The Impact of Digital Technologies and COVID-19 on the Role of the Primary Educational Publisher

Abstract

The 21st century has seen the education ecosystem change drastically, with the increased digitisation of the classroom and more recently the global pandemic. This thesis aimed to understand the role of the primary educational publisher in this new climate through the lens of Darnton’s (1982) revised communications circuit and gatekeeping theory. Semi-structured interviews with 10 industry professionals from the primary educational publishing sector and a website audit were used to collect data about the impact of digitisation and COVID-19 on the role of publishers, the formats of educational resources produced, and the future of the industry. The findings reveal a mission-driven industry. To support educators, publishers conduct user, market and educational research and interpret government curricula and regulations to create products underpinned by cutting-edge learning design and responsive to the demands of educators. As intermediaries in the publishing ecosystem, primary educational publishers navigate the gatekeeping forces of governments, learning design, pedagogy and technology. COVID-19 has accelerated existing trends, particularly the move to digital products, and has reinforced the importance of primary educational publishers in the minds of educators. Publishers are set to continue to adapt and solve problems, innovate within the digital space, and develop the capabilities of personalised and differentiated products without neglecting the print formats that are integral to primary education.