Edmark

Edmark Corporation (or simply Edmark) was a publisher of educational print materials and an educational software developer in Redmond, Washington.[1] They developed software for Microsoft Windows and MacOS in several languages and sold it in over a dozen countries.[1]

Edmark
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryCD-ROM software internet
Founded1970 (1970)
FounderGordon B. Bleil
Defunct2017 (2017)
Headquarters
Redmond, Washington
,
U.S.
ParentHoughton Mifflin Harcourt
WebsiteOfficial Website

History

Edmark was founded in 1970 by Gordon B. Bleil by combining the assets of Educational Aids and Services Co. a small supplier of educational materials and programs and L-Tec Systems Inc. which had developed programs from its research. The Child Development and Mental Retardation Center of the University of Washington under the direction of Dr. Sidney Bijou had conducted research into the operant conditioning and reinforcement theories of B.F. Skinner as applicable to human learning. From this research, they developed academic programs which for the first time proved the viability of teaching reading to people with severe mental limitations. Bleil adapted this research into The Edmark Reading Program which for the next decade was the principal product of the company.

Bleil left the company to return to banking in 1980 and retained no interest in the company.

They began developing software in 1992.[1] Edmark was listed on NASDAQ.[1] Their audience was children between the ages of 2 and 16 years.[1] Edmark had more than 65 industry design awards.[1]

In 1989, their children, Richard, Lucy, Heather, and Chris became directors.[1] Richard became the chairman, Heather became the CCO, Chris became the president and Lucy became the CEO in October 1989.[1] Edmark hired former teacher Donna Stanger as vice president of product development in October 1991.[1]

In 1992, Edmark released Millie's Math House and KidDesk.[1] Sally Narodick resigned as CEO in September citing the stress, and Stanger became the CEO.[2]

Edmark was acquired by IBM on November 13, 1996, for $102.3 million ($15.50 per share for two-thirds of Edmark's shares) to expand its presence in home software.[2][3]

In September 2000, it was sold to Riverdeep Interactive Learning[4] for about $85 million.[5]

As of 2017, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt offered the Edmark, Edmark House Series, Mighty Math, and Thinkin' Things brands as licensing opportunities on its website.[6] HMH sold the rights to many of Edmark's products to Rise Global in 2021.[7]

Software
  • KidDesk (1992)
  • Strategy Challenges Collection 1 (formerly Strategy Games of the World) (1995) Release date: November 1995
  • Strategy Challenges Collection 2: In the Wild (1997)
  • ThemeWeavers: Animals[8]
  • ThemeWeavers: Nature
  • Travel the World with Timmy! Deluxe[9]
  • Let’s Go Read! 1: An Island Adventure - ages 4–6[10]
  • Let’s Go Read! 2: An Ocean Adventure - ages 7–12
  • Stories & More: Animal Friends
  • Stories & More: Time and Place
  • MindTwister Math[11]
  • Space Academy GX-1
  • Virtual Labs: Light
  • Virtual Labs: Electricity
  • Talking Walls[12] ― runner-up for the Macworld 16th Annual Editors' Choice Award for Education[13]
  • Talking Walls: The Stories Continue[12]

Early Learning House[14]
  • Millie's Math House (1992) ― ages 2–6 Release date: June 19, 1992
  • Bailey's Book House (1993) ― ages 2–6 Release date: March 26, 1993
  • Sammy's Science House (1994) ― ages 3–7 Release date: May 22, 1994
  • Trudy's Time & Place House (1995) ― ages 3–7 Release date: August 6, 1995
  • Stanley's Sticker Stories (1996)[15] Release date: April 21, 1996

Thinkin' Things
  • Thinkin' Things Collection 1 (Formerly Thinkin Things) (1993) ― ages 4–8 Release date: September 1993
  • Thinkin' Things Collection 2 (1994) ― ages 6–12 Release date: October 1994
  • Thinkin' Things Collection 3 (1995) ― ages 7–13[16] Release date: October 1995
  • Thinkin' Things: Toony the Loon’s Lagoon (remastered version of Thinkin Things Collection 1)
  • Thinkin' Things: All Around FrippleTown ― ages 4–8, won the 1999 Macworld Editors' Choice Award for Education[17]
  • Thinkin' Things Sky Island Mysteries ― ages 8–12[18]
  • Thinkin' Science
  • Thinkin' Science Series: ZAP! (1998)
  • Thinkin' Space

