Skoolbo Founder- Shane Hill
Shane Hill, Founder and CEO of Skoolbo
Skoolbo is a developer of a online educational games that aim to help 4-10 year olds strengthen their core skills in numeracy and literacy. The multi-player games are 3D animation and provide parents and teachers with detailed reports indicating the child’s strengths and weaknesses. Skoolbo claims that the team of educators and developers’ single purpose is lift educational outcomes worldwide and uses technology to assist children’s learning. Their product is free at the basic level, but has a premium upgrade available.
Shane Hill has worked as teacher for 11 years and has worked in the e-learning field for a decade. Over this time frame has founded several popular e-Learning web sites, such as Mathletics, Spellodrome and World Math Day. His drive centers on improving math and literacy skills in children, using games that are fun and exciting and available to students around the world.
Shane’s venture’s original value being generated appears to be social wealth, in terms of helping youngsters raise their ‘core skills’. I tend to believe the venture is a social enterprise, as Skoolbo is free from advertising, but must raise its profit from premium subscriptions. Shane’s previous experience as a teacher, and perhaps his entrepreneurial savvy have made him cognoscente of how wary his target audience is of outside advertising. As well he has targeted his buyer as the end user of his product (the student, teacher and parent) rather than having a bureaucrat that is removed from the children making institutional purchases.
Skoolbo’s team is made up of educators, developers (software & web), music composers/producers, etc. The team is scattered around the globe, benefitting them in their choice of location and lifestyle, but perhaps challenging them in their ability to communicate efficiently.
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janetb 1:55 pm on June 3, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Very interesting review. My son uses Mathletics at school and loves it. I think it has been very beneficial for him. However, as a member of the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) that paid for the school license, I know how expensive it is. I like the idea of a a free basic level as it gives the students/parents a chance to see what is involved before deciding to pay for it.
I appreciated your comments about the buyer being the end user and the absence of commercial advertising. I think that would be important to many schools and parents.
Janet
dmcinnes 9:29 pm on June 5, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Janet,
Good to hear your perspective as a parent and a member of Parent Advisory Council. Thanks. I haven’t used Mathletics, would you say that the they give you a sufficient opportunity to assess the programs value, in the free trial version?
David