Learn then Play

Incentive Learning - Take Control of Computer Use

We've talked to groups of parents frustrated after buying computers as tools for their children only to have the computers used almost exclusively for social networking, gaming and entertainment. Some parents have described times when children will be on the computer hour after hour without having personal interaction with their siblings or friends. Instead of physical exercise, kids sit in front of the computer locked in cyberspace. These same parents have told us that if the time spent gaming and messaging could be balanced with learning activities and time in the 'real' world, it would certainly help to reduce or eliminate their reservations about child computer usage. Learn then Play provides unique incentive learning features precisely for these reasons. When enabled, at intervals that can be specified by parents, children must complete learning sessions. While using the computer, the Learn then Play owl will pop out and tell the child that a learning session will be starting shortly. The child can put games on hold, minimize messaging conversations and pause other programs. These programs are not closed, but are suspended while a learning session with content presented based on the child's age is completed. After the learning session is complete and associated quiz passed by the child, the child may resume games, entertainment programs and messenger conversations. Parents using Learn then Play have reported better performance by children in base subjects such as math and reading. They have also reported that children spend more time outside engaged in 'real' physical activity when the incentive learning option is enabled. Incentive learning ensures the computer is used for learning and not just for gaming and entertainment.

Learning Desktop - Focused Learning Success

At some point, most of us have used computers as part of our job or for other work. It can be distracting and break concentration when Skype pops up, when instant messages appear or when an e-mail notification arrives. Often, children have multiple social or gaming Web pages open along with instant messenger and gaming programs running while doing homework. Learn then Play's innovative Learning Desktop is a quiet and less distractive environment. Children do their schoolwork, whether using an online home school program, working on homework or at school (when applicable), in the Learning Desktop environment. Learning Desktop provides a rich set of learning related tools and resources. There are no instant messengers, games or other entertainment programs running to distract the child while doing schoolwork or homework. Innovative collaboration tools are available including Learn then Play's TeacherLinkPlus, TutorMePlus and StudyGroupLink systems. With Learn then Play's enhanced Premium Edition, parents and teachers can assign learning as well as monitor learning success. The Learning Desktop can be used at home or at school. For the classroom, Learning Desktop creates a less distractive environment that allows educators to focus on teaching. At home, Learning Desktop provides a pathway for parents to ensure learning and homework completion while giving children access to powerful tools and resources in a dedicated learning environment. Learning Desktop helps to improve the quality of work done by reducing distractions and includes a student calendaring system, has its own learning word processor with school report templates (children may use Learn then Play's word processor or a different word processor that can be specified by parent or teacher), provides the Learn then Play Learning Browser and incorporates all of Learn then Play's anti-tampering, child safety and tracking features.

Parental Controls - Flexible, Powerful and Easy to Setup and Install

Learn then Play is a learning and education tool. To be effective, Learn then Play incorporates features that prevent tampering. It also includes child safety, Internet safety, time control and general parent control functions. These functions help to ensure that, while on the computer, the child does required learning, homework and schoolwork in a safe and protected environment. Many of the anti-tampering and control mechanisms included in Learn then Play are better and more powerful than similar functions found in software programs that cost many times more than Lean then Play. The control, monitoring, auditing and anti-tamper features found in the free Home Edition of Learn then Play are as good as or better than the same functions found in much more expensive products. And Learn then Play is easy to setup and install. Parents have reported that many competitive products that include safety and control features often take days or even weeks to configure. Some include references to complex terms and definitions and seem to require a computer scientist type of person to setup. Learn then Play can be deployed using default settings that are included and implemented based on the age of the child or can be configured using specific settings depending on each parent's comfort level in terms of setting different program features and functions. The sensitivity of inappropriate content blocking as well as a number of powerful controls are available and can be modified by parents following installation of the program. Learn then Play is a safe and protected environment that fosters effective learning.

Learning Control Center - Monitor Learning and Activities

Learn then Play's innovative Learning Control Center is where parents can take control of a child's computer activity and related education. From the learning and monitoring center, parents can set time limits, control access to Websites and programs and literally 'see' what children are doing on the computer. Scores for incentive learning sessions are shown with charts showing performance improvement over time. When integrated with the school environment, information about school activities, grades and performance while in the Learning Desktop can be reviewed. Premium edition features for controlling these and other features, including the ability to set subject matter and education content providers, can be accessed from virtually any device with a Web browser and Internet connection. In addition to learning features, the learning and monitoring center provides parents with details on instant messenger conversations, keys typed, programs that have been used and length of time used. Parents can remote control the computer using the control center. If necessary, from the learning and monitoring center, a parent can send a logoff or shutdown command to the child's computer. Detailed statistics on use and performance is available through the powerful reporting system included with Learn then Play Premium Edition. The free Home Edition of Learn then Play includes many of these features as well and provides innovative collaboration and control tools not found in other products.

Parent Notifications - Premium Edition Features and Enhancements

The Premium Edition of Learn then Play offers additional features and benefits for both parent and child users. From the enhanced online learning and control center to rich variety of learning content, Premium Edition offers powerful and innovative enhancements to the base Learn then Play product. Notifications are part of the additional functions included in Premium Edition. Parents can set Learn then Play to provide notifications for key events including learning related activities and events, potentially predatory language events, cyber-bullying events and more. Learn then Play's innovative law enforcement notification (available in participating areas) system, an optional feature, can be set to provide law enforcement notification when Learn then Play detects potentially dangerous activity. Notifications can be setup and maintained using the online learning and control center and can be sent via e-mail or text message (where available and applicable). And Learn then Play's student scheduler, included with the Learning Desktop, can be configured to provide text and e-mail notifications to students in Premium Edition. Using detection technology that analyzes communications, typing, messaging and other activities, Learn then Play's notification functions can be a helpful tool for parents in both ensuring and keeping up with a child's education as well as in preventing possibly dangerous situations.

Free Parental Controls, Learning Desktop and Child Safety for Home Users

Learn then Play Home Edition is free for home use. With powerful learning tools as well as integrated parental controls and anti-tamper features, Learn then Play offers functions not found in other products. In many cases, to get just the parental control and child safety features, parents would have to purchase multiple programs. Far more than basic parental controls found in operating systems, Learn then Play's protective features are robust and easily configurable both from the child's computer but also from our innovative online learning and control center. Most importantly, Learn then Play is a product for learning and education. Every edition of Learn then Play includes unique and powerful learning features that help children achieve learning success. Available for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, your Learn then Play download is only a click away (simply click the Download button at the top of this page to start your download).