Gone are the days of text-book only learning! Many researchers have found that there are many benefits to using a Game-Based Learning (GBL) approach in the education sector.
Based on studies conducted by Vanderbilt University researching the efficacy of a game-based learning approach in schools, the research shows that students learn better through experience and play. And here’s where Legends of Learning comes into play.
Based out of Washington, Legends of Learning helps educators make their classrooms fun, engaging, and productive learning environments through research-driven, curriculum-based games.
Secured $5M
Recently, the US company announced that it has secured a $5M Series Seed round led by Konvoy Ventures.
Angel investors also participating in the round include James Park (Co-founder and CEO of Fitbit), Holly Liu (Co-founder at Kabam and former Visiting Partner at Y Combinator), Jeremy Liew (Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners), and Kun Gao (Co-founder and Founding CEO of Crunchyroll).
The company will use the investment to scale its sales, engineering, and game development teams.
“We’re proud that millions of students across the nation use Legends of Learning every year, both in school and at home,” says Dr. Vadim Polikov, Legends of Learning co-founder and CEO.
He adds, “Unlike traditional textbooks or videos, students don’t use Legends of Learning because they have to, they use it because they want to. They love the challenging fun that Legends provides…and their teachers and parents also love knowing the students are engaging with the material like never before. Establishing and growing a child’s love for learning is foundational to everything that we do and this partnership with Konvoy Ventures means that we can further our goals: to have more students learn successfully through experience and play.”
Game-based learning
Founded in 2017, Legends of Learning is an e-learning platform focused on game-based learning to advance education. The company operates similar to Oslo-based Kahoot!, a game-based learning platform that makes it easy to create, share, and play fun learning games and trivia quizzes.
The platform uses ongoing original research to create a learning games platform filled with a range of lessons for stronger subject mastery and classroom engagement.
At present, the company offers over 2,000 unique curriculum-aligned maths and science video games for students in kindergarten through the eighth grade, covering subjects from basic multiplication and the solar system, to cybersecurity and artificial selection.
Legends of Learning says that over 5% of all elementary and middle school students in the United States use its platform each month as part of their regular classroom instruction.
These games engage and challenge students academically, leading to increased test scores, enhanced critical thinking skills, and improved self-confidence–both in the classroom and real-world, claims the company.
Within Awakening, students customise their avatar before exploring an interactive town where they interact with classmates and collect Beasties in a safe multiplayer learning world.
As students battle their Beasties with others, they progress through their school-district-aligned curriculum and engage with the marketplace of learning games.
Parents can monitor their children’s coursework and progress as students engage with math and science like never before.
“Learning doesn’t stop when students graduate and learning isn’t limited to the traditional academic topics,” Polikov adds.
“One day anyone who wants to learn anything through experience and play will be able to come to Legends of Learning to find an immersive world of game-based learning built by millions of game creators around the world. We want to be the Learning corner of the unfolding Metaverse,” he concludes.
Investor
Based out of Denver, Konvoy Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to the gaming industry. The firm invests in the platforms and technologies of tomorrow’s video gaming industry.
“The education system has evolved too slowly over the years, especially in regards to a move towards a more digitally-native experience. With this transition, the integration of games into the curriculum allows for a dynamic and more equitable experience that we believe shines a light on what the future of education will look like. This is why we are thrilled to invest and join Legends of Learning for the journey ahead,“ says Josh Chapman, Managing Partner of Konvoy Ventures.
