Shift Learning Case Studies
While some of Shift’s work was confidential, we are grateful to have received client permission to share the following case studies of projects we completed.
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- Awarding organisations
- English Language Learning and International Education
- Public sector and not-for-profit
- Publishing, media and EdTech
- Schools
- Universities, HE and FE
GCSE History Textbooks
A major educational publisher wanted to learn more about what secondary school History teachers think about the current range of textbooks published for GCSE, and what they’d like to see produced when new qualifications are introduced in the next few years.
Publishing, media and EdTech, Schools
protocols.io research
Springer Nature offers a variety of resources and services related to research protocols, particularly through Springer Protocols and Nature Protocols. Having recently acquired protocols.io, a secure open access platform for sharing reproducible methods, they wanted to consolidate their publishing in the area – making all protocols published in their peer-reviewed publications available on the platform. As part of this transition, they wished to explore the attitudes of authors and users towards any changes.
Publishing, media and EdTech
Publishing futures
This year, we worked with Cambridge University Press on a radical, community-led review of the open research publishing ecosystem. Our aim was to identify bold, workable solutions that support innovation and meet the evolving needs of all stakeholders.
Publishing, media and EdTech, Universities, HE and FE
STEM education research
Cengage commissioned Shift to help deepen their understanding around innovative teaching methods, educators’ ability to adapt to new technology and engage STEM students and improve their learning outcomes.
Publishing, media and EdTech
The State of Open Data
Now in its eighth year, the State of Open Data is the longest-running longitudinal analysis of researchers’ attitudes towards and experiences of open data. It is the result of a collaboration between Digital Science, Figshare and Springer Nature. This global study provides a detailed and sustained insight into the motivations, challenges, perceptions and behaviours of researchers towards open data. Shift was commissioned to manage the development of the survey and conduct an initial analysis of its findings.
Publishing, media and EdTech, Universities, HE and FE
ELT Brand Study
National Geographic Learning, part of Cengage, is a provider of English Language Teaching (ELT) resources, delivered in print and digital formats. National Geographic Learning wanted to measure perceptions of its brand amongst ELT professionals, and measure this alongside close competitors in the market across a spread of regions.
English Language Learning and International Education, Publishing, media and EdTech
Revision Research
HarperCollins UK wanted to explore the use of online resources for GCSE revision, before developing their own offer in the area. The research objectives focused on how students currently engage with a wide range of online revision resources, what factors they consider when deciding which resource to use and also their preferences around revision resources.
Publishing, media and EdTech, Schools
Nature Masterclasses Online 2024
Shift has supported Nature Portfolio with course development since 2021. Nature commissioned us again in 2023 to conduct research to help develop their Nature Masterclasses Online (NMO) 2024 courses.
Publishing, media and EdTech
Competitor intel, institutional solutions
Springer Nature wanted competitor insight to support the development of a new division, encompassing a number of platforms and products across three key areas: research, data & analytics, and content. Nature were looking to better understand these markets, and the competitors within them.
Publishing, media and EdTech
Student Voices research
Cengage, a global education and technology company built for learners, conducts Student Voices research annually with Shift Insight. The work helps guide Cengage and HE providers in supporting students through their learning journey, as well as to develop content and learning platforms that help lecturers deliver engaging, effective courses. In 2023, Cengage’s goal was to find out what students want from their course experience – and to demonstrate how their offerings are helping, as well as adding value to the student experience. Cengage also wanted to demonstrate how their offerings can drive improvements in course quality, increase student engagement, help with factors like budgets or enrolments – while also meeting wider student needs.
Publishing, media and EdTech, Universities, HE and FE
Student response systems in higher education
Using desk research and 27 depth interviews, we helped Macmillan explore the overall market landscape for student engagement systems, customer perceptions of competitor products and the value proposition for their iClicker.
Publishing, media and EdTech
Understanding primary school leaders’ priorities
Shift carried out quantitative and qualitative research with primary SLT to explore the key areas schools are focusing on this year and how this has changed from last year.
Publishing, media and EdTech, Schools