GENERAL

• How do you log into My Way?
  You can search for and download the application from the stores or from the Kids&Us page https://myway.kidsandus.com/en You will find it under the course name: P&P and B&B by Kids&Us / Animal Planet by Kids&Us / Fairy Tales by Kids&Us My Way can be used on a tablet or in its desktop version on a laptop or desktop computer. We recommend primarily using it on a tablet, mobile phone, or touchscreen computer, as students in this age group are often more comfortable with touchscreens than with a mouse. The application will always be displayed in English, as this is your child’s instructional language.

• Are there any technical requirements for Android and iOS devices?
  The requirements are as follows: For Android devices: the device must have the latest update released by the device manufacturer. For Huawei devices: the device must have the latest update released by the device manufacturer. For iOS devices: the device is required to have iOS 15 installed, as specified in the Apple App Store.

• Supported device versions
  • iOS: 15 or later • iPadOS: 15 or later • Android: 10 or higher • Huawei: 10 or higher • MacOS: 12 or later • Windows: 11

• What are the application's technical requirements?
  For installation and optimal performance, My Way needs: A stable internet connection. The device’s operating system to be: Android 10 or later ; iOS 15.0 or later ; Windows 11 ; MacOS 12 ; Huawei 10 or later Microphone permission to be enabled. This permission is requested when installing the application or when starting it for the first time and can be changed at any time using the device settings. The application uses this permission to provide a personalised and interactive learning experience that adapts to the context and choices of each learner.

• How can the application be installed if it is not available in our region?  
  The My Way application is available in countries where Kids&Us operates. If you encounter issues with availability, consider the following solutions: Update your Google or Apple account information to ensure it reflects your current region. This may resolve the availability issue. Check your device’s compatibility. If the device is outdated and its operating system does not support the application, we recommend trying to install it on a newer device or using the desktop version instead.

• When entering the credentials, you receive the error message “Failed login”.
  We recommend initially checking the credentials, as there may have been a manual error when entering them. If the issue persists, you can request a reset of the login credentials through the My Kids application.

• Can the application be used on multiple devices?
  Yes, you can install the application on different devices, but it cannot be used on more than one device simultaneously. In other words, although the application can be installed on a mobile device and on a tablet, the same user cannot use My Way on both devices at the same time. For example, the user can listen to the audios on a mobile phone in the morning and use a tablet to do the activities in the afternoon.

• Can you log into the web version?
  My Way is available for desktop. A desktop application is an application that is installed on the computer and is run directly on the Microsoft Windows operating system.

• Can you work offline or in offline mode?
  My Way can only be used with an internet connection, i.e. in online mode. This is because we need to record the activity results in real time so that the system knows, based on these results, which activity to present next. Additionally, the answers that the student gives when interacting with the Ki-bot (a ‘voicebot’ that represents the My Way teachers) must also be recorded in real time to understand the student’s level of motivation and recommend appropriate action.

• How do you log out of the application?
  To log out of the application, go to the main screen and, from the Settings or student profile section, you will find the option to exit My Way (LOG OUT) on the top left-hand side.

• Which app do the students use and which do the families use?
  My Way is the application for the students and the only way to log in is by using student credentials. My Kids is the application for the families, and the only way to log in is by using mother, father, or legal guardian credentials. In the My Kids application you can access all the school’s information to monitor your child’s progress, it also includes a section specifically for My Way where you will find: Learning progress panel: here you can see how your child is progressing in My Way. My Way technical support phone number. My Way incident report form. “My incidents” section: a dashboard with a summary of all your open incidents, either those report by phone or by form. Step-by-step guide on how to change your child’s password on My Way. FAQ section for My Way.

• Can I turn off the sound in the application?
  Yes, you can turn off the sound in the application. At the top left of most screens, you’ll find the Settings section where you activate or deactivate the secondary sounds of the application. This will mute background sounds and effects but will not affect the essential audios required for activities or the introductory audios provided throughout the missions, which offer important context for the students.

