A teacher’s idea to use the latest technology to help improve early years’ literacy has become reality – and is now a growing business.

Eleanor Johnson was involved in an Early Years project when she recognised a number of problems using audio equipment.

So Eleanor began to find a solution by using MP3 players, and with the help of her husband Simon – a lecturer in electronics at Durham University –StoryPhones were born.

She explained: “Studies have shown that audio work is important when it comes to helping improve listening, language and literacy, and I was using audio games and activities as part of the Green Corridor Language Project, in County Durham.

“While working with children on a tape machine, some children got tangled up in power and headphone cords and it was always difficult finding a plug and getting a group of pupils together in the corner where the tape deck was.

“There was also the problem of finding tapes and I started to think of different ways that audio resources could be delivered.”

As cassette tapes are almost obsolete and tend to get damaged easily, Eleanor decided to look to modern technology.

“At first I thought about just buying MP3 players, but they are not child friendly and could only be used individually. They are too small and not robust, so I wondered if I could develop a new way of using them.”

Eleanor asked husband Simon if MP3 players in headsets were a possibility and after discussion, the pair set about turning Eleanor’s idea into reality.

Two years on, and StoryPhones is one of the most innovative education tools available and includes a host of features that were not part of the original plan.

“As time went on, we thought about new ideas and have included them in the product to make StoryPhones a unique product,” Eleanor explained. StoryPhones comes as a system comprising six headsets that are individual MP3 players plus a console unit which provides much of the additional functionality of the system, including an MP3 player with built-in loud speaker and remote control.

The headsets also use motion sensors which pause stories when the set is taken off a head and put on a desk.

As well being a listening device, the system can record a child’s story or ideas for playback to classmates, which boosts language skills.

Eleanor said: “It’s a very flexible piece of equipment that has much more in it than we originally planned, but we understand it has to be as useful to a teacher as a pupil.

“StoryPhones’ main aim is to help three- to seven-year-olds develop their listening skills at any level. But older children can use them to record stories for younger children, too.”

The County Durham-based teacher is keen to stress, however, that StoryPhones will not replace story-time.

She said: “Story-time is extremely important and StoryPhones won’t replace that. They are intended to help develop and reinforce children’s love of stories and storytelling.

“They can be used with children of all abilities for activities such as listening games, storytelling or podcasting. They can be used with small groups of children to do specific activities.” Since all of the MP3 players have rechargeable batteries, they are ideal for taking listening activities outside.

All audio content is managed and stored using simple StoryPhones software that acts like a bookcase. StoryPhones is in talks with major publishers about making MP3 audio books more widely available.

Eleanor added: “We are passionate about audio resources being used in schools and are championing the cause of audio books in digital format being available as a valuable teaching tool.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

For interviews and information, call StoryPhones on               01207 524866         01207 524866. For further information about Early Years literacy studies, contact StoryPhones’ Educational Consultant Kirstie Page on 01207524867.

Following the Rose Report of 2006, it was noted that schools needed to do more to boost listening and speaking skills across the curriculum. For instance, Ofsted noted recently in an overview report on English that:

Too little attention has been given to teaching the full National Curriculum programme of study for speaking and listening and the range of contexts provided for speaking and listening remains too limited.

Obviously, attention to speaking and listening at the earliest stages is especially important for children who enter settings and schools with limited language skills.

Without the available equipment, it is difficult for teachers to deliver such study. StoryPhones can be used to help to address this issue.

StoryPhones is a trading name of Ameeca Ltd, The Greenhouse, Greencroft Park, Annfield Plain, County Durham, DH9 7XN.

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Feb 26, 2009

A TECHNOLOGY firm has launched a range of remote headphones for children.

County Durham-based Ameeca has developed StoryPhones, a wireless MP3 audio system for use in schools.

And the company, run by husband and wife team Dr Simon and Eleanor Johnson, turned to Newcastle-based market research agency Marketwise Strategies.

StoryPhones was launched nationwide last month and is available as an innovative education tool for schools and learning centres The audio system allows children to listen to stories, music, songs and games, while also being able to record themselves to develop language skills.

The company is predicting turnover of pounds 1m this year.

Marketwise Strategies managing director Jacquie Potts said: “There were three stages to the project: Initial proof of concept research, market entry research and marketing strategy development. At each stage we worked very closely with Ameeca, to help develop the product and the ways in which it would be marketed.

