Category: bbc.co.uk; Learning
Date: 27.01.2006
Printable version
91Èȱ¬ jam - bbc.co.uk/jam - the 91Èȱ¬'s new broadband learning service for 5 to 16 year olds, goes live this weekend.
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The service is an innovative combination of curriculum-based activities, video games, audio and animation putting learners at its heart.
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Mark Thompson, 91Èȱ¬ Director-General, said: "Learning has been one of three pillars of the 91Èȱ¬ since the 1920s and it remains so today.
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"I'm extremely proud that we have been able to design a service in discussion with the young people who will use it, to bridge the gap between home and the classroom by creating something innovative and distinctive which really works for them.
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"Right across the 91Èȱ¬ we are looking at ways to listen effectively to our audiences and to give them an active role in shaping our content. 91Èȱ¬ learning is pioneering that change with 91Èȱ¬ jam."
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The broadband service will see 20 commissions go live throughout 2006.
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The first six are Maths and English for five to seven year olds, Science for seven to nine year olds, Geography for seven to 11 year olds, French for 11 to 14 year olds and Business Studies for 14 to 16 year olds.
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It continues to build over the next two years - until September 2008 - making it the 91Èȱ¬'s most comprehensive education service while remaining complementary to existing e-learning products.
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Designed as an appealing mix of formal curriculum-based resources and engaging informal learning, 91Èȱ¬ jam is aimed first and foremost at the children themselves so that they are in charge of what, when, where and how they want to learn.
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It also has the potential to provide an exciting addition to any lesson to help teachers get children truly interested.
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The service hopes to encourage parents to be more involved in their children's education.
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Freely available at anytime, 91Èȱ¬ jam provides high quality, reliable resources that will spark imaginations, injecting fun and creativity into education, and engage children who are not achieving their full potential by encouraging them to try an alternative way of learning.
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Liz Cleaver, Controller of Learning and Interactive, 91Èȱ¬, said: "The world in which pupils today live and learn is changing and with 91Èȱ¬ jam we wanted to provide a service that would stimulate children and engage them in education by putting creativity and control in their hands.
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"This heralds an exciting development for online learning and we hope this will make a true impact on education in the UK."
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The school subjects to be covered by 91Èȱ¬ jam in 2006 are: Maths for ages 5-7; English for ages 5-7 and 7-9; Science for ages 5-7 and 7-9; Geography for ages 7-9 and 11-14; Design and Technology for ages 11-14; History for ages 5-7 and 9-11; Modern Foreign Languages (French) for ages 11-14; Religious Education for ages 7-9; Music for ages 7-9; Physical Education for ages 9-11; Business Studies for ages 14-16; Financial capability for ages 14-16; Citizenship and its equivalent subjects in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for ages 9-11 years.
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Also covered will be Field Studies for those with severe learning difficulties.
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Welsh language commissions in Geography and French go live today with up to 20 more due to be launched in during the next 12 months covering Science, RE, Music, History, Maths, Welsh, Welsh Second Language and PSHE.
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Other subjects will continue to be added until September 2008.
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Go to Curriculum Online to view alternative learning materials - www.curriculumonline.gov.uk.
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