help teachers integrate the tool into their existing routines seamlessly.

Overall, the rollout of Book Creator at SAT has been a resounding success, significantly enhancing the educational experience for both teachers and students. The combination of comprehensive training, dedicated support, and accessible resources has made the integration of Book Creator both effective and sustainable.

Transforming classrooms: a tool for teachers

At The Stour Academy Trust, Book Creator has become an integral part of our teaching and learning process. Here are some examples and stories that highlight its impact:

Engaging Projects: Students use Book Creator to compile their research projects, creating interactive and multimedia-rich books that include text, images, videos, and audio recordings. For example, in a recent history project, Year 5 students created digital books about ancient civilizations, incorporating video interviews and voice-over narrations.
Class Books and Publishing: Teachers and students collaborate to create class books on various topics, which are then published and shared within the school community. This practice has fostered a sense of pride and accomplishment among students, knowing that their work is valued and appreciated.
Showcasing Learning: Book Creator is also used to document and showcase learning journeys. For example, in science, students create interactive lab reports, detailing their experiments with photos, videos, and data charts. These digital books provide a comprehensive view of their learning process and outcomes
Celebrations and Events: During school events and celebrations, Book Creator is used to capture moments and compile them into digital books. These books serve as digital yearbooks or event highlights, which can be shared with parents and the wider community.

15 Science Projects for Book Creator classrooms

Book Creator for the High School Classroom

By leveraging Book Creator, The Stour Academy Trust ensures that all students have equitable learning opportunities, enabling them to express themselves creatively and effectively. This tool has not only enhanced student engagement and learning experiences but has also helped break down barriers, making learning more inclusive and accessible for all.

Book Creators impact on students, teachers and schools

Book Creator has had a transformative impact on our schools, benefiting both teachers and students in multiple ways:

Impacts on student learning:

Enhanced Engagement: Book Creator's interactive and multimedia features have significantly increased student engagement. Students are more motivated to complete their assignments, knowing they can incorporate videos, audio, and images.
Improved Literacy Skills: The tool supports various learning styles, helping students improve their reading and writing skills through features like the 'read to me' function and the ability to record their voice.
Creative Expression: Students can express themselves creatively, designing their books and sharing their work with peers and the wider community. This has been particularly effective for our students in the autism unit, who have shown remarkable improvement in their writing and communication skills.

A digital feedback card with the question, "Do you like working with other students in Book Creator?" displayed at the top. The response reads, "For the majority of the year, we haven’t really collaborated on Book Creator. But in the short time we’ve been using it, it’s been amazing. We love to collaborate in our learning, but usually, it doesn’t go our way. Book Creator is an amazing solution. It’s a 10/10 app for me!" The card has a light blue background with diagonal stripes and rounded corners, with icons for adding text, images, and audio at the top.

🌟 "Collaboration Made Easy with Book Creator!" 🌟 "Working together has never been smoother! In just a short time, Book Creator has transformed how we collaborate in our learning. It’s truly a 10/10 app!"-Frank, Year 5

Impacts on teacher practise:

Innovative Teaching: Teachers can design dynamic and interactive lessons, making subjects like history and science more engaging. The ability to create digital books for class projects has enriched the learning experience.
Streamlined Assessment: Book Creator allows for easy collection and review of student work. Teachers can assess projects that include various forms of media, providing a more comprehensive understanding of student learning.
Inclusive Learning: The platform supports differentiated instruction, accommodating students with diverse learning needs. Features like speech-to-text and audio recording ensure that all students can participate fully in classroom activities.

A digital feedback card with the title "How is Book Creator currently being used?" followed by a prompt encouraging users to share stories, example books, photos, videos, or tweets. The card features a combination of typed and handwritten responses. One typed section highlights a student with SEN (Special Educational Needs) who uses Book Creator for writing, helping him engage more in lessons. A handwritten note reads, "We use Book Creator to publish our writing, create our own stories, and make topic projects." The card includes thumbnail images of various student-created digital books, such as "American Road Trip" and "My School Day." The background is light green with diagonal white stripes and rounded edges.

