Young authors & readers to create soundtracks for e-books 11 Nov 2014
11 November 2014
Young authors & readers to create soundtracks for e-books in the classroom
The New Zealand Book Council and Booktrack have teamed up with top Kiwi author Brian Falkner to pilot a new initiative for young authors to create soundtracks to e-books in the classroom.
Brian Falkner will visit Hobsonville Point Secondary School in Auckland on November 13 as part of the New Zealand Book Council’s Writers in Schools programme. He will lead students in creative writing and creating synchronised soundtracks to e-books and stories using Booktrack’s free education-focused platform, Booktrack Classroom. This auditory approach to reading is designed to inspire an immersive, more engaged experience for students. On the day, pupils will learn new writing techniques and then how to layer and mix dynamic audio effects and soundscapes that enhance written stories, bringing them to life visually, imaginatively and aurally.
Each year the New Zealand Book Council’s Writers in Schools programme connects more than 25,000 young New Zealand readers with New Zealand’s best writers in classrooms from the inner city to remote rural areas. Booktrack is a New Zealand company that has developed a revolutionary new digital platform to enable authors and readers to create synchronised, movie-style soundtracks that are automatically paced to match the story while you read.
“As New Zealand’s leading national reading charity we are dedicated to inspiring a love of reading because we know the difference it makes to young lives,” says New Zealand Book Council CEO Catriona Ferguson. “We are excited to see Brian Falkner use dynamic Booktrack technology to enthuse and extend young readers’ pleasure and skill in reading and writing.”
Booktrack has already proven it has the power to deepen reading comprehension and engagement. Recent research from the University of Auckland revealed that reading with Booktrack Classroom increased students’ reading time by 30% and comprehension by up to 17%. “It’s great to be able to team up with the New Zealand Book Council to share the Booktrack Classroom experience to engage young New Zealanders. We hope that this will help bring a whole new generation of youth back to the love of reading and creative writing,” says Booktrack CEO and co-founder Paul Cameron.
This is a pilot initiative and further Writers in Schools and Booktrack visits are planned, including an upcoming visit led by award-winning author Ted Dawe at Auckland Girls’ Grammar School onDecember 4.
For more information about the New Zealand Book Council and its Writers in Schools programme, please visit www.bookcouncil.org.nz. For further information about Booktrack, please visit www.booktrack.com.
About the New Zealand Book Council
Books and reading change lives. Writers shape our culture. We spread the word.
Established in 1972, the New Zealand Book Council is the country’s leading national charity dedicated to supporting our reading and writing culture. Our mission is to champion the lifelong engagement of New Zealanders in reading, and to lead the promotion and nurturing of New Zealand writers, writing and books.
“Not only does the Book Council talk the talk, it walks the talk. I'm constantly amazed at the range of work it does for our books and writers. What would the industry do without it? One great activity it organises is for writers to go into schools. A real author in the classroom? You can't get better than that.’’ – Witi Ihimaera
About Booktrack
Booktrack
is transforming reading the way sound transformed silent
film
Booktrack offers a new content creation and distribution platform that turns reading into an immersive movie-like experience. Booktrack’s patented technology lets anyone add a synchronized movie-style soundtrack to an e-book or other digital text content, with the soundtrack audio paced to each individual’s reading speed.
Funded by investors including Peter Thiel (co-founder and former CEO of PayPal), Booktrack will change the way people read, write, and publish their stories.
ENDS
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more