t-learning Case Studies - Developing pre-school learning skills, UK

In the UK the BBC’s CBeebies digital channel is aimed at pre-school children and has been designed to develop pre-school learning skills. Whilst watching the channel, pressing the red button on the remote control takes the viewer to the interactive area - when a red symbol in the top right hand corner of the screen is displayed.

A number of different activities or stories tend to be available at different times and relate to the programmes being broadcast. At any one time there are usually three interactive activities out of about twenty that are available on a rotational basis. They tend to be based on popular children’s’ programmes like “Bob the Builder” – with an interactive activity aimed at colour recognition and matching colours or “Bill and Ben” - a “hide and seek“ activity based around the recognition of characters and remembering under which flowerpot they are hidden. Although very simple activities, they can be very engaging for 3-5 year olds.

The stories tend to have various options enabling the child to select a specific character or an event and the story then branches off using that character or event.

Whilst watching any programme on the BBC’s CBeebies Digital Satellite Channel - displaying PRESS RED in the top right of the screen. Pressing the red button on the remote control takes the viewer to the interactive services associated with this channel.

The main menu to the interactive services on the UK BBC CBeebies digital satellite channel.

The Bill and Ben Hide and Seek game on the UK BBC CBeebies digital satellite channel.

Bill and Ben Hide and Seek game. By pressing one of the four colour coded keys on the remote control children have to guess under which flower-pot the worm is under.

Bill and Ben Hide and Seek game. Initially children guess which flowerpot the worm is under. Through trial and error they are able to identify the correct flowerpot. Very limited sound is available with this activity - one sound when successful and another sound when not successful.

Bill and Ben Hide and Seek game. If children can remember which animal is underneath the flowerpot they are likely to be more successful than just guessing.

Bill and Ben Hide and Seek game. Children are rewarded by the weed (in the centre) jumping up and down at the end of the game.

The Shiny Show game on the UK BBC CBeebies digital satellite channel. It is based on the popular children’s programme aimed at 3-6 year olds.

The Shiny Show game. The idea is for “Tiggs” the character to catch the stars. The red and blue buttons on the remote control are used to move Tiggs left and right. This helps to improve hand-eye coordination. When successful Triggs shouts “yes”. There are three different levels of the game.

The menu leading to the Tweenies Story on the UK BBC CBeebies digital satellite channel.

The Tweenies is a popular children’s programme on UK BBC channels. This interactive service consists of a story made up of graphics and text that can be read out by a parent. At stages in the story various options appear to determine which characters appear in the story with various outcomes.

The beginning of the Tweenies Story.

The child can select a character and continue with that character in the story.

The character “Jake” was selected and the story continues with this character.

Jake can use either a balloon or a frog to rescue Doodles (the dog) in the tree by selecting either the blue or the red button on the remote control.