• How does the audio instruction for the activities work?
  To complete the activities effectively, it is crucial to listen to all the audio instructions first. Although the activity statements and presentations are brief, attempting the activity before the presentation is fully completed may result in errors. Repeated clicks or premature attempts might cause the activity to malfunction.

• The audio does not play on my device. 
  We recommend checking the following device settings to resolve the issue: Ensure that the device is not in silent mode and that the volume is turned up. Verify if any Bluetooth devices are connected and disconnect them to test the audio directly from the device. Confirm that your device is running iOS 15 or the latest version of Android. Reboot the device to resolve any temporary software issues. This should typically resolve the problem without the need to reinstall the application.   

• There are activities where a loudspeaker appears, but no audio is heard.
  Activities that display the speaker icon on the screen require an action from the learner. To hear the audio, click once on the corresponding icon. This design allows each student to proceed with the activity at their own pace.

• How does the microphone work?
  To use the microphone, click once on the corresponding icon to start recording. Click the icon again, or wait for a pre-determined number of seconds, to stop recording. In some activities, the word “Start” may appear next to the icon, changing to “Stop” while recording is in progress. Ensure that microphone access is enabled for the My Way application. The first time you use the microphone, you may need to grant permission if prompted by your device. Depending on your device’s settings, you might need to manually enable microphone access in the device’s settings.

• The screen locks when the microphone is activated.
  The microphone should be activated with a single click. Clicking multiple times may cause the screen to lock, requiring you to restart the activity.

• What is the purpose of the My Way technology?
  My Way leverages technology to enhance and personalise English language learning. By incorporating advanced technology, we aim to tailor the learning experience to individual needs and provide precise data to support students and families throughout the educational process. This approach allows for well-informed decisions and more accurate academic guidance. Firstly, technology enables us to create personalised learning pathways for each student. By using objective data from digital tools, we can tailor content, timing, types of activities to suit individual learning styles. This personalisation helps guide students towards their goals in a natural, respectful, and effective manner, ensuring their success. Secondly, technology enhances the student experience through pedagogical gamification. This approach integrates educational games that motivate students, encourage improvement, and make learning engaging and enjoyable.

• What kind of technology is applied to My Way?
  My Way leverages artificial intelligence along with Text-to-Speech (TTS) and Speech-to-Text (STT) technologies to enhance English language learning: Microsoft OpenAI's Chat GPT is used to train the assessment and behavioural analysis systems of My Way students. This allows us to personalise the learning experience as much as possible, through the different interactions the student has with the application (activities they carry out, answers they give to the Ki-bot, time of use, sections they visit most frequently, etc.) Not only can we adapt the activity level based on the score obtained, but we can also take advantage of the times when the student is most motivated, to provide tasks that are the most difficult to solve. Conversely, we can identify if the student feels the level of difficulty of a task is too high and are feeling frustrated. In this case we can vary the type of activity to refocus the experience and ensure that it is both effective in terms of results and offers optimal motivation. Text-to-Speech (TTS): This technology converts written texts into natural spoken language, providing students with exposure to a range of voices and accents. It enriches both the learning activities and interactions with the Ki-bot. Speech-to-Text (STT): My Way integrates voice recognition using STT technology, which transcribes students’ spoken input during voice recording activities. This is combined with AI analysis to evaluate the language used, all under strict human supervision and following expert criteria in language learning.