“We interviewed more than 150 teachers of literacy at nursery, reception and primary school across England and Scotland. We also spoke to specialist literacy advisors and consultants. The response was excellent and almost three quarters of the teachers were interested in using StoryPhones.”

Dr Simon added: “We’re hoping to develop more products over the next few years. The StoryPhones have been received so well and they’re only in the early launch stages. We’ll be going back to Marketwise Strategies again.”

A technology company is predicting a turnover of £1m this year for its unique range of remote headphones for children.

County Durham-based Ameeca has developed StoryPhones, a wireless MP3 audio system for use in schools, to help young children develop speaking and listening skills

In order to develop the product effectively, the company, run by husband and wife team Dr Simon and Eleanor Johnson, turned to Newcastle-based research experts Marketwise Strategies for help.

Marketwise interviewed more than 150 teachers of literacy at nursery, reception and primary school across England and Scotland as well as speaking to specialist literacy advisors and consultants.

Marketwise Strategies managing director Jacquie Potts said: “The response was excellent and almost three quarters of the teachers were interested in using StoryPhones while the advisors and consultants were keen to see it succeed.”

StoryPhones will be launched nationwide in January 2009, and will be available as an innovative education tool for schools and learning centres. The audio system allows children, aged three to seven, to listen to stories, music, songs and games, whilst also being able to record themselves to develop language skills. Advance orders already total more than 300 sets.

At intervals throughout the year, the Directors at Business & Leisure Today, select organisations that have best demonstrated a proven ability to go that extra mile in not only meeting but exceeding the needs of their clients. In selecting a winner for this year’s BA Technology in Education Award the Judges were particularly impressed with StoryPhones, a complete digital audio system using MP3 technology produced by AMEECA LIMITED. Designed by an Early Years Foundation Stage teacher, this cutting-edge audio system helps young children develop their language, communication, listening and literacy skills.

In recognition of the expansive educational value of its revolutionary StoryPhones, AMEECA LIMITED has been selected to receive the BA Technology in Education Award 2009, a completely independent Award Programme, sponsored by Business & Leisure Today, recognised both locally and nationally.

Outlining the philosophy behind the Award Scheme, Director of the publication Andrew Simpson said: “The Award Scheme was created in order to recognise those businesses and individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to their particular field. We are always keen to bring attention to those who are providing a product or service that stands out from the crowd and deserves to be appreciated not only by our readers, but also by a wider audience.”

Not every company can walk away with one of these accolades, that have become the hallmark of success, but those that do all emerge from the process a more successful business; with many having gone on to become acknowledged leaders in the marketplace.

Creator of StoryPhones and co-director of the company Eleanor Johnson said: “Having taught young children for over 16 years, I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated at the limitations of the audio equipment available. This spurred me on to create StoryPhones, an extremely versatile and innovative 3MP3audio system that will bring audio stories, music, games and educational information to all children, enhancing their learning skills.”

Commenting on receiving this award Eleanor added:

“We were very excited when we received the news that we had won this award. We have all worked hard to bring our idea into reality and appreciate the recognition of the innovative and educational features of StoryPhones.”

In meeting the need for children who need to acquire the foundations of learning…..language, communication, listening and literacy skills in the early stages of their education, StoryPhones ensure that ICT is used throughout the school or nursery environment and is embedded across the curriculum.

Consisting an MP3 Headset; Remote Console; Base Unit and Bookshelf Software, StoryPhones is a groundbreaking digital audio system for children in primary schools and nurseries. Each headset is an individual mp3 player and the whole system is completely free of wires, enabling listening activities to be delivered in different areas of the classroom, throughout the school or nursery, and even for outdoor learning.

Having chosen premises that feature a range of sustainable construction techniques including ground source heating/cooling, a wind turbine and photovoltaic roof panels, the company also remains committed to minimising the carbon footprint in the production of StoryPhones, which complies with the ROHS directive.

Having been singled out to receive the BA Technology in Education Award 2009 serves as a distinguishing factor, that ranks Ameeca Limited amongst the best in its field, as well as acting as a seal of approval to prospective clients.

For further information on StoryPhones contact award-winning AMEECA LIMITED at The Greenhouse, Greencroft Park, Annfield Plain, Co. Durham DH9 7XN Tel:               0845 6520906         0845 6520906 Fax: 01207 524868 Email: reception@ameeca.co.uk

Alternatively visit website: www.storyphones.co.uk where you can also sign up to the company’s Newsletter and receive FREE monthly educational resources and FREE stories, music and listening activites to download. All details given will be treated as confidential.