Frequently Asked Questions (Click on the question to view the response)

Q1. What is Mindspark?
Q2. How is Mindspark unique?
Q3. How is Mindspark different from other e-learning programmes?
Q4. For which subjects is Mindspark available?
Q5. For which classes is Mindspark appropriate?
Q6. Is it possible for my child to learn by only answering questions?
Q7. Is it in line with the syllabus of the boards?
Q8. Would using Mindspark help my child get more marks?
Q9. How do I know how my child is doing in Mindspark?
Q10. If the sums in Mindspark have not been taught in school, should my child still continue to do them or stop at that level?
Q11. If my child gets a number of questions that she says are simple, what should I do?
Q12. My child says questions are repeated – What do I do?
Q13. Does my child need to do Mindspark everyday?
Q14. Why do some of the questions take more time to appear?
Q15. The program ends my child's session on its own sometimes. Why is this?
Q16. What happens after my child has finished all the topics assigned to her?
Q17. Is there an ideal browser for using Mindspark?
Q18. Why is my child unable to view visuals and animations on some of the questions?

Q1. What is Mindspark?
Ans. Mindspark is a computer based adaptive self-learning programme. It is a learning system that allows the student to construct her own learning – at a pace she is comfortable with. It is an interactive system, where the student is not learning passively by listening to someone, or viewing ready-made solutions, but learning interactively by answering questions of progressively increasing complexity levels.

Q2. How is Mindspark unique?
Ans. One of the unique features of the Mindspark programme is its focus on understanding and analytical thinking, not just knowledge of facts, or drill in procedures. This is one of the key factors that really distinguishes the Mindspark programme from any other learning programme. It has a built-in adaptive logic that allows a student to move at her own pace.

Q3. How is Mindspark different from other e-learning programmes?
Ans. Many students have a misunderstanding of basic concepts that they carry forward from an early age. It is important to identify those and help the child overcome them. Most often, a child does not try to clear these misconceptions due to a lack of opportunity or fear of embarrassment. Mindspark questions are designed on the basis of detailed classroom studies and research in student learning - to specifically target common student errors and misconceptions.

Over 60% of the problems in Mindspark make use of visuals and animations. The graphics in Mindspark are mostly used as serious learning tools, and not as lighthearted cartoons or games – which today's kids get an overdose of on T.V. anyway!

Q4. For which subjects is Mindspark available?
Ans.Mindspark is currently available only for Maths. However, we are planning to introduce Mindspark for Science and English in the near future.

Q5. For which classes is Mindspark appropriate?
Ans. Mindspark has been designed currently for classes 1 through 10 - the classes where key concepts are developed in students.

Q6. Is it possible for my child to learn by only answering questions?
Ans. A remarkable feature of Mindspark is that it's an adaptive learning program. This means that it will judge your current level of understanding in a particular topic and ask only those questions that will gradually help the child to understand the concept she was missing out on.  Each question, at every step will be 'just outside' your current level of understanding, but not too much as we want you to answer correctly and learn in the process. This process – of learning through answering questions – has been found to be very effective all over the world as compared to simply reading a block of text and seeing some visuals.

Q7. Is it in line with the syllabus of the boards?
Ans. Yes, it is in line with the NCERT recommendations as well ICSE, CBSE and various state boards.

Q8. Would using Mindspark help my child get more marks?
Ans. The focus on Mindspark is to help the child learn well, with understanding. We believe that when children learn the basics with understanding, this has a long term impact on how they perform on those topics as well as those built upon them. Thus we expect a strong correlation between performance in school tests and regular practicing on Mindspark. Studies have already indicated that students understand concepts better by using Mindspark; we will also be conducting studies to establish the improvement obtained in school marks.

Q9. How do I know how my child is doing in Mindspark?
Ans. Every month Mindspark will mail out a detailed report to the parents and teachers. These reports will show how far the child has reached on each topic, the time taken by the child, the success rate and number of logins and so on. In addition, it will provide the teachers with data on rest of the class too.

Q10. If the sums in Mindspark have not been taught in school, should my child still continue to do them or stop at that level?
Ans. Yes! Mindspark is designed as primarily a learning program. The child is free to continue if she is able to attempt these questions.

Q11. If my child gets a number of questions that she says are simple, what should I do?
Ans. Simple questions ensure that the child is equipped to take on the tougher ones. We have found that students are able to do certain questions, yet some of the basics are not completely clear. This affects later learning. Therefore, even if the questions appear simple, the child should attempt these questions.

Q12. My child says questions are repeated – What do I do?
Ans. Questions are repeated in special conditions when the system determines that extra practice is needed. The student should therefore attempt these questions patiently and answer them correctly.

Q13. Does my child need to do Mindspark everyday?
Ans. The recommended mode of use of Mindspark is 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week. The minimum recommended is 30 minutes per day 3 days a week. Mindspark provides a student regular practice and we believe that there can be no substitute for that. In some cases, where the student misses practice on some days, he can spend a little more time on the remaining days.

In a day user can login for multiple sessions of 30 minutes each. However after 30 minutes, system will automatically log him out and he can login again. The daily time limit is 90 minutes with no restriction on the number of logins/per day (sessions), but a single session cannot be longer than 30 minutes. If 90 mins/day has already been spent then system will not allow further Mindspark sessions. This provision is made mainly to allow students who have missed some sessions to catch up later. Remember that the recommended usage still remains 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week – it is desirable to space out sessions over an entire week, rather than do them intensively over one or two days followed by long gaps !

Q14. Why do some of the questions take more time to appear?
Ans. One feature of Mindspark is that it's an intelligent program. While the child is trying to figure out answers to the questions, there may be times when Mindspark is trying to figure out what will the next question. This may involve looking at all the past questions the child has taken, the answers given and the deciding which are the gaps in understanding that need to be addressed. Thus, there might be a few questions that take a little more time to appear as compared to the rest.

Q15. The program ends my child's session on its own sometimes. Why is this?
Ans. Mindspark is designed to help the child learn but there is a limit after which the rate of learning decreases very quickly. To take care of these things, Mindspark will log the child out automatically after every 30 minutes of a session.