• I am concerned about screen time and the use of technology.
  My Way is an educational platform, developed by Kids&Us with full security measures and content, user interaction and optimal exposure time controls. It is not a video game or a social network and, therefore, its objective is not just to get through screens, reach levels or achieve a lot of points or rewards. There is a degree of game playing, but this is not ‘playing for the sake of gaming’. The game and its rewards are a means of learning stimulation to provide language recognition and a sense of achievement and progress. In short, the essential motivational factors for successful learning. It also, on many occasions, fosters empathy and collaborative learning, rewarding both individual effort and teamwork to achieve a common goal. On the other hand, the use of technology comes from the desire to provide Kids&Us students with an experience adapted to each student’s needs. Technology makes it possible to progress by personalising learning and giving each student the best individual formula for their development. Last but not least, My Way is a safe and controlled space. On the one hand, there is a weekly time limit of one hour within the complementary play space section, My Place. On the other, the student cannot interact openly or in an uncontrolled manner. They can see the progress of their peers and exchange avatar accessories, and, again, we do this to encourage healthy competition linked to the achievements that come from perseverance and dedication to learning. Ultimately, My Way has been created from and for Kids&Us in close collaboration with a team of professionals linked to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). In addition, ethics leaders from Harvard and Northeastern University in the United States as well as ethics advisors from Interpol and Microsoft have provided guidance.

• How can families monitor My Way use?
  In the My Kids application, the application for communication between the school and families, you will have access to dashboards that collect data related to the activity in My Way to quickly and easily follow your child's learning process. The application provides dashboards with three key views: 1. Weekly Summary Overview: 2. Insight into the progress of the ongoing mission, including an average qualitative assessment of the learning objectives for each challenge and/or mission. 3. Weekly (last seven days) or Monthly Active Time.

• What do the smiley faces that appear on the learning objectives within the tasks on the information panels mean?
  There are three categories to rate the task learning objectives. These ratings are the result of the average of the activities the students carry out, based on which they work on the specific objective in each challenge. Excellent Good Working towards target

• Will the school also have this information?
  Yes, the school’s team will also have access to this information, but in a more detailed form. Teachers and school management will use expanded dashboards to view students’ activity in My Way, including detailed information on progress towards objectives and performance across various skills. This allows them to monitor each student more personally and provide tailored support based on comprehensive insights.

• How can you get more information than what is available in My Kids?
  Student’s quarterly reports will feature a new section dedicated to each student’s performance and activities on My Way. These reports will include qualitative comments from teachers on the most significant aspects of the student’s work on the platform. Additionally, individualised parent-teacher meetings are always available so that you can discuss your child’s progress in a more personalised way. During these meetings, you can review more specific information about your child’s development, supported the objective data from the My Way dashboards.

• I have a Chromebook device, and I cannot install the application. What should I do?
  Chromebooks are devices that use a specific operating system, Chrome OS, and this is different from Android, Windows or iOS. For this reason, not all apps available in the app shops are compatible with this system. Chromebooks are designed to be able to work with web environments and My Way only exists in app format. As a solution, we recommend looking for an alternative device, preferably a tablet, or making use of the desktop PC version so that your children can work with the app. My Way is a new environment that greatly enriches the learning experience of the students not only through gamification, but also by offering personalised itineraries and content in this digital world that connects with what they are working on in the classroom.

• What should you do if there are technical problems?
  If you encounter any technical issues with the application, you can contact the dedicated My Way support team directly for assistance. In the My Kids application, you will find a form to submit your issue. To help us identify and resolve the problem quickly, please provide the following information: - Device Details: The model and operating system (Android or iOS) of the device you were using when the issue occurred. - Issue Description: A description of the action you were performing or the activity you were engaged in. If possible, attach a screenshot or image to illustrate the problem. - Location in the Application: The specific area of the application where the issue occurred (e.g., inside the caravan, during the fridge activity).

• Why is the listening of the audio track not being recorded correctly on our dashboard?
  Because the track is likely not to be listened to completely and, as a result, the system may not record the listening. It is important that the student does not close the audio track window before it finishes and listens to it completely. Once the audio track has finished, the screen disappears, and the student will be able to interact with their avatar. If they close the window before the audio track ends, even if it's just a few seconds, the system will not register the action.

• When my child accesses My Way for the first time, an error appears on the screen that says “Oops!” Your parents need to read and accept the terms and conditions they received via email. Please remind them!”. What should we do?
  To enjoy the benefits of My Way, it is necessary to have accepted the terms and conditions of the app. It is necessary to have accepted the consent settings through the digital signature process (signing the re-enrolment contract) or, in the case of being a new family, to accept the process from the link included in the letter with credentials you have received from the school. If you need help, please contact your school.

