Research suggests OST programs improve graduation rates as much as the classroom.
We offer an afterschool program that checks all the... good boxes.
We offer an afterschool program that checks all the... good boxes.
20% increase in Teamwork 30% increase in Problem Solving 31% increase in Persistence Learning Gap reduced by 400+ hours |
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I wish there'd been a program like this when I was a kid.
- Everyone
Who We Are
We are an Austin-based 501(c)3 nonprofit team of educators and game designers
who transform tabletop games into engaging afterschool lessons
that ignite students to become independent learners.
who transform tabletop games into engaging afterschool lessons
that ignite students to become independent learners.
What We Do
UnboxEd offers a fun, interactive approach to building skills and exploring ideas not found in standard curriculum. Our 60-minute in-person classes range from Entrepreneurship and Storytelling to STEM and
History. Using game-based learning, we present an
alternate lens to what education can look like.
History. Using game-based learning, we present an
alternate lens to what education can look like.
How We Do It
Combining learning and play, we increase engagement, transform content into applied knowledge, craft systems that reward curiosity and grow confidence, and identify each student's strengths and needs.
Our Mission
We envision a model that empowers students to design their own learning experiences.
Our mission is to mold creators, entrepreneurs, and community builders.
Our mission is to mold creators, entrepreneurs, and community builders.
Fantasy Worlds, Real Results
During any pause, you could bet on Chloe diving into a book or drawing. She found comfort in imagination over communication. Making friends was tough for her. Initially, she felt skeptical of the Storytelling group. Until she proudly invented her own class of magic, and realized she could summon animal companions, bring forests to life, and place hexes on enemies. She gained confidence as the group came to rely on her unconventional ideas and sense of humor. They learned to give each other space to contribute to the story, understanding that everyone had an equal connection to the world and its characters. The absence of grades and scores helped her become more patient with mistakes. Because she helped decide the rules, Chloe held herself to the agreed-upon expectations of fairness.
Above all, she created real bonds. When play got too intense, no one rolled their eyes or panicked. They paused the game, discussed what could improve, and let her know they were proud of how deeply she allowed herself to immerse.
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Chloe a.k.a |
Nate a.k.a. |
Nate couldn't sit still. He loved socializing, always had his hand raised, invented a Cheeto economy, but wasn't connecting with schoolwork. As his grades suffered, so did his confidence. He was the perfect candidate for Entrepre-newbies.
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Straight away, Nate became our Treasurer. He was born to be a fast-talking CFO. With the group counting on him to calculate expenses, contracts, and profits, he worked extra hard. He was a natural negotiator, interviewer, and inventor. Without even knowing it, he learned math, cause and effect, chunking, and inferencing. His confidence recovered. So when the business got stuck, he rose to the challenge. The group needed to somehow invent a radio to broadcast events that were growing too large for their sports arena. Nate, who "hated school," spent two months studying Electrical and Chemical Engineering, eventually inventing a magic-powered battery, and the world's first radio.
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