Being in the field of education, we share the same goal of ensuring that students get the best learning outcomes so they can reach their full potential. As the education landscape changes, we need to continuously adapt our resources and teaching practices to ensure their relevance in the current context.
Pearson invites you to join the sessions in our Leading in Learning: A Pearson Lunch, Learn, and Meet Webinar Series led by experts who will provide actionable insights to help educators like you successfully navigate the current education landscape. Since we aim to build a strong community of empowered educators, Pearson also offers you an opportunity to connect with other instructors in each session, plus you’re getting free lunch of your choice (upon attending the event).
We encourage you to register to any (if not all) sessions as each session is designed to cater to the different aspects of pedagogy.
Please note that the $25 gift card is only available to Canada-based college or university instructors who attended the event.
TORONTO, ONTARIO— (July 5, 2022)—The Canadian Publishers’ Council (CPC) is pleased to announce a partnership with Indspire to provide scholarships to Indigenous students enrolled in Post-Secondary programs across Canada. CPC is investing $28,000 to provide opportunities for 10 students beginning in August 2022, with Indspire coordinating matching donations that will double the funding to $56,000.
The program will provide financial assistance to Indigenous students while raising awareness of employment opportunities in the Publishing field and helping to diversify the workforce across the publishing sector in Canada.
“The CPC has been exploring ways to take industry-led action to create a workforce that represents the rich diversity of Canada’s population, opening opportunities for aspiring publishers and ensuring the long-term health of the creative sector, and this dynamic partnership with Indspire is an important milestone in that journey” said Marlene Olsavsky, CPC Chair and SVP of International Higher Education at Pearson Canada. “We are very proud to partner with Indspire, and look forward to raising awareness of our industry with Indigenous students in the widest range of Post-Secondary programs across the country. We are particularly excited by the prospect of engaging Indigenous students in our workforce through a range of activities such as mentoring and internships with CPC member firms.”
“This partnership with CPC opens new and exciting opportunities for Indigenous learners interested in various careers in the publishing sector,” said President and CEO of Indspire Mike DeGagné. “I thank CPC for their commitment to increasing opportunities in their sector and Indspire looks forward to working closely to promote this essential Canadian industry.”
About CPC:
The Canadian Publishers' Council (CPC) represents the interests of publishing companies that publish books and other media for elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional and reference markets, the retail and library sectors. Members employ more than 3,000 Canadians in a wide range of professional roles, and collectively account for nearly three- quarters of English-language books sales in Canada, with a significant presence in French-language publishing in Quebec. Member firms pay over $36 million in royalties to Canada's writers and creators annually.
Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. With the support of its funding partners, Indspire provides financial awards, delivers programs and shares resources so that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students will achieve their highest potential. In 2020-2021, Indspire provided more than $20 million through 6,245 bursaries and scholarships to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada.
For more information about Indspire, its Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships, and Awards program, or its other programs & initiatives, contact:
To help students develop their English-language skills, Pearson Canada has partnered with Sheridan to become the first postsecondary institution in Canada to offer Pearson Digital English – software that harnesses smart technology and artificial intelligence. As a pilot program, the 10-level language course is completely virtual and autonomous, allowing students to learn wherever and whenever they want, at their own pace.
“Pearson is thrilled to be partnering with Sheridan College as the first postsecondary institution to pilot Pearson Digital English in Canada,” says Troy Verriez, Pearson’s Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships. “This new tool has enhanced technology offering personalized support to those who want to learn the English language at their own pace. It includes an innovative AI engine that will allow students to practice their pronunciation in a bias-free environment, helping them continuously improve their speaking in both their social and professional life.”
Pearson Digital English covers all four areas of language acquisition – listening, speaking, reading and writing – and provides students with a syllabus that is designed using learning objectives from the Global Scale of English (GSE).
This fall, Canadian educators and students had the opportunity to study COVID-19 and its impact on their field of study using Pearson Canada’s digital learning platforms MyLab, Mastering, and Revel.
When the severity of the virus became clear in March, Pearson Canada’s editorial team immediately contacted virologists, authors, and other experts to develop content educators can use to teach students about the pandemic in real time.
Joan Sharp and Michael Harrington, authors of the popular introductory biology textbook ‘Biological Science’, were two of the experts the publisher worked with to create brand new content about the pandemic in a matter of months. As biology professors at Simon Fraser University and the University of Alberta, respectively, they saw the importance of providing students with the latest research and accurate information about the virus.
