Why They Work

Children need to be an active part of the learning process.

Children rarely enjoy sitting still and being the passive recipients of “lessons”. That’s certainly not how they learned to talk, and one would have to agree that most are pretty good at talking by the time they enter school! Instead, they want the freedom to choose how they’re learning… and, to be a part of the action.

Actually, learning to simply recite facts is only part of what we consider learning. Some of the highest quality learning occurs when children are simply given the tools, support and encouragement to figure things out on their own. In Skatekids, the tools are carefully designed, the support properly scaffolded, and the encouragement is motivating. In the end, it’s the engaged and motivated child who learns best.

Children need a participatory learning environment.
Skatekids puts children squarely in the middle of an active, participatory learning environment. Here, they learn the skills needed to succeed in the classroom and beyond. They are rewarded for their accomplishments with virtual goods to customize their own unique, virtual space.

Our participatory environment encourages more interaction, more time-on-task and therefore, more learning. Although interactive, game-based learning is sometimes referred to as “stealth learning”, the kids know they’re learning, and in fact, they’re proud of it! They express their pride of accomplishment in the comments they send us every day!

How do we know how kids learn? We ask. We watch. We study.

Skatekids is a scientifically-based online video game for 7–12+ year-old children. Kabongo’s educational programs are highly effective literacy and cognitive development programs based on sound theory, clinical validation, empirical support and contemporary research in cognitive neuropsychology and literacy development.
Skills are acquired in a developmentally appropriate sequence. Users enjoy freedom within some limitations but are not allowed to move to higher levels until prerequisite skills are mastered.

We firmly believe that children inherently LOVE to learn.
Children often say that they dislike school. Yet, in a comprehensive effort to examine children's attitudes about learning, National Geographic Kids magazine in cooperation with NFO WorldGroup surveyed a large sample of 1,300 students nationwide between the ages of 6-14. Their findings revealed that over 80% of children reported that they think learning is fun. The underlying methodology is proprietary and protected by several patents pending. Based on the unprecedented combination of scientifically sound methods and modern game design, these unique educational programs are successful with a wide variety of users.
Simply put, our games work. Inspired by video game design techniques, our educational programs stand apart from all others because our games and activities are every bit as much fun to play as video games intended purely as entertainment.

However, there is an important difference.

Every activity in every game is purposefully designed by our development team to encourage specific skills to be developed and mastered. As users master the specific skills, new habits of thought are created and made permanent. Through the power of play, children will work harder and longer to achieve greater success because they are immersed in activities that are fun, meaningful and effective.

Why some games are more effective than others.

It is not enough to replace the traditional worksheet and text book with a computer screen. Games are more fun when they are dynamic. In order for real change to occur, games should provide more than a question and answer session. Purpose and meaning within the gaming environment is important. Games should be easy to use, provide multiple reading levels, offer multiple formats for practice and skill development. Skatekids has this and more.

Scientific literature has shown that it is often beneficial to take periodic breaks when learning a new skill.

Our games allow the user to spend time in a variety of specially designed recreational areas such as The Arcade and The Mall. Scientific literature has shown that it is often better to take periodic breaks when learning a new skill. If a skill is practiced too frequently within one domain without sufficient time for reflection and recovery, the learned skill tends to be only demonstrated in the domain in which it is practiced.