Top 9 FableVision Moments of 2020

2020 has been a year of unprecedented change—but also a time of resiliency in the face of challenge. We have seen innovative educators, creatives, and more step up to the plate to keep the learning going for students of all ages, no matter where they are.

And there is no better way to wrap up our year than with the streaming of “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” at this year’s virtual Holiday Pops Celebration. We’re so thankful for incredible partnerships and projects such as this, and for all those who helped us continue to find safe, fun, and exciting ways to connect this year, even where we’re physically apart.

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1. FableVision Games

Our highlight of 2020 is the launch of our new games platform, FableVision Games! Timely as ever, FableVision Games offers state-of-the-art, research-based games and educator tools, poised for this time of remote and blended classroom learning. Stay tuned for more games launching in 2021!

The FableVision Games lineup includes: 

Zoombinis: a relaunch of the classic, beloved ’90s game “Logical Journey of Zoombinis” created in partnership with TERC and the Learning Games Network. The game teaches Computational Thinking to grades 3-8.

Cyberchase Fractions Quest: an immersive game based on the popular, award-winning PBS KIDS series Cyberchase that combines a high-stakes adventure story with a research-based approach to fractions learning. Created in partnership with WNET and the Education Development Center (EDC) through Phase I and II support from the IES Department of Education’s SBIR program.

Civics! An American Musical: an online game for middle school students that promotes the importance of civics and teaches how to analyze primary sources. Created in partnership with Maryland Public Television, Maryland Humanities, and Tufts’ CIRCLE, as part of the Library of Congress’ Teaching with Primary Sources program.

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2. Design Principles

On our mission to tell “stories that matter, stories that move” and create positive media that moves the world to a better place, the studio authored our core design principles to share the pedagogy behind our approach. No matter the type of media—educational games, animation, museum interactives, websites, Augmented Reality experience—or the subject matter, our focus is always on the needs of our end-user, the context of their learning, and the impact of our product.

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FableVision President Gary Goldberger (left) and Communications Director Sarah Ditkoff (right) accept the KAPi Award for Keenville at the 2020 CES Convention in January.

3. Award Winners!

We pride ourselves on the quality, creativity, and educational value of our educational media and game-based projects. You don’t have to take our word for it, though! The awards we’ve won speak for themselves.

This year, we were honored to accept an award for Keenville, our literacy and math game-based assessment created in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and Georgia Center for Assessment. Keenville was recognized as a “Noteworthy School Product” in the 2020 Kids At Play Interactive (KAPi) Awards.

Galaxia, a bullying prevention game developed in partnership with the National Health Promotion Associates as a part of their Botvin LifeSkills Training middle school curriculum, was selected as an EdTech “Cool Tool” finalist for 2020.

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4. Amazing Partners

2020 was also a year of innovative collaborations towards a more educated and empathetic world. Here are just some of the incredible organizations we were proud to partner with this year.

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FableVision Executive Producer Peter Stidwill presents at the virtual Games for Change Festival.

5. Thought Leadership

The FableVision team’s insights shone this year as they shared their expertise and best practices at a number of industry conferences. 

Gary Goldberger, FableVision president and co-founder, spoke at the Unity for Humanity Summit about FableVision’s core design principles and how Unity creators can make accessible educational games.

Executive Producer Peter Stidwill joined three panel presentations in 2020. He presented at the SXSW EDU Conference and Festival and the Serious Play Conference on how games can teach and assess 21st Century skills. Peter also presented at the 2020 Games for Change Festival, where he shared his knowledge and best practices to make educational games more accessible. 

Creative Director, Leigh Hallisey, also attended the Library of Congress Consortium Meeting to present a poster session on our newly-launched U.S. history learning game Civics! An American Musical.

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6. Resources in the Era of Social Distancing

To support teachers, students, and families in this time of remote and blended learning, FableVision developed a myriad of robust resources to help people stay informed and to keep the learning going through this era of social distancing. 