• When my child accesses My Way, a black screen appears with the robot sleeping. What does it mean?
  The black screen with the Ki-bot (robot) sleeping appears when the app does not have a good network connection. In these cases, we recommend reviewing the connection to resume the activity in the app.

• The family has downloaded the wrong app. A My Way app has been downloaded but not the one corresponding to the course that your child is taking.
  An image will appear in My Way with the following message: Looks like this account is linked to another course! This account belongs to another MyWay app. Please download the app for that course. We'll be waiting for you there!

• The student or their family wants to access My Way but does not remember the credentials or uses the family credentials (My Kids) instead of the student's credentials.
  The student or their family wants to access My Way but does not remember the credentials or uses the family credentials (My Kids) instead of the student's credentials.

• I’ve forgotten my password - how do I request a new one?
  If you can't remember your password, you can reset it on the My Kids application, the family application. If you enter an incorrect password in My Way, an information screen will appear telling you to reset it in My Kids. To do this, you must access the My Kids application and select the "Change password" option in the menu to change it.

SAM / EMMA

• What is My Way?
  My Way is the digital environment you use at home as part of the Sam and Emma courses. It is designed to make listening to the daily audio tracks easy, provide additional English exposure, and reinforce the habits linked to the learning objectives of each course.

• What is the main aim of My Way in Sam and Emma?
  The main aim of My Way in these courses is to increase your child’s exposure to meaningful English. At this age, regular contact with the language is essential. My Way helps your child listen to the course audio tracks every day and offers extra content related to the stories and the learning objectives the children are working on in class.

• What do children learn in Sam and Emma?
  In Sam, the children share adventures with a three-year-old boy who is discovering the world around him. The course focuses on everyday situations, routines, autonomy, good habits, and learning to share. In Emma, children follow a four-year-old girl and her family as they carry out their day-to-day tasks, such as going shopping, helping on the farm, having a bath, and cooking. The course promotes autonomy, participation in everyday tasks, and functional language in English.

• How does My Way connect with the classroom experience?
  Everything the children find in My Way is linked to what they do in class. The stories, songs, audio tracks, routines, and extra content are all connected to the vocabulary, structures, and values introduced during the school year. This means that My Way does not replace the classroom experience; it extends it at home.

• What can we do in My Way?
  From the main menu, you can access three main sections: Daily Audio Track, Routines, and Extra Content. You can also access the app settings to log out or adjust the volume of the sound effects.

• What is the Daily Audio Track?
  The Daily Audio Track is the most important part of My Way for Sam and Emma. You should play it every day so your child can regularly hear the English used in the course in an organic way.

• How do we play the Daily Audio Track?
  The audio player is simple: you can play and pause the track, but you cannot fast-forward or rewind it. The audio can keep playing in the background if no other multimedia apps are being used, and it can also be played while the screen is locked. If the audio track is stopped before it has finished, My Way will ask you whether you want to continue from where you left off or start again from the beginning. When the audio track finishes, the app automatically returns to the main menu.

• Is it possible to pause the audio track and play it later?
  Yes. You can pause or stop the audio and then continue from the same point when you press play again. This makes it easier to include the Daily Audio Track in your everyday family routines.

• When is an audio track counted as listened to?
  A Daily Audio Track is counted as completed when the entire track has been listened to. However, the time spent listening to audio tracks still contributes to the child’s total exposure to English, including the Englishometer or active minutes shown in the learning follow-up.

• Which is the best device for My Way?
  My Way is primarily designed for use on mobile phones, as this offers the most convenient experience for daily listening and routines. It can also be used on tablets, although the mobile experience is prioritised.

• Does using My Way mean children need screen time?
  Not necessarily. The main objective in Sam and Emma is that your child listens to the audio track every day, and you can play it without your child looking at the screen. You can play the audio tracks while your child plays, gets dressed, or tidies up. You decide how much of the digital experience you want to show your child. My Way offers high-quality audiovisual content, but the use of videos, games, and visuals remains under your control.

