DreamBox Learning

DreamBox Learning
Company typePrivately Held
IndustrySoftware
Founded2006; 18 years ago (2006)
Founders
  • Lou Gray
  • Ben Slivka
HeadquartersBellevue, Washington,
United States
Key people
Jessie Woolley-Wilson, president and chief executive officer[1]
ProductsMathematics and Reading Adaptive Learning Technology
Owner
WebsiteDreambox Learning

DreamBox Learning is an American online software provider that focuses on mathematics education and reading education at the elementary, middle school, and for reading, the high school level.[2][3][4][5] The mathematics software provides pre-kindergarten through 8th-grade students with over 2,000 lessons presented as animated adventures, games, and challenges, while the reading software provides students in elementary to high school levels with articles to boost their reading skills.[4][6][7]

In 2023, the company was acquired by Discovery Education, a Charlotte-based education technology company backed by Clearlake Capital.[8][9]

Overview

DreamBox Learning Math

DreamBox Learning Math teaches students grades K-8 various mathematical subjects, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, geometry, and algebra. The program utilizes an algorithm to determine if the user is able to understand certain lessons. If a user comprehends the lesson, the algorithm will suppress its frequency, whereas if a user struggles to understand the lesson, the algorithm will suggest it more frequently to help them grasp its content and meaning.[10]

In certain grades, users will encounter lessons tailored to their proficiency levels. If users answer a question correctly, they will proceed to the next question, advancing closer to completing the lesson. However, if users answer a question incorrectly, their progress may be set back slightly, as DreamBox provides additional support to address the incorrect answer. Upon completing a lesson, students earn tokens based on their performance. These tokens can be used to play games and purchase profile pictures or backgrounds. Users can also earn games by completing lessons.[11]

Teachers can access a separate website, inaccessible to students, where they can view the number of lessons completed by each user and their overall statistics.

DreamBox Learning Reading

DreamBox Learning Reading teaches students in grades 3-12 various reading skills such as punctuation, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The program utilizes an algorithm that determines if a user can understand a lessons content. If the user comprehends the lesson's content, the algorithm will suppress its frequency, whereas if the user struggles to understand the lesson, the algorithm will suggest it more frequently to help them grasp its content and meaning.[12]

Same as DreamBox Learning Math, teachers can access a separate website, inaccessible to students, where they can view the number of lessons completed by each user and their overall statistics.

History

In 2006, DreamBox Learning was founded in Bellevue, Washington by the CEO and serial entrepreneur Lou Gray, and former Microsoft employee Ben Slivka.[13][14][15] In 2010, DreamBox Learning was acquired by the Charter School Growth Fund.[3][15] The acquisition was sponsored by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings through a program-related investment.[3][15] Jessie Woolley-Wilson became president and CEO of DreamBox Learning shortly after the acquisition.[3][15]

The software was designed for students outside the classroom to augment their mathematics education and school districts seeking to enhance their mathematics curriculum.[4][13] In 2012, the firm offered free trial licensing of lessons aligned with the Common Core State Standards Initiative to all schools within the United States.[6][16] The company released a free iOS app, DreamBox Math Learning program, in 2013.[17]

In 2014, the firm launched its Adaptive Math Curriculum for students in grades six through eight, with topics including basic functions, geometry, single-variable algebra, and ratios.[18] Also in 2014, the International Society for Technology Education reported that DreamBox added the Spanish language support to its adaptive math software for students in grades K-8.[19] In 2016, the company updated its K-8 math curriculum with the ability to create custom assignments for individual students.[20]

Funding

DreamBox has raised money through at least the following funding rounds.

  1. US$7.1M Seed, October 2007
  2. US$11M Series A, December 2011 – three investors: Reed Hastings, Kleiner Perkins, and GSV Capital.[citation needed]
  3. US$14.5M Series A, December 2013 – led by Reed Hastings and John Doerr.[21][22]
  4. US$10M Series B, 2015 – led by Owl Ventures.[23]

DreamBox Learning is partnered with the education startup Clever Inc.[24] 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, but could not state for certain that this was the result of using the computer program, despite attempting to control for student motivation or quality of instruction.[25]

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. ^ a b c d Vander Ark, Tom (13 June 2012). "DreamBox Learning: Adaptive, Engaging, and Motivating Math". HuffPost. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  4. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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. ^ FinSMEs (29 August 2023). "Discovery Education to Acquire DreamBox Learning". FinSMEs. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Clearlake Capital-Backed Discovery Education Completes Acquisition of DreamBox Learning". Discovery Education UK. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Online Math Programs - DreamBox Learning". dreambox.com. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Try DreamBox Math Lessons! Over 2,000 K-8 Math Lessons". dreambox.com. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Students reading to learn - Grades 3-12 - DreamBox Reading Plus". dreambox.com. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  13. ^ a b Shepard, Kim (15 April 2012). "Counting sheep: Raise math scores at bedtime". MYNorthwest. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ a b c d "DreamBox re-positions itself for focus on K-12 market". GeekWire. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  16. ^ "Free DreamBox Learning for Math". Penniless Teacher. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  17. ^ Bolkan, Joshua (18 November 2013). "DreamBox Launches Free Math App for iPad". The Journal. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  18. ^ "DreamBox Launches Adaptive Math Curriculum for Middle Schools". The Journal. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  19. ^ "Fifty from ISTE: 50 new ed-tech services". eSchool News. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  20. ^ "New DreamBox Learning Feature Provides Personalized Learning Experiences". Getting Smart. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  21. ^ Wan, Tony (17 December 2013). "Netflix' Reed Hastings Leads $14.5M Series A1 for DreamBox". edSurge. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  22. ^ Cook, John (17 December 2013). "Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, VC John Doerr invest $14.5M in DreamBox Learning". Geekwire. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  23. ^ Lamm, Greg (27 August 2015). "Bellevue's DreamBox Learning lands $10 million in funding". American City Business Journals.
  24. ^ Sailors, John (25 March 2014). "Clever nabs $10 million for education software". Silicon Valley Business Journal. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  25. ^ Dobo, Nichole (8 June 2016). "Customized Math Lessons Could Help Students Learn More, Research Says". The Hechinger Report. Retrieved 25 August 2016.