Two Teachers. One Vision. EduPLAYtion.
Histrionix™ Learning Company provides interactive, game-based curriculum (and teacher training) to public, private and home schools that improves student achievement by engaging all learning styles, enhancing critical thinking skills and encouraging creative problem solving, which are the building blocks of thoughtful, twenty-first century students — and citizens.
Because learning is fun.
About Us
The History of Histrionix
Since 2007 – we, Rick Brennan and Jason Darnell, the founding fathers and co-owners of Histrionix Learning Company – have been busy writing, designing and building a core curriculum aligned social studies strategy and simulation game called Historia™. In the beginning, educational game design was only a late night labor of love since we were history teachers by trade with growing families to help raise, too. Still, we continued to refine Historia all these many years and have now made educational game design the core of our game based learning company because we were convinced – then as now – that our game was new and modern and meaningful. And fun.
Why Histrionix Works
- Histrionix products & services are designed by teachers, for teachers and align to state mandated core curriculum and standardized tests.
- Histrionix products & services place the student at the center of their learning, harnessing high-level thinking and problem solving and teaching to all learning types.
- Histrionix products & services provide students with interactive, game-based learning experiences that breathe life into learning, so new knowledge is more easily recalled.
- Histrionix products & services make teaching and learning intuitive, intrinsic and joyful, which makes classrooms more manageable, lively and fun.
The Founding Fathers
Rick Brennan, CEO
Jason Darnell, President
Historia is our core curriculum aligned, social studies simulation and strategy game.
Photo by Brian Waniewski
Currently, Historia is being used by teachers in New York City at The Institute of Play's (IOP) Quest2Learn (Q2L) school and in Houston, Texas at The Ripley House Promise Community School to teach history, world cultures, government, geography, and economics — all at once. If you are interested in having Historia at your middle, high or home school, please contact us
"Historia is a fun and effective way to learn about history firsthand through a game. It also gives kids more appreciation for history and respect for other cultures." Vishnu N. Age 12
"It doesn't even feel like you're learning because its so fun!" Caleb Z. Age 12
"Historia is living inside the history you are learning." Julia E. Age 12
"For the first time, I understand how history was lived instead of imagining how." Madeline M. Age 11
"Historia is basically the textbook coming to life." Olivia C. Age 11
- The Institute of Play (IOP) – in partnership with The Gates Foundation and Fast Company – produced a short documentary film about Historia and its impact on teaching and learning in the classroom. Watch The film here.
- Historia was recently featured in The Atlantic. Read the article here.
Partners
Histrionix Learning Company recently formed a strategic partnership with Neighborhood Centers, Inc (NCI) to build a one of its kind, first of its kind game play school on The Ripley House Middle School campus in the historic East End of Houston, Texas. Working together, Histrionix and NCI will train Ripley’s teachers and staff on the pedagogy and practice of classroom games and game-play while simultaneously converting the curriculum to meaningful, game-like learning experiences that build twenty-first century skills – like creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving and cooperation.
We are excited to announce that The Ripley House School of Play will open its doors for the first time in August of 2013. Game. On.
