DreamBox (company)

Dreambox Learning
Privately Held
Industry Software
Founded 2006
Founder Lou Gray and Ben Slivka
Headquarters Bellevue, Washington
Key people
 Jessie Woolley-Wilson, president and chief executive officer[1]
Products Mathematics Adaptive Learning Technology
Website Dreambox Learning

DreamBox Learning is an online software provider that focuses on mathematics education at the elementary and middle school level.[2][3][4][5] DreamBox Learning provides pre-kindergarten through 8th-grade students with over 1,800 lessons presented as animated adventures, games, and challenges.[4][6][7][8]

History

In 2006, DreamBox Learning was founded in Bellevue, Washington by the CEO and serial entrepreneur Lou Gray, and former Microsoft employee Ben Slivka.[8][9][10] In 2010, DreamBox Learning was acquired by the Charter School Growth Fund.[3][10] The acquisition was sponsored by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings through a program-related investment.[3][10] Jessie Woolley-Wilson became President and CEO of DreamBox Learning shortly after the acquisition.[3][10] DreamBox Learning software was designed for students outside the classroom seeking to augment their mathematics education and school districts seeking to enhance their mathematics curriculum.[4][8] In 2012, DreamBox Learning offered free trial licensing of lessons aligned with the Common Core State Standards Initiative to all schools within the United States.[6][11] The company released a free iPad app, DreamBox Math Learning program, in 2013.[12]

In 2014, DreamBox launched its Adaptive Math Curriculum for students in grades six through eight, with topics including basic functions, geometry, single-variable algebra, and ratios.[13] Also in 2014, the International Society for Technology Education reported that DreamBox added Spanish language support to its adaptive math software for students in grades K-8 to serve students who are learning English as a second language.[14] In 2016, the company updated its K-8 math curriculum with the ability to create custom assignments for individual students.[15]

Funding

DreamBox has raised money through at least six funding rounds. The first was a Series A round announced in December 2013 and led by Reed Hastings and John Doerr, which raised US$14,500,000.[16][17] A later fundraising round was closed in 2015 and led by Owl Ventures, which raised US$10,000,000.[18]

DreamBox Learning is partnered with the education startup Clever Inc.[19] In 2016, The Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University performed a study that found a positive correlation between using DreamBox's adaptive learning and test scores.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "DreamBox Learning CEO: How tech will shape the future of schools". GeekWire. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  2. ↑ Weber, Matt. "Harvard EdCast: Adaptive Ed Tech". Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Ark, Tom Vander (13 June 2012). "DreamBox Learning: Adaptive, Engaging, and Motivating Math". Huffington Post. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Adams, Caralee. "Individualized Learning". Scholastic. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  5. ↑ DeSilver, Drew. "Local, national venture financing declines for fourth quarter 2011". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  6. 1 2 Rotherham, Andrew J. (26 January 2012). "Can Computers Replace Teachers?". Time. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  7. ↑ Thompson, Dan. "DreamBox Expands Web-Based Math Learning Tool to Grade 5". The Journal. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 Shepard, Kim. "Counting sheep: Raise math scores at bedtime". MYNorthwest. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  9. ↑ Huang, Gregory T. "DreamBox Learning Bought by Netflix CEO (and Microsoft Board Member) Reed Hastings and Charter Fund—Some More Context". Xconomy. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "DreamBox re-positions itself for focus on K-12 market". GeekWire. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Free DreamBox Learning for Math". Penniless Teacher. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  12. ↑ Bolkan, Joshua (Nov 18, 2013). "DreamBox Launches Free Math App for iPad". The Journal. Retrieved Mar 26, 2014.
  13. ↑ "DreamBox Launches Adaptive Math Curriculum for Middle Schools". The Journal. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  14. ↑ "Fifty from ISTE: 50 new ed-tech services". eSchool News. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "New DreamBox Learning Feature Provides Personalized Learning Experiences". Getting Smart. April 29, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  16. ↑ Wan, Tony (Dec 17, 2013). "Netflix' Reed Hastings Leads $14.5M Series A1 for DreamBox". edSurge. Retrieved Mar 26, 2014.
  17. ↑ Cook, John (Dec 17, 2013). "Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, VC John Doerr invest $14.5M in DreamBox Learning". Geekwire. Retrieved Mar 26, 2014.
  18. ↑ Lamm, Greg (August 27, 2015). "Bellevue's DreamBox Learning lands $10 million in funding". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  19. ↑ Sailors, John (Mar 25, 2014). "Clever nabs $10 million for education software". Silicon Valley Business Journal. Retrieved Mar 26, 2014.
  20. ↑ Dobo, Nichole (June 8, 2016). "Customized Math Lessons Could Help Students Learn More, Research Says". The Hechinger Report. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
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