Happy 20th anniversary PebblePad!
Two decades ago, a vision was born—a vision to change learning and empower learners worldwide. Today, we celebrate the fruition of that vision as PebblePad turns 20!
Friday 26th of April 2024, marks twenty years since Shane Sutherland and Colin Dalziel created the company that built PebblePad. The actual building of PebblePad began a few weeks earlier, and a few months later the platform was piloted by 160 students at the University of Wolverhampton.
At that time, their goal was to build technology to help learners plan for, make sense of, evidence and tell their stories of learning and achievement. Starting as an ePortfolio technology, PebblePad is now the leading Learning Journey Platform used by higher education institutions to teach, assess and support students from application to graduation.
We’ve had a lot of lovely feedback from educators and students over the years, here are a small selection that have struck home for the team.
PebblePad in the words of our customers
“PebblePad has been instrumental in changing the way we support our medical students. The platform’s versatility and intuitive interface have significantly enhanced their learning experience and allowed for seamless collaboration with faculty and peers.” Professor Jennifer Hallam, Chair in Assessment and Educational Innovation at University of Leeds School of Medicine
“The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Central Lancashire chose to use PebblePad due to its popularity of evidencing assessments, experiences and skills in clinical subject areas. Its flexibility also means that students can record, reflect and evidence their learning via the Pebblepocket app which is useful for remote locations with no internet access.” Colette Fuller, Digital Education Manager, University of Central Lancashire
“PebblePad is probably the most comprehensive platform on the market. I love how intuitive and customizable PebblePad can be; it can be used for simple assignment submissions to a fully curated e-portfolio that can truly showcase a student’s work, as well as the thoughts that have gone into their work.” Puiyin Wong, SFHEA SCMALT PgCert MFA, Innovation & Scholarship Manager from Queen Mary, University of London
“The gold they create as students (in PebblePad), is a lightbulb moment for them…some of the conversation was at what point do they transition, when they begin to understand, what I’m doing as a student is essential for me as a professional. This activity has delivered in spades, it helps students to consider their professional profile, and to deliver a narrative of distinctiveness for them as a graduate.” Dr Zoe Bradfield, Curtin University
“I have felt better in myself as a student, I feel like I can identify what I’m feeling more, and it allows me to not only remind myself what happened in environment but allows me to be proud of what I have achieved.” University of Edinburgh, School of Biological Sciences (SBS), Student
Milestones and achievements
Over the years, PebblePad has achieved numerous milestones, marking its impact and influence on the educational landscape. From opening our first office, to winning prestigious awards to entering new international markets, each milestone has been a stepping stone towards greater innovation and collaboration.
2004 – Pilot at the University of Wolverhampton
2006 – Growth needs a dedicated office space at the ennovation centre in Telford
2007 – First Award from the UK Association of Learning Technologists
2009 – G’day Australia, four new Australian higher education customers
2010 – IMS Global (1EdTech) Platinum Award
2011 – Published book, Pebblegogy with contributions from authors around the world
2012 – Workbook launched for authentic assessment and feedback
2014 – PebblePocket App goes live
2015 – North America beckons with four new partners in US and Canada
2016 – Expanded language capabilities
2019 – Surpassed 100 institution implementations with over 1 million users
2022 – 1Edtech, ISO27001 and Cyber essentials accreditations
2022 – Named 100 Best Companies to Work For in the UK
2023 – Champion Women in Tech
2024 – Global expansion and 20th Birthday!
With a presence in over 130 institutions across the world, PebblePad has transcended geographical boundaries to become a global leader in the edtech space. Our platform has empowered learners to take ownership of their learning journey, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and lifelong skills essential for success in the 21st century.
Celebrations
As we mark PebblePad’s 20th birthday, we’re thrilled to celebrate with our community. Here are some of the events and activities planned so far!
Staff Treasure Hunt: Pictures from our team treasure hunt in the beautiful village of Ironbridge on the 26th of April.
Special Edition SWAG: Look out for limited-edition PebblePad 20th birthday pins and SWAG.
PebbleBash 2024: From June 11th to 13th, we’ll welcome customers to Edinburgh for our international conference.
We extend our gratitude to everyone who has been part of PebblePad’s journey over the past 20 years. Whether you’re a customer, partner, or member of our team, your support has been invaluable in shaping PebblePad. Here’s to the next 20 years of innovation with our wonderful community of customers!
