Research Overview > Feedback Received

What Research Feedback Did We Get?

Our purpose with researching the system was to get the reaction of a cross section of individuals and groups to the programs. The type of testing used is called ‘open’. This means there are no leading questions or information provided to prejudice the outcome.

The participants were provided with a two page questionnaire designed to illicit their own independent observations.

The advantage of this method is that we could gather a wide range of information from respondents on the effects of the programs, usage habits, production issues and material related to the participant.

The disadvantage was that we could not lead the participant to provide information that may have skewed our findings in favour of a sales message. Neither could we direct them to the benefits we knew were designed into the programs.

The main feedback received was as follows:

1. The attention span of most kindergarten children is too short for a complete play through of the CD initially.

2. It was found it was better to use the programs in smaller groups if the children were from very deprived backgrounds. In larger groups some of the children were very tuned in but others were disruptive in a bravado sense.

3. ADHD and other special needs children are better able to focus in smaller groups and the special educators tended to modify the usage of the programs using them as an aid to their overall teaching model.

4. In the home, a lot of parents and children liked to use the CD on going to bed.

5. The activities particularly, creative drawing, gave a lot of information on the state of a child’s mind e.g. grounded, depressed, etc.

6. In the classrooms it is useful to prepare the children before they use the programs. For example the sudden appearance of a fairy could give rise to a lot of hilarity amongst boys, unless it was explained before hand to allow their imagination to roam beyond logic, this being one of the purposes of the program.

7. Some teachers found the program very useful for teaching younger children word recognition. The teacher would prepare the children before hand and then play the programs for word/picture recognition. This is an extended use of the programs beyond imagination development.

8. On the production side extremely positive feedback was received on recording volumes, sound effects, pauses, etc

9. There was also interesting feedback on the most suitable time of day to use the programs.

10. Surprisingly, there was significant feedback on children making up their own versions of The Enchanted Forest story with other children in the playground.

11. A significant result of the testing was that in some cases a particular child may not be able to connect with the story but this would improve with subsequent hearings. We found this varied between children.

This led us to discover that where children (and adults) were initially unable to connect with the program, it was because this was the area of their imagination that was mentally blocked.

This is significant and will be an important element of future programs. Those who can’t connect with the Program initially are the ones who need it most. Benefits come from repeated listening.

12. There is mounting evidence that the program, apart from developing imagination and helping with curricula learning, actually opens up different areas of intelligence as described by many cognitive theorists.

For example the program covers all 8 types of intelligence covered by Howard Gardner of Harvard University.

13. Some teachers felt that for some special needs children the use of headphones and language laboratories would be very beneficial.

It particularly helps children tune in on sound effects and music and provide a deeper stimulus. This has led us to use different recording options. Different levels could be used for the home products (more individual use) and classroom products (more broadcast use).

14. Although the programs were originally designed for the 5-12 years age group, we also tested outside this grouping on adults and teenagers. These groups also benefited from the programs.

For example one adult who claimed they could never visualise before, stared to do so after using The Enchanted Forest several times. A group of socially-deprived teenagers in an Outreach program produced some excellent creative drawing after using the same title.

15. Most adults found that the programs offered them an opportunity to ‘rescue’ themselves during a particularly stressful day. Playing the audio programs for the benefit of adults (rather than the children) was not a design intention but its merits have subsequently been confirmed by several hundred adults.

16. In home usage some parents claimed that they used the programs to help the children switch off from emotionally charged situations. The examples given were divorce and death in the family.

17. It is clear that an important benefit of the Audio Program is that the children need to take an active role in the story. It provides a good balance to other forms of passive entertainment such as TV and most Internet applications.

It actively demonstrates to the children that what they get out of the programs is directly related to what they put in. The children become aware of their own power to create, which prepares them positively for later life.

18. As mentioned above, one of the biggest surprises has been the amount of Adults who have requested the CD for their own personal usage. We have geared the product for 5-12 year olds and were perplexed by this continuous feedback from the field-testing.

Home Usage

Sometimes entertaining or pacifying the children at home can be quiet a chore, especially after a stressful day.

The audio program can be enjoyed by both parent and child and indeed would be especially beneficial after a stressful day at the office whereby both can sit down and enjoy an adventure story together.

It is also a way of enticing older children to challenge their own imagination on the premise that they are looking after the ‘young ones’.