Among the edtech outfits honored as part of the 2024 CODiE Awards last week is an organization that doesn’t lead with tech specs, speeds, feeds, or even literacy scores. “Our intention as a company and our mission is to prevent trauma for students,” says Terry Thoren, CEO Wonder Media, whose Storymaker software won Best Solution for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in the SIIA Innovation Showcase, which recognizes innovators and startups with revenue of less than 1M in revenue.
In this enlightening conversation, Terry explains that Story Maker is a project-based learning program where students work in teams to create animated stories, fostering diversity and collaboration. The tool emphasizes intentionality, connectivity, and other elements to promote happiness and mental health among students. He highlights the importance of creation over consumption in education and addresses the challenges posed by technology use among students. He also points to several examples of real-world implementation of Story Maker at district and classroom levels and its potential to engage students across various subjects, including history and language learning. Have a listen:
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