GradeGuru Wins Silver for 'Best Use of Social Media for Learning' in 2010 E-Learning Awards

LONDON, Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- McGraw-Hill Higher Education's GradeGuru, the study network for university students, has been awarded the silver medal for "Best Use of Social Media for Learning" in the UK's 2010 E-Learning Awards.  GradeGuru was chosen for its innovative use of technology in developing a web 2.0 study tool for student collaboration, peer-support and study note sharing.  Emily Sawtell, founder of GradeGuru, and Fiona Comport, marketing associate, accepted the award on behalf of McGraw-Hill Education.

Identifying a need for a collaborative study tool that addresses the learning needs of today's born digital student, GradeGuru was launched in 2008 to provide an online platform for student collaboration and peer-support.  The social media tool is the web 2.0 version of a study group, where university students can share their own – and find other students' – class-specific study materials, provide feedback and support, and build their academic reputations to earn rewards.  Since its inception, GradeGuru has become an intuitive social learning environment for thousands of university students.

Following the E-Learning Award recognition, GradeGuru was also acknowledged as "Website of the Year" at the 2010 Stevie Awards for Women in Business in New York City.

"With GradeGuru, we aim to foster productive collaboration and increase student engagement with course concepts by leveraging technologies that are very familiar and intuitive," said Sawtell, who is also senior director of student innovations at McGraw-Hill Higher Education.  "We're thrilled to have been recognized by the E-Learning Awards and the Stevies for creating a social media tool that really helps students and attribute this honor to our efficacy research demonstrating the real impact GradeGuru is having on students' confidence and commitment," she added.

Available in the US and UK, GradeGuru promotes online collaboration to increase student engagement, support and pride in creating their own learning materials.  GradeGuru translates students' 21st Century social media skills into constructive behaviors in an educational context.  GradeGuru also provides study tools to help students succeed including Citation Manager, a tool that automatically generates citations and bibliographies, and Study Tracker, available in the iTunes store, which allows students to set study time and grade goals and track their progress in class.

About GradeGuru

GradeGuru.com was created based on the findings of ethnographic research into student study habits and motivations.  It is the web 2.0 version of a study group, where university students can openly collaborate, share their own and find other students' class-specific study materials, engage in peer-review and build their academic reputations to earn rewards and access career opportunities.  Please visit www.gradeguru.com or contact [email protected] for more information.

About McGraw-Hill Higher Education

McGraw-Hill Higher Education, a unit of McGraw-Hill Education, is a leading innovator in the development of 21st century teaching and learning digital solutions for postsecondary and higher education markets worldwide.  Through a comprehensive range of traditional and digital education content and tools focused on improving student learning outcomes, McGraw-Hill Higher Education empowers and prepares professionals and students to connect, learn and succeed in the global economy.  McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 65 languages.  Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com.

About E-Learning Awards

Launched in 2005, the E-Learning Awards honor the best that e-learning can offer – the programs, projects, teams, individuals and strategies which have enjoyed the greatest success.

About the Stevie Awards

The Stevie Awards were created to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and business people worldwide.  Beginning with The American Business Awards in 2002, The International Business Awards in 2003, The Stevie Awards for Women in Business in 2004, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service in 2006, our mission is to raise the profile of exemplary organizations and individuals among the press, the business community, and the general public.  In short order the Stevie has become one of the world's most coveted awards.

SOURCE McGraw-Hill Education; GradeGuru