As students and teachers around the world stayed at home to reduce risk, FableVision compiled a list of our favorite distance learning games, animation, and other resources to make finding engaging, quality digital learning tools easier.

To build awareness during Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond, we curated a list of FableVision-developed resources that facilitate open and honest conversations about mental health, self-love, and healthy coping skills.

For summer 2020, FableVision invited everyone to join us for a social distanced and educational virtual summer picnic, complete with educational games, animation, and more to help students have fun and keep their minds sharp throughout the season.

We teamed with the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) to produce a series of videos educating people on how clinical trials produce new treatments and vaccines.

To support educators and students as they returned to their school routines in the fall, FableVision joined over 70 federally-funded researchers and developers to produce a series of educational technology guides and resources covering a range of topics.

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7. FableVision In the News

In 2020, we were also thrilled and honored to see our work in the news, at festivals, and beyond where it can reach more audiences!  

The Animation World Network highlighted The Paper Girls Show, our new animated series created in partnership with Global Tinker that empowers young girls to play, imagine, make, and learn with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).  

Don’t Mix Us Up, our witty and catchy animated music video series was featured at the Bay Area International Children’s Film Festival, where attendees were able to learn all about the dangers of confusing look-alike objects. 

And last but not least, over 3,500 Lubbock County second-graders read FableVision founder Peter H. Reynolds’ book The World Collector as a part of the United We Read initiative! The festivities also featured a special video message from Peter Reynolds, encouraging their reading efforts.

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8. Seasonal Banners

Spring banner designed by FableVision production artist Julie Oliveira

Summer banner designed by FableVision director of art & animation Bob Flynn

Fall banner designed by FableVision lead artist Christina Kelly

Winter banner designed by FableVision production artist Julie Oliveira

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9. Our Incredible Team

The FableVision team celebrates the KAPi Award for Keenville in January 2020.

What a year. We count ourselves lucky to have an amazing staff that not only rolled with the punches but excelled with grace, grit, and a sense of humor. From our virtual offices to yours—the future looks bright from here. Stay safe. See you in 2021!

FableVision Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month All Year Long

As we near the end of May and Mental Health Awareness Month, FableVision wants to make sure that the conversations surrounding mental health are not limited to these thirty one days. As we continue to #BreakTheStigma and work towards normalizing conversations about mental health and wellness, we believe that these important topics should be discussed all year long. And as many of us continue to spend more time in our homes these days, it is not only important that we continue to look after our own mental health, but also lend a helping hand to others who may be struggling. 

Take a look at our list of resources to help you have open and honest conversations about mental health, practice self-love and healthy coping skills, and learn and flourish - any day of the year!

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Different Kinds of Hurt: Isaac’s Story (Massachusetts Department of Mental Health)

It can be difficult for many children to share their worries and express how they feel to others. To normalize conversations about mental health and show kids that “it’s okay to not feel okay,” FableVision teamed up with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and Walker Cares to create Different Kinds of Hurt: Isaac’s Story, a multimedia campaign that aims to fight the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Consisting of a graphic novel, animated film, and accompanying print resources, Isaac’s Story shares the experiences of Isaac and his friend Mia as they describe their recent stays in the hospital, Mia for her broken leg and Isaac for his anxiety. The campaign draws parallels between mental and physical health without relying on harmful stereotypes.

Watch the film, order your free copy of the book (available to all Massachusetts residents), and download additional family and educator resources on the Isaac’s Story site.

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The Reflection in Me (Marc Colagiovanni)

How we view ourselves can have a huge impact on our mental health. That’s why FableVision teamed up with attorney turned storyteller and filmmaker Marc Colagiovanni to create The Reflection in Me, an animated film that spreads positivity and lets you know “you are perfectly perfect just the way you are!” 

The film follows a child's journey of self-love and motivates viewers to look deeper within and appreciate who they are. Drawing on the importance of acceptance, this heartwarming and uplifting film promotes a message of self-love as we see the child in the film is motivated by their reflection to accept who they truly are: perfectly perfect.

