Nordic textbook reforms build on Cambridge research

In a concentrated round of meetings in Sweden this month, Tim Oates, Cambridge's Director of Assessment Research and Development, continued his successful collaboration with key stakeholders about the supply of high-quality learning materials in the Nordic countries. 

The final day saw a key discussion between politicians, publishers and authors at the 'Materials of the Future' conference, convened by Per Kornhall, chair of the Swedish Association of Educational Writers. 

This follows the Swedish education ministry announcing a SEK 685 million investment (over £50 million) to increase supply to schools of high- quality paper textbooks in 2023, reinforcing the value of textbooks in raising quality and improving equity in Swedish schools. 

Changing texts 

The research team at Cambridge was commissioned prior to Covid by Per Kornhall to conduct an international review of research on textbooks, which includes a specific focus on Sweden. 

Tim Oates said: "Our report, 'Changing Texts', was completed in December 2021, and explored features of these complex things we call 'textbooks' - as well as governance, use and impact, sociological analysis, attitudes towards textboooks, the structure of markets and the very different functions of paper and digital materials. We confirmed the rich heritage of Nordic research on textbooks and the gaps in research which need to be filled. 

"Our work also shows that formation of public policy to create an impetus to high quality in both paper and digital materials is both desirable and possible." 

Since 2015, Cambridge University Press & Assessment has championed the role of learning materials in raising quality and equality with partners in Nordic countries.

The Cambridge Approach to Textbooks, published in 2016, which sets out key principles for designing high-quality textbooks and resource materials, along with an earlier work, Why Textbooks Count, have contributed to reviews of policy on learning materials in both Sweden and Denmark. Discussions with Iceland in 2015 were followed by discussions pre- and post- Covid in Denmark on the mass development of digital materials and textbooks. 

Sophisticated and complementary 

The announcements in Sweden follow succcessful research-based development work by Cambridge on high-quality materials in Oman, Qatar and Thailand, each of these projects using Cambridge research on the specific needs of each national setting, often with a carefully-managed mix of paper and digital materials. 

Tim sums up Cambridge's approach to supporting improvements in education:

What we are seeing now is not some naive pendulum swing between digital and paper. Our research shows that we should attend closely to the different qualities and functions of each, and develop each in a sophisticated and complementary way... all with an eye on the prize of improving learning of all.