Product Description:

HEADSETS INFORMATION:



The StoryPhones MP3 Headsets are perfect for children to use as headphones. They have been specifically designed to fit children and to be simple and fun to use. There is a separate MP3 player built into each Headset allowing you to have either different content on each Headset, or the same content on all. This provides great usability for group and individual learning, and adapting learning activities for children of different abilities.



They include built in long life rechargeable batteries which are easy to maintain. Batteries will last up to at least eight hours of normal use before needing to be recharged. Essentially, there are no wires to or from the Headsets when they are being used, meaning children can take these where they want. StoryPhones Headsets are highly usable, whether it is an outdoor nature trail, a musical activity where children want to dance and move or a story session in the classroom or in an outdoor story area.



Having been designed specifically for children, they are very simple to use. There are operating controls on the side of each Headset; Play/Pause, Skip and Volume controls. These child friendly buttons can be configured very easily to allow the children to be able to use only certain buttons. For example, you may want to disable the skip control so that children can concentrate on the story or activity being played. This has great applications for inclusive learning when a child may have problems with attention or listening difficulties.

There is also the unique ‘Automatic Play Control’ function. This works via a motion sensor so that when the child takes off the Headset and puts it down, the story or activity they are listening to pauses. Then when they pick it back up, it starts from where it left off....as if by magic!



The Headsets can store up to 8 hours of content which can be managed through the Bookshelf software which we provide. This is through a simple USB cable connection...which we also provide!





REMOTE CONSOLE INFORMATION:



The StoryPhones Remote Console has 3 main functions; loud playing, recording and control of the Headsets.



The Remote Console is a loud playing MP3 player. It can play stories, activities, music etc. in the same way as a CD or tape player could....but without the massive restriction or tangle of wires. It is portable and small enough for a child to hold in their hands. This allows them to listen as individuals or in small or large groups, either indoors or outside. It has a built in recording facility, allowing children to record their own stories, podcasts, music or thoughts. Individual recordings can be up to 40 minutes long, allowing more than enough time for any activity you can think of. The children's recordings can easily be transferred to the Bookshelf software on a computer allowing them to listen to each others stories etc. These recordings can also be shared with parents as a podcast on a Virtual Learning Platform, by saving them on a CD or e-mailing them as MP3 files, improving the link between school and home learning.



The recording facility is useful for practitioners to record their own activities, stories, lessons etc. which can then be saved on the Bookshelf software and used again at any time in the future. This means you can record your own learning activities and have children listen to them either on the Headsets or the Remote Console.



The Remote Console acts as a remote control for the Headsets. This gives the practitioner control over how and when the content is played on the Headsets. This is very useful when it comes to adult led learning and directing learning towards specific goals. The control options can be easily configured from within the Bookshelf software, allowing you to control one, a few, or all of the Headsets again giving great flexibility within a classroom or nursery environment.





BASE UNIT INFORMATION:



The Base Unit is basically a ‘multi-way USB hub’. Its main functions are storage and charging of the Headsets and Remote Console, and also providing a simple way to organise and transfer content on the StoryPhones.

By placing the StoryPhones in the base unit and connecting it to a computer, content can be easily managed on up to 6 Headsets and a Remote Console at once via a USB cable, which we provide.





BOOKSHELF SOFTWARE INFORMATION:



The Bookshelf software will run on your school or personal computer. It allows the user to organise all the content on the Headsets and Remote Console very easily. It has a simple layout and is designed to be as quick and straightforward to use as possible, allowing the practitioner more time to spend with the children.



Content can be quickly imported from any source into the Bookshelf software. Audio content can also be purchased through Bookshelf, our online download store from a number of top children's book publishers and other exciting audio providers such as musicians and our very own StoryPhones Educational Team.



The Bookshelf software also has a ‘child-safe’ option which will allow children to use it at a computer without being able to delete files or change any options or settings.