MobyMax
{{Short description|Educational technology website}}
{{Third-party|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = MobyMax
| logo = MobyMax logo.jpg
| type = Private
| industry = Educational technology
| location_city = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| products = {{unbulleted list|Mathematics | Early Reading | Reading | Phonics | Language | Writing | Science | Social Studies | State Test Prep}}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2010}}
| founder = {{unbulleted list|Glynn Willett | Wade Willett}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.mobymax.com}}
}}
MobyMax is an online education program used by grades K-8. MobyMax includes 27 subjects including math, reading, phonics, language, vocabulary, spelling, writing, science, social studies, preparations for state examinations, and more. The program also provides classroom tools such as assessments and progress monitoring and offers games, badges, and contests for the students.{{Cite web |title=MobyMax |url=https://www.academicschoice.com/websites/mobymax.php |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=www.academicschoice.com}}
MobyMax is used by 82% of K-8 schools in the United States, with 22 million students registered by teachers.{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Richard |date=January 11, 2017 |title=Louisiana School District Boosts Student Learning and Cuts Costs Using MobyMax Curricula |work=THE Journal |url=https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/01/11/louisiana-school-district-boosts-student-learning-and-cuts-costs-using-mobymax-curricula.aspx}}
History
MobyMax was founded in 2010 by Glynn Willett and his son, Wade Willett. Glynn has previously been the co-founder of ATX, a tax preparation software company. MobyMax was originally intended to find and fix skill gaps in special education students' learning but has also been utilized in other classes.{{Cite web |title=A TechCHAT with MobyMax’s CEO Glynn Willett Education World |url=https://www.educationworld.com/a_news/techchat-mobymax%E2%80%99s-ceo-glynn-willett-970453618 |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=www.educationworld.com |language=en}}
The company expanded the program in 2013 to include Language, Reading, and Vocabulary.
In 2015, MobyMax launched Cognitive Skills Science, which uses 20,000 cognitive skill manipulatives to teach science.{{Cite press release |title=MobyMax Launches Cognitive Skills Science Curriculum for K-8 Schools |date=August 18, 2015 |publisher=MobyMax |location=Potomac, Maryland |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/mobymax_launches_cognitive_skills_science_curriculum_for_k_8_schools/prweb12908852.htm |last1=Krish |first1=Aaron |last2=Harich |first2=Amy}}{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Michael |date=August 19, 2015 |title=MobyMax Launches New Science Curriculum |work=THE Journal |url=https://thejournal.com/articles/2015/08/19/mobymax-launches-new-science-curriculum.aspx}}{{cite web |last=Rivero |first=Victor |date=November 9, 2015 |title=Cool Tool {{!}} MobyMax Cognitive Skills Science |url=https://edtechdigest.com/2015/11/09/cool-tool-mobymax-cognitive-skills-science/ |website=EdTech Digest}} That same year, the company launched a trio of Early Reading modules, followed by Cognitive Skill Social Studies and seven early phonics modules in 2016.{{Cite press release |title=MobyMax Launches Early Reading Trio Curriculum for K-8 Schools |date=October 20, 2015 |publisher=MobyMax |location=Potomac, Maryland |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/mobymax_launches_early_reading_trio_curriculum_for_k_8_schools/prweb13031672.htm |last1=Krish |first1=Aaron |last2=Harich |first2=Amy}}{{Cite news |last=Bolkan |first=Joshua |date=October 20, 2015 |title=MobyMax Debuts Early Reading Curriculum for Tablets |work=THE Journal |url=https://thejournal.com/articles/2015/10/20/mobymax-debuts-early-reading-curriculum-for-tablets.aspx}}{{Cite press release |title=7 New Phonics Modules from MobyMax |date=November 28, 2016 |publisher=MobyMax |url=https://www.highereddive.com/press-release/20161128-7-new-phonics-modules-from-mobymax/}}{{Cite news |last=Ravipati |first=Sri |date=December 6, 2016 |title=Early Reading System Adds Phonics Units |work=THE Journal |url=https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/12/06/early-reading-system-adds-phonics-units.aspx}}{{Cite press release |title=MobyMax Launches Cognitive Skill Social Studies Curriculum |date=March 23, 2016 |publisher=Mobymax |location=Pontomac, Maryland |url=https://www.highereddive.com/press-release/20160323-mobymax-launches-cognitive-skill-social-studies-curriculum/}}{{Cite news |last=Bolkan |first=Joshua |date=March 23, 2016 |title=MobyMax Debuts Personalized Social Studies Curriculum |work=THE Journal |url=https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/03/23/mobymax-debuts-personalized-social-studies-curriculum.aspx}}
In 2018, MobyMax created Pinpoint Assessments with Skill Checker and Benchmarked tests for Math, Language, Foundational Reading, and Reading. MobyMax conducted a study in 2018 with 4,000 students in over 230 classrooms about using MobyMax. The [https://www.mobymax.com/research studies] showed that students using MobyMax helped those students in their studies more than students and classrooms that did not.
In 2020, the company released its new software update to help parents with homeschooling as well as tutoring. This new software, MobyMax Families, arrived shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “We need to limit the toll that COVID-19 is taking on our children’s education,” said MobyMax co-founder Glynn Willett. “MobyMax Families was created for parents who want to stop COVID slide in its tracks."{{Cite web |title=New MobyMax Software Updates Designed to Help Parents Overcome Unexpected Challenges Posed by Stay-At-Home Learning |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/new-mobymax-software-updates-designed-to-help-parents-overcome-unexpected-challenges-posed-by-stay-at-home-learning-882567832.html |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=PRWeb}} This new edition also comes in a family-specific subscription, with access to 1.5 million teachers, K-8.{{Cite web |title=Cedar Rapids Boys and Girls Club participants using MobyMax |url=https://www.thegazette.com/community/cedar-rapids-boys-and-girls-club-participants-using-mobymax/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=www.thegazette.com |language=en-US}}
Reception
In 2016, the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) named MobyMax a Best Science Instructional Solution finalist.{{cite web|title=SIIA Announces Education Finalists for 2016 CODiE Awards|url=http://www.siia.net/Press/SIIA-Announces-Education-Finalists-for-2016-CODiE-Awards|website=SIAA}} The next year SIIA named MobyMax the Best PreK/Early Childhood Learning Solution and Best Education Cloud-Based Solution.{{cite web|title=Best PreK/Early Childhood Learning Solution and Best Education Cloud-Based Solution|url=https://www.techlearning.com/ed-tech-ticker/12189|website=SIAA|date=27 July 2017 }}
In 2020, since the release of MobyMax Families, the company has seen a rise in positive feedback from parents. MobyMax was also named the most awarded educational technology solution provider in the US, in addition to its helpfulness in schools and at home.