“Students learn best when they care about the subject matter. The whole world has been severely impacted by the current pandemic and our students are vitally interested in SARS-CoV-2 and its origin, structure, and replication, and in COVID-19, the disease it causes,” says Joan Sharp, Teaching Professor Emerita of Biology at Simon Fraser University.
These rapid updates and additions would not have been possible without Pearson Canada’s digital-first model. In the past, the publisher could only revise their textbooks and supplementary resources every few years when a new print edition was published. Now, with digital textbooks and course materials, Pearson Canada can to release up-to-date content on current events like COVID-19 and the latest research across all disciplines anytime.
“Instructors and learners value up-to-date content and relevant examples. We were limited by print, which didn't allow for the more frequent updating we can do now with digital. It is exciting that we can address something as important as the pandemic right away instead of having to wait a few years for a new print edition,” says Amie Plourde, Editorial Director of Higher Education at Pearson Canada.
Just in time for the fall 2020 semester, Pearson Canada added COVID-19 content and activities across titles from Political Science to Biology. With so much of the future uncertain, learning about the ongoing pandemic has helped students process and understand the context of what is happening.
“We are grateful for their quick turnaround as making sure this was ready in time was no easy task with the rapidly evolving COVID-19 news updates. It was an all-around great effort and collaboration from our authors and Pearson teammates, who recognized the importance of being able to have academic discussions about the pandemic in relation to the different fields of study,” says Brianna Regier, Higher Education Portfolio Manager at Pearson Canada.
Pearson Canada and their authors recognize that information about COVID-19 is rapidly changing and, as such, have plans to provide further updated content in 2021.
Listed below are all titles with COVID-19 content available:
Husband and wife, Clarence Byrd and Ida Chen, who authored Canada’s leading tax accounting book, passed away on May 30th 2020 and November 6th 2019, respectively, after battling with cancer.
The Pearson community is deeply saddened by the passing of Clarence Byrd and Ida Chen, beloved authors who dedicated their lives to championing accounting education.
For over 35 years, Clarence and Ida have been extensively involved in Canadian accounting education. Their book, Canadian Tax Principles, has been used by many thousands of students and instructors at colleges and universities, and continues to be read and relied upon by learners across the country.
Before he passed away, Clarence prepared a tribute to his wife, Ida. He wrote:
On November 6, 2019, Ida Chen, my wife of 43 years, died from cancer.
In our years together, Ida and I authored some 150 books on financial accounting and tax. These books were used by tens of thousands of students, as well as by many accounting professionals.
While Ida's efforts were essential to the success of our publications, her contributions to our life together were even more important to me. We were best friends from the beginning of our marriage and, during the last 15 years, after my teaching was restricted to online efforts, we spent pretty much 24/7 together. We skied, hiked, climbed, and biked all over North America. We shared great food and, over the years, had several beautiful homes. Both the success of our books and the joy we found in our life together were beyond our wildest dreams.
We have lived the greatest love story that I have ever witnessed. I miss her terribly.
With Clarence and Ida’s passing, Gary Donell will continue their legacy as the new leading author of Canadian Tax Principles. To honour their memory, Gary reflected on his relationship and experiences with the couple. Below is an excerpt from his memorium to Clarence:
[In the late nineties] I had worked for the training organization for the CRA teaching and writing courses and had become an income tax rulings officer in Ottawa shortly thereafter. I regularly read tax textbooks and other tax literature and came across a relatively new publication “Canadian Tax Principles” written by Clarence Byrd and Ida Chen. I read through the textbook and reached out making recommendations as to improvements. It was a bit of a bold move but it was well received by Clarence who reciprocated by personally reaching out to me. Clarence realized that my background with the CRA could only improve the textbook and our collaboration, which would last for more than twenty years, had begun. Ida once described our complimentary skills as producing one of the finest writing teams she had ever seen. What made it all work was that Clarence, Ida and myself were dedicated to effective quality tax education.
My role with Clarence and Ida was as a consultant, advisor, technical reviewer and sometimes co-author writing a handful of chapters and some problem material. It was not unusual for me to speak to Clarence two or three times a day particularly during annual Federal budgets or unexpected changes to the Income tax laws. Our collaboration led to constant discussions on what to add, what not to add and how to go about introducing new topics in the most effective manner.
