Scott Laidlaw’s inspiration is education reform. While teaching at Appalachian State University, Laidlaw sought an on-the-ground experience in a public school setting. He found his calling at Roots and Wings in Questa, an innovative charter school that employs project-based or expeditionary learning.
When Laidlaw arrived at Roots and Wings, the students were testing in the twenty-eighth percentile for math, prompting Laidlaw and other teachers to experiment with story-based curriculum. Initially, an oversized map and handmade boats were used to model the Spice Trade of the early 1600s to teach ratios. “The kids loved it and wanted more. And when test scores doubled, we knew we were on to something,” says Laidlaw.
In 2009, Laidlaw and partner Jennifer Harris founded Imagine Education as a start-up company for educational games. Imagine Education is piloting it first game, Ko’s Journey, in six schools nationwide, while marketing the product to publishers, public schools, charter school organizations and virtual schools. ”This is a product with its roots and heart in New Mexico,” says Harris, “and we look forward to implementing our curriculum in the state.”
“Our challenges are typical for a start-up and we have received more touches of support in New Mexico than we could have imagined,” says Laidlaw.” Rio Gallinas Charter School in Las Vegas, NM purchased the game and paid for its development, New Mexico’s school community interfaced with Laidlaw on education best practices, and Northern New Mexico Connect has assisted with Market Intelligence. Market Intelligence developed an assessment of market issues and background information on the educational games market, provided Search Engine Optimization through its partner WESST (The Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team), and helped with contacts in the entrepreneurial support community. As a result, the company is receiving assistance from two students enrolled in Los Alamos National Laboratory’s MBA summer intern program. “Northern New Mexico Connect has introduced us to fabulous resources to market our product and grow a successful company,” says Laidlaw.
For more information, visit www.kosjourney.com.