DreamBox Learning®» DreamBox Learning Beta

Who Gets to Play Third Grade Math? Beta Winners Announced!

Tracy — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:26:05 +0000

My kindergartener was just begging me to let her play more DreamBox last night instead of reading stories before bed. She's really loving it. -Victoria Rana, Bella's Mom. Drum roll, please... And our third-grade beta testers will be: Benjamin, entered by Noel Bush; Bella, entered by Victoria Rana; and Edgar, entered by Jennifer Shotts! Congratulations to our winners and we hope our 3rd grade math games keep them up after their bedtimes practicing math. (OK, not too long after their bedtimes!) Thank you to everyone who wrote on our Facebook wall, tweeted to us, or commented on our contest blog post. The messages of support from our fans has been tremendous and we've come a long way since first premiering DreamBox's kindergarten through 2nd grade math games, one year ago. We can't wait to announce third grade to the rest of the world! Please check back with us because IT'S COMING SOON! Didn't mean to shout. We're just so pleased for our third-graders who will get to play in the DreamBox private beta. And if you're wondering about World Maths Day 2010, which we've been glued to, the total number of questions answered was 479, 732, 613 - a new world record! Avit P from Team Thailand was number one in the 5-8 age range, Kaya G from Australia (last year's champion!) conquered the 9-13 age range, and David A from Australia took a gold medal in the 14-18 age range. Everyone is a winner in Lucky Math Month - download the April DreamBox Math Activity Calendar, and have fun with math all month!

Be One of the First to Play DreamBox Third Grade!

Tracy — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:47:44 +0000

You asked for it. We delivered (or we will soon)! Our developers have been working away all winter on our third-grade math games and lessons, which will launch soon. Can't wait? Your child could be one of a select few to play it first! That's right, we're giving three lucky winners a chance to be a beta tester for DreamBox Learning's third grade curriculum. Your child could play the game before most other "Dreamers" out there.

Sarah loves beta testing DreamBox Third Grade

One, two, three ways to enter and win an exclusive private beta tester slot for our 3rd grade math games:

1. Comment on this blog post. Introduce yourself, tell us why you want to be one of the first to play third grade, and leave your email address so we can easily contact you if you're a lucky winner.

2. Leave a note on our Facebook wall. Stop by and tell us why your child should be one of the first to try third-grade.

3. Tweet about the giveaway using @DreamBox_Learn and tell us why you should win.

One entry per comment, facebook wall message, or tweet. Contest starts Tuesday, February 23. Winners announced on March 5. To be eligible, you must have already played DreamBox and meet certain other eligibility requirements. So if you haven't already tried it sign up now for a free DreamBox Learning trial. Don't miss your chance to be a beta tester for third-grade math!

Schooled by 5-8 year olds: Make Changes to Student Status that Students Can See

Mickelle — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:31:48 +0000

I’ve talked before about all the beta testing we completed before launching the product to the public. A significant portion of the beta testing took place in schools where the Academic Team (all certified elementary teachers with 75% having earned National Board Certification) could watch kids playing. We watched for signs of confusion and boredom, as well as excitement and learning. We listened carefully to their questions and statements muttered throughout the play. Kindergartners especially are known for talking aloud as they play. On the other hand, second and third graders can more easily express their misconception and "aha: moments.

Making A DreamBox Math Game That Kids Can Really Use

I’ll never forget the day we realized our users didn’t “see” the differences in their game maps. How could they? We’d show them a map with some circular icons glowing, and they would choose one to play. The next time they saw their map, some of the icons were the same and some were different. A check mark indicating a game was successfully played was ignored. We needed to do a better job of telling the student, “Yay! You passed this game. Here are some new games to play.” The next time your child plays DreamBox, watch the map in the Adventure Park closely. When you return to a map, changes take place in front of the user. Lesson icons appear and disappear. Check marks appear. Reward backpacks fall onto the screen. When kids see their progress, it’s more meaningful and engaging. Whew! A minor tweak with huge results. Did we learn our lesson the first time? No! Unfortunately, we repeated this mistake in the Carnival. But rest assured we are currently working to correct this behavior!

Working Toward Personal Obsolescence

Lou — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:42:03 +0000

Dear DreamBox Co-owners, We stand ready to ship our 4th Beta in less than a year. An astonishing milestone, yet no heads swell among you. Instead, and with the same brute, elegant, and humble spirit that got you here, you turn your attention once again to shipping, learning, fixing, testing, planning, cutting, building, testing, and shipping anew. For many of you, this is because your march isn’t done until we reach V1/product launch. For others, it is when we serve all the children that we can. And for others still, the march will never end (mostly because you’re troubled overachievers). I ask you though to please take a moment and reflect on what you’ve accomplished. You have already built a product like no other, and in a manner that is all your own. It is a warm reflection of you all and it speaks to your collective and individual sense of ownership and sensibilities. You also continue to self-organize in a way that does justice to both our customers and each other. It is because you have built a company where there is a democracy of ideas, where trust and reliance on one another mean something, and where no froth or sloth is endured. In short, you all have made DreamBox a great place to ride to every day!

Thanks DreamBox Co-Owners!