📚✨ "Transforming Learning with Book Creator!" "Our students are thriving with Book Creator! From publishing stories to engaging in topic projects, this tool is empowering creativity and inclusion in our classrooms. 🌟 A true game-changer for students with diverse needs!"-Ms. Bonser, Year 3 Teacher

Impact on school culture:

Community Building: Book Creator has fostered a sense of community within our schools. Collaborative projects and shared digital books have brought students, teachers, and parents closer together.
Showcasing Achievements: Schools use Book Creator to document and showcase learning journeys, events, and projects. These digital portfolios highlight student achievements and provide a valuable resource for reflection and celebration.
Professional Development: Teachers have access to ongoing training and resources to maximize the use of Book Creator in their classrooms, ensuring continuous improvement in teaching practices.

🎙️ Hear from Charlie, Year 3!
Discover how Book Creator has transformed Charlie’s learning experience as he shares his thoughts and excitement about using this innovative tool. 📖✨ #StudentVoice

Overall, Book Creator has empowered our students to become confident authors and creators, enhanced the teaching experience for our educators, and contributed to a more inclusive and dynamic educational environment across The SAT.

What features are you most impressed with in Book Creator?

These features collectively make Book Creator a versatile and powerful tool that enhances engagement, supports differentiated instruction, and fosters creativity and collaboration among students.

Multimedia Integration: The ability to incorporate video, audio, images, and text into a single digital book is incredibly powerful. This feature allows for dynamic, interactive, and engaging content creation, catering to various learning styles and making learning more inclusive and accessible.
Read to Me: The 'Read to Me' feature is particularly impressive. It reads the text aloud while highlighting each word, which is a fantastic tool for early readers and students with learning difficulties. It helps improve literacy skills and supports auditory learners.
Speech-to-Text and Audio Recording: These features allow students to dictate their stories and record their voices. This is especially beneficial for students who struggle with traditional writing. It gives them a voice and a way to participate fully in assignments.
Collaborative Features: The ability for multiple students to collaborate on a single book in real time promotes teamwork and collaborative learning. This feature has been instrumental in group projects and fostering a sense of community among students.
Easy Publishing and Sharing: Book Creator makes it simple to publish and share books digitally. Students can share their work with classmates, parents, and a broader audience, which boosts their confidence and motivation. It also allows for easy distribution of learning materials by teachers.
Templates and Customization: The range of existing book templates and the ability to customize them give teachers and students the flexibility to create books that meet their specific needs and preferences. This makes it easier to get started and allows for creative freedom.
Accessibility Features: Features like adjustable text size, font choices, and background colors make Book Creator accessible to all students, including those with visual impairments or reading difficulties. This ensures that every student can engage with the content comfortably.

Future plans: expanding the possibilities

There’s still plenty we are planning to do with Book Creator! In future, we plan to continue using Book Creator to provide support for Durable Skills across the ‘6 Cs’. Firstly, we plan to expand our Digital Literacy Programs, integrating Book Creator across all year groups for Digital Literacy. This will help students develop critical digital skills, from creating multimedia content to understanding digital publishing. We also aim to further enhance collaborative projects, like class books, anthologies, and research journals, which will foster involvement and communication skills. We also plan to extend Book Creator's use to community projects, where students can create digital books documenting local history, community events, and cultural stories. This will enhance students’ understanding of their community and promote civic engagement.

As well as these durable skills for students, we hope to increase parental involvement too. We will use Book Creator for showcasing student work and digital newsletters, and will train parents to use Book Creator as part of our Parent Training events. As well as training parents, we will have continuous professional development sessions to ensure teachers are fully equipped to utilize Book Creator's features and to integrate it with other edtech tools.

We also plan to further leverage Book Creator’s accessibility features for a Special Education Initiative, where we will develop tailored projects for students with special educational needs, ensuring they can fully participate and benefit from the technology.

Join us at the Stour Showcase Day!

Experience innovation in education firsthand at our upcoming Stour Showcase Day on Friday, 6th December, hosted at Chilmington Green Primary School. Discover how we’re transforming learning with cutting-edge digital tools, fostering creativity, inclusion, and engagement in every classroom.

This is your opportunity to explore our best practices, interact with our team, and envision how these strategies could benefit your own educational setting.

📩 For more details or collaboration inquiries:

Email: [email protected]
Connect on LinkedIn: Antoinette Hamilton