• What is the Routines section?
  The Routines section helps you reinforce your child’s good habits and participation in everyday tasks. It includes a list of routines linked to each course, such as brushing teeth, washing hands, getting dressed, tidying up toys, going shopping, laying the table, or making the bed. You can customise the order of the routines so that they match your own daily habits. You can also use Kan-do to encourage your child through short audio messages and positive feedback.

• Who is Kan-do?
  Kan-do is a character created to support the children, the families, and the schools. Kan-do helps motivate children, celebrates their progress, and reinforces the values of the Sam and Emma courses: autonomy, good habits, collaboration, and confidence. In class, Kan-do is part of the routine activities and gives the children positive, constructive feedback. At home, Kan-do appears in My Way and is also connected to the physical materials of the course that the children receive.

• How do we use Kan-do at home?
  At home, you can “call” Kan-do within the Routines section. First, Kan-do encourages your child to carry out the routine. After that, state whether they did or not. If they did, Kan-do will congratulate them. If not, Kan-do encourages them to try again next time.

• Can we use Kan-do’s feedback for routines that are not in My Way?
  Yes. You can use Kan-do’s feedback independently from the routines listed in the app. This means you can play general motivational messages to encourage or reward your child in other daily activities, even if those activities do not appear in the Routines section.

• Can we customise the order of routines?
  Yes. You can change the order of routines to mirror their daily routines. You can move routines into the order that best suits your day and save the changes. This makes My Way easier to integrate into your day-to-day life.

• Can we customise Kan-do in My Way?
  No. Kan-do is not customisable. Kan-do's appearance remains the same, but it may show different facial expressions, animations, and voice prompts depending on the child's interaction in the Routines section.

• What physical materials are connected to My Way?
  My Way is designed to work together with the physical materials used in Sam and Emma. These materials help children bring the learning experience into their daily life and make routines more visible, practical, and meaningful: - Booklet: to reflect on their daily listening to the audio track. The booklet is not only a tracking tool. It helps turn daily listening into a visible routine and gives children an opportunity to talk about it in class using simple English structures, such as “I’ve listened to the audio track... times.” - Sam Routine Booklet: to record daily routines such as washing their hands, tidying up toys, or having a bath. - Emma Little Helper Board: children use magnets to mark the everyday tasks they have helped with, such as going shopping, laying the table, or making the bed. These materials also help children develop good habits and routines through gamification and Kan-do’s congratulations or motivational messages, which act as rewards while they remain in contact with English. - Kan-do materials: in Sam and Emma, Kan-do also becomes part of the routines or family activities, helping children connect their daily listening with good habits and positive reinforcement. Sam students receive the Kan-do soft toy, while Emma students receive outfit sets related to each story. This way, Kan-do can accompany the children in their daily adventure while they are exposed to English.

• How do the digital and physical materials work together?
  The digital and physical materials create an interconnected experience. The children listen to the course audio tracks in My Way, then talk about them in class, record or reinforce routines with the Routine Booklet or Little Helper Board, and receive encouragement from Kan-do. This way, English isn’t limited to the classroom: it becomes part of the children’s everyday routines, songs, and family moments.

• How do these materials support good habits and routines?
  The physical and digital materials help the children develop good habits and routines through gamification, encouragement, and positive reinforcement. Kan-do’s congratulatory and motivational messages act as rewards, while children continue to be exposed to English in a natural and meaningful way.

• What is in the Extra Content?
  In the Extra Content section, there are additional materials related to the course, including unlocked audio tracks, songs, Betty Sheep videos, and games connected to the stories and educational content of each course. The games are designed to offer more exposure to meaningful English in an enjoyable way. They are linked to the story children are working on in class and may include themes such as routines, birthdays, colours, numbers, animals, shops, or products.

