Educational Gaming | News

Online Educational Game Service Offers Classroom Licenses

• By Scott Aronowitz
• 09/10/10

Online educational games provider PBS Kids Play has introduced a classroom license for its subscription-based service. Geared to students in preschool through first grade, as well as special education students, Kids Play games help kids learn at an introductory level in a variety of subjects while playing age-appropriate games featuring PBS TV show characters.

Previously available only via individual subscriptions, the licensed classroom version of Kids Play offers up to 30 users per account for all of the games and activities on the site, plus additional tools for teachers to manage use, track progress, and personalize each student's learning and playing experience.

The site introduces children ages 3 to 6 to most major subjects they will study in school, including math, literacy and language development, reading, social studies, and natural science, as well as basic skills such as perception, memory, and reasoning. There are also activities related to healthy physical and emotional development, and the site has just introduced foreign-language learning games in Spanish, French, and Mandarin. The games and activities are offered at various "locations" on the site, each one built around one or more characters from PBS children's shows, including Curious George, The Berenstain Bears, and Thomas the Tank Engine. Users enter an onscreen magic box that transports them to a location with a click of the mouse, and from there they can choose the games and activities they want to play.

An annual classroom license is available for $499 for up to 30 users. PBS is offering a $200-per-account savings through Sept. 30. The service supports Mac OS X and Windows systems. For more information, including videos about the site's offerings and registration for a free 30-day trial, visit the PBS Kids Play home page.