The full film is available on YouTube. Visit the FableVision website for more information about the film, its creator, and FableVision Studios.

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Sesame Street in Communities Spinners (Sesame Workshop)

Help your children grow smarter, kinder, and stronger! In partnership with Sesame Workshop, FableVision created two spinner engine interactives for Sesame Street in Communities, an online tool that provides parents and providers with access to information and activities directed to help them better care for and educate young children.

Encourage children to get up on their feet with “Grover’s Playground Workout,” an interactive that helps children have fun while exercising. Players spin a wheel and land on a random monster or pick a monster of their own choosing that then models up to three different moves for children and parents to imitate. Or learn coping strategies with the help of your favorite Sesame Street characters in “A Little Help from My Furry Friends.” Each selected monster showcases their own video to help children understand and develop skills to cope with stress and anxiety. 

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Project Here Games (The Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts, Health Resources in Action, and the GE Foundation)

To help promote healthy decision-making strategies and change the status quo of substance use prevention education, FableVision teamed up with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, GE foundation, and Health Resources in Action to create Project Here Games, a social emotional learning app that serves as part of the Massachusetts statewide Project Here initiative. 

Combining popular and relevant games with an upbeat interactive structure, Project Here Games consists of varying mini-games surrounding coping methods, decision-making, communication, and myth-busting. Players travel through the games by applying their earned skills to solve life-like scenarios. Using effective communication and mindfulness, players are able to see what impact these skills can have on situations while in a safe space. 

Created with an underlying curriculum, these interactives consist of meaningful lessons that inform children about the risks of substance abuse as well as assess their knowledge on the subject. This research-based interactive experience grants prevention education a new and useful tool for substance education, overall positively impacting the mental and physical health of Massachusetts’ future.

FableVision Resources for Distance Learning

With many of us working from home or learning remotely these days, it can be difficult to find fun, quality, engaging activities to pass the time and keep us in good spirits. And now that students of all ages—from kindergarteners to high schoolers and beyond—are home during the school day, you can help them continue to learn with this list of games, animated shows, and more that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Naturally, we’re biased, but here are some of our favorite educational resources we developed with our amazing partners to get you started. Who knows—you may learn something yourself as you follow along!

You can also check out our friends at iCivics, Pinna, BrainPOP, GoNoodle, and Common Sense Media for more quality content. Virtual elbow bump!

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Game-Based Learning

Gasha Go! (free)

Age Range: grades K-3

Help the lovable Gasha Go! characters fill an arcade machine with toys! In this cute and colorful math game from FableVision and Georgia Public Broadcasting, players learn number sense, numeracy, and literacy skills while earning virtual toy rewards along the way.

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Quandary (free)

Age Range: middle school

As the captain of the new space colony Braxos, it’s up to you to use your moral decision-making skills to keep the peace. In Quandary, an online card and story-based game we developed with the Learning Games Network, players assume the role of captain in a futuristic society. In this role, players must make difficult—and important— decisions to help build their colony and strengthen their community.

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Zoombinis ($2.99 on App Store and Google Play, $4.99 on Kindle, $9.99 for Broderbund and Steam)

Age Range: middle school

Join the Zoombinis on a logical journey! In this relaunch of the classic ‘90s game, players use their algebraic thinking, data analysis, and theory formulation skills (also known as Computational Thinking) to solve puzzles and help the Zoombinis find a new home. The game was re-released in 2015 in partnership with TERC and Learning Games Network.

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Read to Lead (free)

Age Range: middle school

The citizens of the fictional city of Fort Douglas are struggling to grapple with the aftermath of a hurricane. In this trio of games FableVision developed with Classroom, Inc.—After the Storm, Community in Crisis, and Vital Signs—players assume the role of a newspaper editor, community center director, and medical clinic manager to help the town rebuild and pick up literacy and career readiness skills along the way.