Imagination Express
  • Imagination Express: Neighborhood[19] Release date: October 1994
  • Imagination Express: Castle[20] Release date: November 1994
  • Imagination Express: Rain Forest[21] Release date: May 1995
  • Imagination Express: Ocean[22] Release date: October 1995
  • Imagination Express: Pyramids[23]
  • Imagination Express: Time Trip, USA[24]

Mighty Math
  • Mighty Math Carnival Countdown (1996) ― ages 4–8 Release date: July 1996
  • Mighty Math Number Heroes (1996) ― ages 7–12 Release date: July 1996
  • Mighty Math Zoo Zillions
  • Mighty Math Calculating Crew
  • Mighty Math Astro Algebra
  • Mighty Math Cosmic Geometry

Reception

Computer Gaming World in 1993 stated that "Bailey's Book House combines the best of educational theory with a loving attention to detail and an engaging presentation ... a real winner".[25]

References
  1. "Edmark Corporation -- Company History". FundingUniverse.com. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  2. Browder, Seanna; Larry Armstrong; Paul C. Judge (1996-12-16). "The Disappearing CD-ROM Players: Small makers of kids' software sell out--or get squeezed out". BusinessWeek. The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Archived from the original on 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  3. Erickson, Jim (1996-11-14). "IBM to Buy Educational Software Maker Edmark". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  4. "Company Timeline - Riverdeep, Destination Success, Reading Software, Math Software, Education Software". Retrieved 2006-11-25. Edmark Corporation [...] was acquired by Riverdeep in September 2000. It is now part of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  5. "Edmark Corporation". Retrieved 2013-02-28. Riverdeep Group bought Edmark from IBM in 2000 for about $85 million
  6. "Licensing Opportunities". Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
  7. US Copyright Office Document No. V15002D430 / 2021-06-15
  8. "ThemeWeavers: Nature and ThemeWeavers: Animals specs". MacWorld. Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  9. "Travel the World With Timmy". macHOME magazine. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  10. Elstrom, Peter (October 6, 1997). "Learn to Read -- And Say the Words Right". BusinessWeek. The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Archived from the original on December 7, 2006. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  11. "MindTwister Math". macHOME magazine. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  12. Huie, Bonnie (August 1, 2000). "Talking Walls; Talking Walls: The Stories Continue: History Software Speaks For Itself". Macworld. Mac Publishing, LLC. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  13. "The 16th Annual Editors' Choice Awards". Macworld. Mac Publishing, LLC. March 1, 2001. Archived from the original on November 6, 2006. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  14. "Riverdeep - Edmark House Series". Archived from the original on October 26, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. "Product Support - Stanley's Sticker Stories (School Edition)". Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  16. Devincenzi, Keelin (April 2000). "Thinkin' Things Galactic Brain Benders". MacAddict. p. 60. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  17. "1999 Editors' Choice Awards". Macworld. Mac Publishing, LLC. March 1, 2000. p. 80. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  18. "Thinkin' Things Sky Island Mysteries". macHOME magazine. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  19. "Product Support - Imagination Express, Destination: Neighborhood (School Edition)". Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  20. "Product Support - Imagination Express, Destination: Castle (School Edition)". Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  21. "Product Support - Imagination Express, Destination: Rainforest (School Edition)". Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  22. "Product Support - Imagination Express, Destination: Ocean (School Edition)". Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  23. "Product Support - Imagination Express, Destination: Pyramids (School Edition)". Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  24. "Product Support - Imagination Express, Destination: Time Trip, USA (School Edition)". Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  25. Eiser, Leslie (December 1993). "Bailey's Book House". Computer Gaming World. pp. 160–164. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
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