One day, the internet learning site will take over from the textbook as the backbone of our education system. These sites will contain, among other things, databases, learning exercises and games, notes for teachers, online homework facilities and internet parents' evenings where mum and dad can talk to the teacher via e-mail. This new age may still be a distant prospect - internet access in schools is still far too limited for it to work - but the outriders are already here. One is Spark Island, an online learning channel for children aged three to 12.
Set up by Spark Learning, the channel provides activities linked to UK curriculum requirements and focusing, for the moment at least, on maths, English and science. Teachers at a dozen primary schools were deeply involved in development and review, as was a team of advisers containing some very well known names, among them the IT expert Anne Sparrowhawk and educationalist Heather Govier.
Teachers, children and parents all have their own sites on the Island. The teachers' site supplies back-up for the activities including teaching suggestions and printable resources. There are also reading lists, calendars of events and discussion papers covering issues of interest to the profession, such as teachers' pay, with opportunities to add your own comments. Relevant information and advice are also provided on the parents' site.
Spark Island itself is the children's site. Starting from the island map, they can choose to visit one of three areas - Spark Park, for ages three to five, Sparklantis for the six to eights, and Sparkopolis for the nine to twelves. By clicking on their own local landmarks such as the Fun Park or the Library, they get access to the activities, some of which enable them to win points that can be 'spent' on such things as arcade games. Spark Learning says that six new activities will arrive on the Island every month, with all the old ones still remaining online.
The concept is an exciting and potentially very useful one, but Spark Island has some way to go before it becomes a major threat to the CD-Rom manufacturers.
The back-up sections are good, if limited, but visiting the island itself is a little like arriving at a hotel that is only half-built. Loading times are very long, even on second or third visits, sound is intermittent and the interface is not as user-friendly as it should be. Some of the games are good, but others are unclear and a couple don't work at all.
The company says that more than 1,000 schools have subscribed already. Let's hope they don't become disillusioned and abandon ship before Spark Island becomes the sparkling resort it ought to be.
Spark Island costs from 100 pa for schools and 49 for parents. For more information, phone 020 7659 5458 or go to www.sparkisland.com
