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Shawn Young – Classcraft

By shuebrook on January 29, 2020

Founder: Shawn Young, Founder and CEO

Venture: Classcraft Studios Inc (Sherbrooke, PQ)

Classcraft is an Engagement Management System for schools, making it easy for schools to inject gamification into many aspects of learning. Classcraft is based on research in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS is an evidence-based three-tiered framework to improve and integrate all the data, systems, and practices affecting student outcomes every day. Traditional approaches to implementing PBIS fall short in helping middle school educators consistently promote lasting behavior change across schools and classrooms,  failing to generate the type of data that administrators need for Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions. And because they don’t address behavior at its source — student engagement — they miss the opportunity to make a lasting, systemic impact. Classcraft succeeds in motivating students by using gaming principles to fulfill students’ fundamental needs for autonomy, competency, and human relationships. Games are also culturally relevant for young people: they don’t just reflect youth culture, they define it. The benefits of PBIS with Classcraft are:

  • Fostering school-family partnerships
  • A built-in framework for addressing negative behavior
  • Data you can use to personalize student interventions
  • Encourage positive behavior through teamwork — and rewards that matter
  • Define and teach positive behaviors consistently across classrooms

Since its launch in 2013, Classcraft has gained incredible traction with educators worldwide, providing tools to gamify their classrooms.

Founder Bio

Shawn Young is a co-founder and CEO of Classcraft Studios Inc. He taught 11th grade physics for 9 years, holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and master’s in education from Université de Sherbrooke and is also a seasoned web developer. Shawn sits on the Scientific Advisory Board for UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), sits on the corporate advisory board for Future Ready Schools New Jersey, sits on the corporate advisory board for the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), is the vice-president of the Edteq Association and is an Ambassador for the Education faculty of University of Sherbrooke. Shawn recently secured $7.5M in Series A funding for Classcraft, and won MindShare Learning’s 2019 EdTech Startup of the Year award.

Leadership

Shawn’s in-house leadership team seems to include only two family members whose education and credentials are not provided, but his corporate website provides ample information on the academic research that underlies his product. It also presents impressive testimonials from a variety of researchers at recognized universities in North America and Europe.

Classwork’s Board of Directors and Advisors is a strong blend of leaders from established software development companies, VC firms, government ministries, tech incubators and non-profit foundations. This indicates a broad and stable network of support and expertise to back up a promising young business.

Rating
Average: 4.5/5 Stars
 
 
 
 
 
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2 Feb Posted on Shawn Young – Classcraft

Shawn is an impressive creator and seems to be a natural entrepreneur. He clearly has a passion for his product if he was able to create the game while working as a high school teacher. As a seasoned web developer and an educator, he also has the skillset he needed to venture into the educational video game field. He does not appear to have any formal business or marketing training which could hold him back as his team also seems a little lacking in that area.

2 Feb
1 Thumbs Up!
Matt @mbwilde

Shawn is an impressive creator and seems to be a natural entrepreneur. He clearly has a passion for his product if he was able to create the game while working as a high school teacher. As a seasoned web developer and an educator, he also has the skillset he needed to venture into the educational video game field. He does not appear to have any formal business or marketing training which could hold him back as his team also seems a little lacking in that area.

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1 Feb Posted on Shawn Young – Classcraft

What stands out to me from Shawn Young's bio is the fact that he had years of experience already teaching in STEM fields before venturing into developing Classcraft. This background helped him bring valuable pedagogical knowledge to the initial startup (which has now obviously grown immensely). This along with a research-based approach have been key tot the success of Classcraft. It's the right mix of "know how" in terms of teaching, technology as well as an entrepreneurial mindset that has made this venture grow to be successful.

1 Feb
1 Thumbs Up!
Carla Pretorius @cp101

What stands out to me from Shawn Young's bio is the fact that he had years of experience already teaching in STEM fields before venturing into developing Classcraft. This background helped him bring valuable pedagogical knowledge to the initial startup (which has now obviously grown immensely). This along with a research-based approach have been key tot the success of Classcraft. It's the right mix of "know how" in terms of teaching, technology as well as an entrepreneurial mindset that has made this venture grow to be successful.

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1 Feb Posted on Shawn Young – Classcraft

When their is a product for Tier 2 and Tier 3 the quality can be questioned at times. Classcraft, however is excellent! It is not just used for these areas, but can be used in all situations! I teach in middle school and this is an age where students are developing a sense of who they are and are starting to find their social group. Having a platform that connects both school and families is something that is highly needed. It can help both parents and teachers support students to learn how to engage in social situations in a positive manner!

1 Feb
0 Thumbs Up!
gregory regehr @greg26

When their is a product for Tier 2 and Tier 3 the quality can be questioned at times. Classcraft, however is excellent! It is not just used for these areas, but can be used in all situations! I teach in middle school and this is an age where students are developing a sense of who they are and are starting to find their social group. Having a platform that connects both school and families is something that is highly needed. It can help both parents and teachers support students to learn how to engage in social situations in a positive manner!

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30 Jan Posted on Shawn Young – Classcraft

I find this very interesting because we use PBIS at my school and are struggling with how do we keep them all motivated. Adding a game like this with PBIS components sounds amazing. Elementary classrooms would be on board with this as the students thrive on games and technology. I will be looking into this and hope my district picks it up in the future.

30 Jan
1 Thumbs Up!
Tyler @rsenini

I find this very interesting because we use PBIS at my school and are struggling with how do we keep them all motivated. Adding a game like this with PBIS components sounds amazing. Elementary classrooms would be on board with this as the students thrive on games and technology. I will be looking into this and hope my district picks it up in the future.

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