Thorn Learning designed and produced a suite of interactive digital learning activities for GPEX’s Fred and Family programme, creating engaging, game-based learning experiences that help young learners develop English language skills while preparing for Cambridge Pre A1 Starters.
Project overview
Fred and Family is a young learner English programme developed by GPEX, an Authorised Platinum Exam Centre and reseller for Cambridge University Press and Assessment. The programme combines more than 160 animated learning videos with worksheets and supporting resources designed for young learners aged 4–6.
To strengthen the online learning experience and increase learner engagement, GPEX commissioned Thorn Learning to design and produce a large-scale set of interactive digital activities that would complement the existing video content while supporting the language and skills required for the Cambridge Pre A1 Starters qualification.
The project focused on creating engaging, age-appropriate learning experiences that reinforced language introduced in the Fred and Family videos while providing opportunities for repeated practice, immediate feedback and progressive language development.
How we worked with the client
Working closely with GPEX, Thorn Learning reviewed the Fred and Family syllabus, examined existing video and worksheet content, and designed a digital learning solution that integrated seamlessly with the programme’s learning objectives and visual identity.
The project involved:
- Auditing the existing learning platform and technical requirements.
- Designing interactive activity templates.
- Mapping activities to the Fred and Family syllabus.
- Developing age-appropriate learning interactions.
- Producing supporting visual and audio assets.
- Building SCORM-compliant learning objects.
- Quality assurance and LMS compatibility testing.
- Providing recommendations for future LMS implementation.
Activities were designed to support learning progression from recognition tasks towards more challenging productive language activities, helping learners gradually build confidence and independence.
Services and standards
Learning design
- Young learner language learning design.
- Game-based learning.
- Cambridge exam preparation support.
- Vocabulary and language skills development.
- Age-appropriate digital learning experiences.
Digital production
- Interactive activity development.
- Articulate Storyline development.
- SCORM production.
- Digital asset creation and management.
- LMS integration and compatibility testing.
User experience
Activities were designed to:
- Motivate young learners.
- Reinforce video-based learning.
- Provide immediate feedback.
- Support both desktop and touchscreen devices.
- Create a coherent Fred and Family learning journey.
- Deliver trackable learner progress data through LMS systems.
Main outputs
- Interactive learning activities
- 140 digital learning activities.
- Hotspot activities.
- Letter-jumble activities.
- Sentence-completion activities.
- Reading activities.
- Listening activities.
- Vocabulary practice activities.
- Spelling activities.
- SCORM-compliant outputs for LMS delivery.
- Activities aligned to the Fred and Family syllabus.
- Cambridge Pre A1 Starters preparation activities.
- Quality-assured digital learning resources.
Team and contributors
- Project management and quality assurance: Chris Thorn
- Learning design and content development: Sangeeta Sathe
- Artwork and visual design support: Nikki Owen
