huuyoo

E-Learning for Kids: A Global Non-Profit Foundation

Background
In today’s complex world, children’s futures are determined by their ability to master the basics of reading, science, math and computers. Yet costs, class sizes and other issues often prevent children access to quality online learning that can support and reinforce these essential skills.

The vision is to be the source for childhood learning on the Internet – available from anywhere and without charge. Established in late 2004, e-Learning for Kids is a global, nonprofit foundation dedicated to fun and free learning on the Internet for children ages 5 - 12. We offer free, best-in-class courseware in math, science, reading and keyboarding; and we’re building a community for parents and educators to share innovations and insights in childhood education.

E-learning for Kids isn’t only for kids, though; it’s also a site where parents get more engaged in their kids’ education, educators and experts champion e-learning and contribute their knowledge on how kids can learn better. Commercial education and game developers contribute to the next generation. Corporations and associations channel their social responsibility efforts. People with a passion for childhood education make a difference.

All-volunteer staff consists of committed education and e-learning experts and business professionals from around the world. Team members develop and source e-learning courseware, marshal resources for educational content, collaborate with other educational foundations, reach out to corporations and associations for funding and sponsorships, and build awareness among schools and the media.

Programs are designed for children ages 5 through 12, developed by leading e-learning vendors and qualified instructional designers, and reviewed by members of our Advisory Board and Quality Assurance teams. Schools can incorporate our tested online courses into their curriculum; teachers can work with their students on specific skills; and children can access the self-paced programs independently. Our programs are designed to engage children at the level where they can perform well.





Executive Team
Nick van Dam, Ph.D., Founder and Chairman
Brian Petersen, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer
Vicki Cerda, Director of Communications and Outreach
Arjen (AJ) van de Voort, Director of Business Operations
Gregory Bylos, Chief Technology Officer
Amy Castillo, Director of Translations
Michelle Hancock, Director of Quality Assurance
Elaine Grandolfi, Executive Assistant
Advisory Board
Elliot Masie, the MASIE Center
Allison Rossett, Ed. D., San Diego State University
David Holcombe, President and CEO of The eLearning Guild

Courses for Kids
Math Courses
Language Arts Courses
Computer Skills Courses
Science Courses
Health and Life Skills Courses
English Language Courses


Instructional

Motivation
First, the program provokes attention with the use of colour, brightness, sound and animation. However, for the sound, it is not set in front of the homepage but when we open every exercise, we can hear the sound. Although it has exercise but it is only in lesson format, not games. This program only focuses on some topic and the exercises that related to the lesson. Besides that, this program gives challenges to the user as it maintains appropriate levels of challenge which means increase levels of difficulty with progress. It also can maintain the user’s confidence by giving encouragement. For example, if the users answer it right, they will get compliment. But if the user answers it wrong, they will give chance to try again. It also encourages the users to envision themselves in an imaginary context or event where they can use the information that they are learn. For the goal setting and scoring, it is clearly stated and provides indication of how the users are proceeding periodically.
Interaction and Feedback
This program reinforces the correct answer with positive feedback such as clapping, compliment; give present like trophy and medal. It also supplies the correct response with giving the correct answer but it is repeating and recommends special remediation to students through exercise in vocabulary and memorization. This program not evaluates the users' answers and explanations why the users' answers are correct.

Goal Orientation
This program has a clear goal for tutorial style stated and its documentation have defined objectives and goals.

Learner Control
This program gives the user able to discover the program freely and can exit any time. But, it does not allow the user to be active, collaborative and reflective in knowledge construction as the user can give own answer except the answer provided.

Curriculum

Accuracy and Fairness of Content
The content of the program fit well into local school curriculum at the grade level for which it is intended. The using of the vocabulary level also can compatible with the reading level of the intended users. In the other way, the presentation of the content logical and well organized and delivered according to the main ideas or the big picture and followed with supporting ideas, it is also requires the users to complete certain base tasks before they are allowed to move on to next exercise.

Cosmetics

For cosmetics, it can divide into several categories such as colour, text layout, use of hypertext, graphics, animation, sound, menus and icons, interface design and instructions. About the colour, in this website we find that it can enhance the impact and legibility of the screen.

Colour
Using colour, it can attract students because it look interesting.




Text Layout
The program require no scrolling when reading the information, the font chosen are appropriate so it help students to read more easily and we think that the sound used are not become distraction for the main point of the screen.

Hypertext
It can help leaner to develop understanding by providing useful links.

Graphics
We find that the graphics are make information more attractive, because using the graphics students are more excited to read the information in this website. Even more, the graphics also can help the students in visualization of particular event, place or object; it helps students in memorization of key information by using colours or highlights the important point in the subject, and graphics also aid students understanding about the subject or information that they read in this website.

Animation
It invite input to students using animation so, it can minimize static boredom. However, the animation are not motivate through humour.

Sounds
It is add to the understanding to the teaching point. For example in this website, it uses the sound to give instruction and explain the steps in certain activities such as in mathematic and science subjects.

Menus and Icons
Provide an intuitive clear interface and various options are readily available. Besides that, with menus and icons learners can see components which they have already completed and ones still to be done. For example the exercise that is given in science subject about our heart, the students still can see the components even thought they have already finished the activity.


Interface Design

In this website, it provide orientation information such as welcome screen, offering an overview, basic tips and links to more in depth help. The welcome screen goes away when learner is no longer new to the program.

Technical Aspect

Finally, is about technical aspect that can divide into 3 main categories such as ease of use, speed of access and personalization.

Ease of use
About ease of use, we think that the system require specialize training to operate because before use this website students must have knowledge about the subject that they want to learnt using this website to make sure that by the end of this activities students can improve their self in that subject.

Speeds of access
Besides that, for speeds of access category we find that the homepage can be downloaded efficiently enough to keep student on task.

Personalization
Before the students can start doing the activity, they need to fill their name into the program available to start the activity.

CONCLUSION

We hope using this web, every student will enjoy in their learning and more understand about the subject that they have learnt in school. This web can help them to measure their understanding in the subject like Science, Mathematic, and English.