Research shows that afterschool programs impact graduation rates just as much as what takes place in the classroom.
UnboxEd is our little corner of that world.
We offer an afterschool program that checks all the...       good type of boxes.

Reading, Writing, Math and
       Critical Thinking

Social Skills and Communication

Small Groups, Maximum Attention
​
​All While Having Fun Playing Games

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.​

What We Do

UnboxEd offers a fun, interactive approach to building skills and exploring ideas not found in standard curriculum. Our 90-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. 

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.

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                   Enroll or Subscribe

Shout at us to get UnboxEd into your child's school. Stay up-to-date with our monthly newsletter, sharing research and insights into the world of game-based learning. Check out our Enrollment page for more info.

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.

Chloe a.k.a
​Yemaya

Nate a.k.a.
​Mad Marty

​​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.

​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.

                                    Why Games?

“Look but don’t touch” are the most heartbreaking words to a curious mind. Children are born scientists. They break stuff in the name of discovery. They rebel in the name of boredom. They test boundaries to learn rules. You can’t reach students who feel handcuffed. We say, give them the keys to their own education.

Tabletop games have undergone a renaissance in the last decade. Modern games are designed to reach a wider demographic and access a greater range of emotions and experiences. At the same time, research increasingly shows how effective they are as educational tools. 

Games are elegant, dynamic puzzles for your senses. Look at all those bits and colors and shapes and textures. Don’t you just want to fiddle with them? Tinker with them? Slide and roll and admire them? They look downright edible. Like brain candy.

We want to bring the beauty, delight and novelty of these games to kids, especially those less fortunate who wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to something so niche and geeky.

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