Prodigy Education

{{Infobox company

| logo = File:Prodigy_icon_2020.svg

| logo_caption = Logo of Prodigy Education, Inc.

| name = Prodigy Education Inc.

| image_caption =

| former_name = Prodigy Game

| industry = Educational video games

| founded = 2011

| founder = Alex Peters
Rohan Mahimker

| website = [https://prodigygame.com https://prodigygame.com]

}}

Prodigy Education, Inc., formerly Prodigy Game, is a Canadian educational technology company focused on game-based learning. Its co-CEOs and founders are Alex Peters and Rohan Mahimker.{{Cite web |last=Vermond |first=Kira |date=September 21, 2021 |title=Education has just been transformed overnight |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/mars/2021/09/21/education-has-just-been-transformed-overnight.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623103720/https://www.thestar.com/business/mars/2021/09/21/education-has-just-been-transformed-overnight.html |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=Toronto Star}} It is the developer of the 2011 and 2022 Prodigy Math, a roleplaying game where players solve math problems to participate in battles and cast spells, and Prodigy English, a sandbox game where players answer English questions to earn currency to gain items. Although each game is standalone, both are accessible through a single Prodigy account. The games are widely used in schools, though they have attracted criticism due to excessive in-game advertising for membership and their freemium aspects.{{Cite web |last=Hern |first=Alex |date=February 19, 2021 |title=Maths app targeting UK schools is criticised over premium mode |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/19/maths-app-targeting-uk-schools-is-criticised-over-premium-model |url-status=live |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623103720/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/19/maths-app-targeting-uk-schools-is-criticised-over-premium-model }}

''Prodigy English''

On April 21, 2022, Prodigy English was launched for grades 1 to 6. According to Prodigy Education, the new game encouraged players to "build their own online world, collecting supplies and exploring an exciting and interactive environment while learning and answering curriculum-aligned English and grammar skills."{{Cite web |last=Kuykendall |first=Kristal |date=April 21, 2022 |title=Maker of Prodigy Math Expands Into Literacy Learning With New Prodigy English Game |url=https://thejournal.com/articles/2022/04/21/maker-of-prodigy-math-expands-into-literacy-learning-with-new-prodigy-english-game.aspx |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=THE Journal |language=en-US |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412155730/https://thejournal.com/articles/2022/04/21/maker-of-prodigy-math-expands-into-literacy-learning-with-new-prodigy-english-game.aspx |url-status=live }}

Criticism and controversies

= Criticism of premium model =

In February 2021, Fairplay, formerly the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, an American advocacy organization, submitted a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission regarding the premium model of Prodigy Math. The organization stated that "[while it] does cost nothing for schools to implement Prodigy, the in-school version encourages children to play at home" and that "And when children play at home, they are met with a steady stream of advertisements promoting a 'premium annual membership' that costs up to $107.40."{{Cite web |last=Solon |first=Olivia |date=February 19, 2021 |title=Child protection nonprofit alleges 'manipulative' upselling with math game Prodigy |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/child-protection-nonprofit-alleges-manipulative-upselling-math-game-prodigy-n1258294 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623103720/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/child-protection-nonprofit-alleges-manipulative-upselling-math-game-prodigy-n1258294 |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=NBC News}}{{Cite web |last=Lucas |first=Johnson |date=June 14, 2022 |title=Why freemium software has no place in our classrooms |url=https://theconversation.com/why-freemium-software-has-no-place-in-our-classrooms-181148 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623044344/https://theconversation.com/why-freemium-software-has-no-place-in-our-classrooms-181148 |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=The Conversation}}

James Bigg, a spokesman for Prodigy Math Game, responded to these allegations by stating in an email interview that the game notifies players about memberships "from time to time". Furthermore, Bigg has stated that "[Prodigy Education looks at] this responsibly and sparingly so it does not detract from the free game play experience or educational quality. ... [they] do not pressure users into upgrading."{{Cite news |last=Klein |first=Alyson |date=February 23, 2021 |title=Popular Interactive Math Game Prodigy Is Target of Complaint to Federal Trade Commission |language=en |work=Education Week |url=https://www.edweek.org/technology/popular-interactive-math-game-prodigy-is-target-of-complaint-to-federal-trade-commission/2021/02 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |issn=0277-4232 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412155728/https://www.edweek.org/technology/popular-interactive-math-game-prodigy-is-target-of-complaint-to-federal-trade-commission/2021/02 |url-status=live }}

References

External links

[https://www.prodigygame.com Prodigy Education homepage]

Category:Educational technology companies of Canada