Montreal, July 2014 - Classcraft is the first educational role-playing game that teachers and students can use together in a classroom. Developed by Shawn Young, native of Quebec and high school physics teacher, this game was created to respond to a new generation. A true Quebec success story, Classcraft has continued to evolve since its inception. To date, 7,000 teachers in 50 different countries have adopted Classcraft as an education supplement in their classroom. Over a million students are expected this fall.
The idea for Classcraft arose when Shawn Young was looking for a new way to interact with his Secondary 5 students at Séminaire Salesien de Sherbrooke. Drawing on his knowledge of web development and video games, Shawn created Classcraft to encourage teamwork, increase student motivation and encourage good behavior in the classroom. After testing the game with his students for nearly three years, he noticed a keen interest from the other teachers who saw a dramatic change in his class. It was therefore in partnership with his father, Lauren Young and his brother Devin Young, that he decided to push the project further and develop a refined version that they could share with all teachers around the world.
“Students today learn differently than students fifty years ago, but the way we teach has not changed,” says Shawn Young, founder of Classcraft. “We have great technology these days, but we still haven't figured out how to use it in our classrooms. When I started to try Classcraft with my students, I saw a drastic change, I even saw students who were failing become better and pass their classes. The wonderful thing about Classcraft is that it goes beyond learning compulsory subjects, it pushes to help each other through something every student can do: play. "
The game sets up in less than an hour and only requires a computer and a projector. Students play in teams of mages, warriors and healers who each have specific powers. The more a student succeeds in class, not only in terms of academic results but also in terms of team spirit, the more points he gains and the more he obtains powers such as taking grades to an exam. Conversely, the team loses points by arriving late for class or interrupting the teacher, players will have real consequences such as deductions or less time to complete an assignment.
Working closely with several luminaries in the field of education and video games, the Quebec family business, which has had 16 employees since its creation, helps teachers transform their teaching experience. Those who have integrated Classcraft into their daily lives have reported incredible changes in the academic and human behavior of their students.
“Immediately my students got better marks on exams every week… Classcraft becomes a essential… my students have more motivation and participate more. ”
-Alexandre Collard, teacher at Saint-Martin school, Laval, Quebec
“When I started Classcraft, the marks in my biology class were around C. The average increased to A in a month. "
-Rebecca Osborne, Anahein, CA
About Classcraft
Classcraft is an online educational role-playing game that teachers and students can use together in the classroom. Classcraft is available free to teachers around the world in French and English. For more information visit classcraft.com
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