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Lights, Camera, Budget! (free)

Age Range: middle and high school

Welcome to Hollywood! Can you manage a budget of $100 million to create the horror, comedy, or action movie of your dreams? This online financial literacy game is a collaboration between FableVision, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and the Georgia Council on Economic Education that teaches personal finance and money management in a way that is engaging and aligns with Common Core standards.

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Animation

Digital Citizenship Music Videos

Age Range: grades K-2

Online safety and balance  are crucial, especially in our increasingly digital world. To teach children how to be safe, responsible, and respectful in their digital lives, FableVision created three fun and educational music videos for grades K-2 as a part of Common Sense Education’s K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum. While the music videos are perfect for young children to learn the importance of digital safety, online privacy, and more, you may find yourself singing and dancing along!

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Different Kinds of Hurt: Isaac's Story

Age Range: elementary school

Now is an especially important time to have open and honest discussions with children about mental health, and to remind them that it’s okay not to feel okay. FableVision partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, the Walker School, and Express Yourself to tell the story of Isaac, who shares his experience of going to the hospital for mental health reasons with his friend Mia. The warm and friendly animated film draws parallels between mental health and physical health using Isaac’s experiences and Mia’s recent stay in the hospital for a broken leg to normalize conversations about kids’ mental health without relying on harmful stereotypes.

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Go! Go! Cory Carson

Age Range: preschool

Navigate childhood with kid-car Cory Carson! In this charming Netflix series from Kuku Studios, and with help from FableVision’s VP of Creative Tone Tyne, viewers follow Cory Carson on his epic adventures, from a field trip to the firehouse to his very first sleepover! The first two seasons are now streaming on Netflix.

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The Paper Girls Show

Age Range: 6-8

Meet Caily and Reese, curious best friends and makers, as they use STEAM to solve problems with help from their friends in the fantastic paper world of Confetti! This animated series from FableVision and Global Tinker empower viewers through creativity and exploration, and shows young girls that “if you can dream it, you can make it!”

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Good Thinking!: The Science of Teaching Science

Age Range: adults

How do students develop new conceptual understandings? Are “learning styles” out of style? In this animated series for K-8 science educators, FableVision and the Smithsonian Science Education Center tackle common misconceptions students have on a variety of topics, from gravity and inertia to weather and the water cycle, and show how educators can debunk these issues in their classrooms—even if that classroom is now online!

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Dodo Sing Dodo Dance

Age Range: preschool and up

Sing and dance along with the beloved animals from The Dodo, now on a platform designed just for kids! Visit the Dodo Kids YouTube channel for kid-friendly content, including five catchy, cute critter-filled music videos. With original music created in partnership with musical group The Wilders and lyrics from FableVision VP of Creative Tone Thyne, Dodo Sing Dodo Dance features cute animals, colorful graphics, and upbeat music and lyrics that will have people of all ages joining in!

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FableVision Learning Resources:
The Creativity Maker Suite

FabMaker Studio

Age Range: grades K-8

Let’s make something! (And you don’t even need a 3D printer!) With FabMaker Studio, a research-based digital fabrication tool from our sister company FableVision Learning, students can design and fabricate any project—including designing a solar car or modeling a snow fort—using digital tools, including scissors, electronic cutters, and more!

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Get Published!

Age Range: grades K-8

Curious about how to publish a book? Learn from award-winning children’s book author and illustrator—and FableVision founder—Peter H. Reynolds in this web-based digital publishing platform from FableVision Learning. Through videos and hands-on activities, users will learn all about what it takes to make a book, from developing a plot to formatting pages to creating an actual book that you can put on your bookshelf!

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Animation-ish

Age Range: grades K-12

Animation-ish is an easy-to-use, web-based animation program that inspires creativity, and allows students in grades K-12 to "show what they know." Animation-ish includes three levels that provide students and teachers from K-12 with a fun, rewarding experience that fosters the ability to animate across the curriculum with confidence.

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FableVision is an educational media production studio on a mission to move the world to a better place. If you're looking for a production partner for online or distance learning solutions, reach out to us here.