t-learning Case Studies - Developing early years skills, UK

UK viewers to NTL digital cable have access to NTL Knowledge that contains a “Play area” and an “Early Years” area using interactive activities also based on the BBC’s Tweenies characters.

Main menu of the Interactive Services on NTL with the Knowledge Section selected.

The Early Years option has been selected in NTL Knowledge.

Selecting the Early Years options takes the viewer to the BBC’s Tweenies TV Web site. The BBC runs the popular Tweenies programmes aimed at 2-6 year olds on its Cbeebies Digital TV channel as well as during children’s programmes on its main channels. From this menu option children or their parents can select “news time”, “messy time”, “song time” “telly time” and “story time”.

In the story time menu “stories” or reviews of stories can be selected.

Stories can be can be selected from the menu with a brief description displayed whilst the story is loaded.

The story consists of pictures and text but no audio. By selecting the down arrow on the bottom right hand corner the next screen is displayed. Eight screens are available with this story.

This is screen 5 of the Jangles story. Most pictures tend are still rather than video.

This is the last screen of the Jangles story. Limited animation shows the characters waving bye-bye.

In addition on the UK NTL cable Knowledge play area interactive TV site there a “Little Monster” series with a character called Sidney consisting of stories and an activity game – one of which is the ability to match the appropriate clothes that Sidney wears according to the story line. Just like reading a picture book a parent may read out the story whilst the child views the picture stills. At various stages a number of interactive activities are available for the child to use before the story continues.

The Play area has been selected in NTL Knowledge.
Note the TV Channel can still be viewed in the top right hand corner.

The introductory page for Little Monsters on the NTL Knowledge Play area.

One of the picture stills from the story. The text would be read out to the child as no audio is available.

Young children need to match clothes that Sidney wears.

Developing pre-school learning skills, UK