• Are the games always the same?
  No. The games are linked to the story the children are working on in class and to the themes of each course. You can select the current story and can choose from different themes, such as routines, birthdays, colours, and numbers in Sam, or animals, shops, and products in Emma.

• Do the games assess their level?
  No. The games do not assess the children’s level and do not provide a numerical result. Their purpose is to give the children extra opportunities to hear and interact with English in a playful, age-appropriate way without forming part of a strict learning itinerary.

• Is there a time limit for using Extra Content?
  No. You decide when, how, and for how long your child uses the additional content. My Way is designed so that you have full control over the digital experience.

• Can the Routines or Extra Content be used before listening to the audio track?
  Yes. You can decide the order you use My Way. However, because listening to the audio track daily is essential in Sam and Emma, the app will remind you if the audio track has not been listened to yet that day.

• Can we track how much our child uses My Way?
  Yes. You can see information about your child’s use of My Way in the My Kids app, in the Learning Follow-up section. This includes time spent in each area of My Way and an overview of the total exposure to English, combining class time and My Way use.

• Can more than one child use My Way on the same app?
  Yes. You can add different accounts to the app, whether the children are from the same school or from different schools. It is possible to manage the accounts that are available when the students share the same My Way app.

• How does the app record who has listened to the audio track when there is more than one account?
  The app records the time spent listening to the audio track of the account using the app at that time. If you have children who are in the same course, alternate between their accounts in the app so that the time each child spends listening to the audio track is recorded correctly.

• What makes the Sam and Emma experience comprehensive and high quality?
  The Sam and Emma experience combines classroom learning, daily listening, physical materials, family routines, and digital content. Each part has a clear purpose, and they all support the same educational objectives. Children hear English regularly, use it in meaningful contexts, connect it with the stories and their day-to-day activities, and receive encouragement from both their teacher and their family. This creates a consistent learning experience that is age-appropriate, motivating, and aligned with the Kids&Us method.

• Can I log in with multiple accounts in the same application?
  Yes, you can log in with multiple student accounts without needing to log out of the application. Each child will have their own space with separate content and data.

• How do I add a new student account?
  Go to Settings and press the button to add a new student (the green + symbol in the top left corner). The app will ask you to confirm this before proceeding, to prevent any accidental changes. Afterwards, simply enter the credentials of the new student.

• Do I need the login details for both children to add their accounts?
  Yes. You need the username and password of each child to add their account to the application.

• Does my child’s session log out when a new account is added?
  No, the session of the student who was already using the application remains active. When you add a new account, it will switch to the session of the newly added one, but you can return to the previous one at any time.

• How do I switch from one account to another?
  Go to Settings, and you will see the list of all the accounts you have added. The account you are currently using with be highlighted. Simply click on the name of the child whose account you want to log in with.

• Can two children use the app at the same time on the same device?
  No, only one account can be active on a single device. This means that the content that appears (audio tracks, routines, videos…) always corresponds to the account the child is logged in with. To switch accounts, go to Settings and select the one you want to use.

• Are my children's data mixed when using the same device?
  No, each account saves its progress independently: audio tracks listened to, routines completed, additional content viewed… All progress is saved separately.

• I have two children in the same course. How can we listen to the audio track and register the time spent doing so for both?
  Since each account independently saves its own progress, we recommend switching between accounts so that each child can rack up listening time, even if they listen to the audio together at home.

• What happens if I mistakenly press the button used to add an account?
  Before making any changes, a confirmation message will appear in the app with two options: Confirm or Cancel. If you press Cancel, no changes will be made and you will remain in the current session

• Can I quickly switch between accounts when on the login screen?
  Yes, from the login screen, you can select any of the accounts you have added. Clicking on their name will launch the app with that person’s account.

• Where can I see the accounts I have added?
  To see the accounts you have added, click on Settings, there you will be able to see a list of all the accounts you have added. You will see the student’s first name and surname, and the currently active account will be highlighted. Keep in mind that once you have logged in with multiple accounts, you will be able to see them on the home screen.