Classcraft Launches Storytelling Series for Student Engagement

At ISTE 2019 this week in Philadelphia, ed tech company Classcraft is launching a new "Story Mode" series, which uses storytelling to help teachers engage and motivate students. The series of ready-made stories begins with Classcraft: Season 1, a year-long adventure story that explores themes of self-discovery and the value of human relationships, according to a news announcement.

"Narrative is a powerful driver for student motivation. It's the most intuitive way for human beings to learn," explained Devin Young, Classcraft co-founder and president, in a statement. "With Story Mode, we're making it easy for educators to harness the cultural relevance and engaging power of stories. Think of it as a PG-rated version of Game of Thrones that promotes collaboration, discovery, and that aligns with CASEL's SEL competencies."

Classcraft story mode

"Young people are inundated with consumer experiences that provide instant feedback and gratification — things that traditional learning experiences rarely offer. If we want to get serious about motivating students to learn, we must leverage what makes games and stories so compelling. The world Classcraft has built is rich and unique, and I'm very excited to see the impact it will have in the hands of teachers," said Jean Guesdon, creative director at Ubisoft and adviser to the Classcraft storytelling team.  

Classcraft is also introducing a new Ambassador Program for teachers to support other educators with the learning platform. Ambassadors will share Classcraft lessons, participate in discussions, present at events and more, and receive perks such as school discounts, PD coaching and early beta invites. For more information, and to submit an application, visit the Classcraft site.

Classcraft: Season 1 will premiere in fall 2019, with new episodes released monthly. Watch the Season 1 trailer here.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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