Ida was the glue that kept it all together. She was a dynamo, a gifted organizer and administrator who could have easily fit into the fabric of the largest companies in the world. We knew that Ida had been struggling with cancer for a few years and beaten the odds more than a few times but her passing in November of 2019 was an incredibly difficult time for my wife and I and everyone who knew her.
Through it all, Clarence, always a rock, began to show the signs of stress and his own medical situation worsened. Our collaboration accelerated as he was dedicated to completing what would be his final edition of Canadian Tax Principles. That publication held a special place in his heart. Clarence and Ida had created the textbook together from scratch and they took exceptional pride in each and every annual release.
In the final weeks before Clarence passed on Saturday May 30, 2020 he worked furiously with a dedication to complete all the necessary steps possible to ready the textbook for publication. Our telephone conversations increased substantially during this time as our collaborative efforts took on a new urgency, purpose and meaning. Clarence took comfort in knowing that I would pick up the reins to ensure the continuity of the successful text that both he and Ida had created together.
I look back on my relationship with these two remarkable individuals with happiness that our paths crossed for a common purpose and dedication to ideals of education. Along the way on this journey my wife and I had the opportunity to enjoy their company and friendship. We think of them every day and will miss them tremendously.
We extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to their families and friends. Clarence Byrd and Ida Chen’s passing is a terrible personal and professional loss for many of us at Pearson Canada.
Latest version of Versant test unveiled with remote monitoring built-in
Pearson, the world’s learning company, unveiled its latest Versant English Language test, which students can take from the comfort of their own homes and Canadian universities can count on to verify test takers skills.
Versant’s remote monitoring capability means that test sessions are recorded, with AI algorithms identifying and flagging any suspicious behaviour for the test administrator to review and examine. The remote monitoring feature is an add-on to other standard benefits including on-demand testing, AI scoring and instant results.
Marlene Olsavsky, Managing Director for Pearson Canada, said “We have introduced our Versant remote monitoring test for Canadian universities and students to use, in response to PTE Academic being currently unavailable for testing in Canada many other parts of the world due to Coronavirus.
“We recognise that Canadian higher-educational institutions are in need of alternative remote English language testing options during this time, which is where Versant comes in – it is a valid and reliable test which will accurately measure student’s English skills.
“With millions of students around the globe in lockdown, this test is an ideal solution, as they can take it at home, needing only a computer and headphones.
“Furthermore, Versant will help higher-ed institutions quickly and securely reduce their backlog of students waiting to test, as it is available on demand to buy and administer, with results available as soon as testing is completed.”
Pearson has partnered with HirePro, a leading assessment solution provider with over 15 years of proctoring experience, to automatically monitor Versant testing.
Pasupathi Sankaran, Chief Operating Officer, HirePro, said “We are very excited about the partnership with Pearson. This latest version of the Versant test will help universities to conduct assessments remotely with precision, enable a convenient and faster process at the same time and reduce the operational cost associated with conducting them in-person.
“In our journey of the past 15 years, we have realized the growing need for remotely monitored assessments and the present situation has led to a wider acceptance. Built by a team of experts with more than 20 patents in audio / video technologies, our assessments platform offers the test takers a superior experience and ensures automated detection and prevention of cheating.”
Versant is purchased by Universities (rather than by selling direct to test takers) who then administer the test direct to students. Versant + Remote Monitoring can be taken worldwide, with the exception of mainland China and other sanctioned countries.
ENDS
Notes to Editor
For further information on Versant + Remote Monitoring, as well as the wider suite of Versant tests on offer please go to www.VersantTests.com
Pearson is the world’s learning company with more than 22,500 employees operating in 70 countries. We provide content, assessment and digital services to learners, educational institutions, employers, governments and other partners globally. We are committed to helping equip learners with the skills they need to enhance their employability prospects and to succeed in the changing world of work. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people.
HirePro is a leading technology and assessments solution provider to Government, corporates, and educational institutions. Established in 2004 and headquartered in Bengaluru, India, HirePro offers preeminent technology platform and allied services to companies that require an expert support to navigate the talent landscape. As a distinguished provider of automated selection platform and solutions, HirePro holds the prominence of a strategic partner in the talent acquisition and recruitment market today. To know more about HirePro and its offerings, please visit www.hirepro.in
For Pearson media enquiries please contact Kasia Reardon, Director of Communications, Pearson English Assessment, at kasia.reardon@pearson.com or 07702 512 312
