About The Game
In January of 2018, Mr. Meehan was interviewed as a guest on the Well Played U podcast, hosted by Michael Matera, author of the book eXPlore Like a Pirate: Gamification and Game-Inspired Course Design to Engage, Enrich and Elevate Your Learners, and he discussed the origins of this game-changing classroom. In this 30 minute conversation -- which received commendation from Greg Toppo, senior editor of Inside Higher Ed, former national K-12 education reporter for USA Today, and author of The Game Believes in You: How Digital Play Can Make Our Kids Smarter -- Mr. Meehan walks newcomers through the methodology, planning, and research that went into creating this gamified approach to the high school classroom.
The podcast is available on iTunes, Sound Cloud, and on the Explore Like a Pirate website.
A product of literally hundreds of hours of research, development, and beta testing, Dream Rush blends the exact same “gamification” techniques that are currently being employed by more than 70% of Fortune 500 companies including Disney, Google, Samsung, eBay, LEGO, and Amazon with vibrant, student-centered instruction to enrich the classroom experience by creating deep, lasting memories that make learning engaging, accessible, and fun.
In the summer of 2018, Mr. Meehan received his Level 1 Gamification Certification by Sententia Gamification, under the direct instruction of Dr. Jonathan Peters, and Monica Cornetti, ranked as #1 Gamification Guru in the World by UK-Based Leaderboarded. Mr. Meehan was also featured as a guest on episode 36 the Professor Game podcast, which has likewise featured such gamification luminaries as Yu-Kai Chou, author of Actionable Gamification: Beyond Points, Badges, and Leaderboards; and Dr. Richard Bartle, pioneer of the massively multiplayer online game industry and author of Designing Virtual Worlds.
Some snippets of beta tester feedback from a handful of awesome people who took the time to check out the Dream Rush instruction manual in the weeks before we officially launched the game to English classes:
From Former Students:
"This looks awesome Mr. Meehan, you clearly put a lot of effort into this and students will enjoy it. If only you had come up with this idea last year!"
- Bart, Class of 2018
"Just finished reading through it and taking the survey it is AWESOME! You are inspiration to future educators!"
- Emma, Class of 2014
"I reviewed the game aesthetics and I LOVE it. Each level seems to have its own theme that properly correlates to the literature being studied. There's rewards and penalties (that have appropriate icons to them as well) [...] From a student's point of view, I think it will really make the kids want to learn and progress through the year, especially the more competitive ones."
- Skylar, Class of 2018
"This. Is. Lit."
- Tametra, Class of 2013
"The creative ability is definitely a huge plus to this game and I believe it draws a student further into the game. The incentives to go above and beyond to do even better in the game are great for motivating all types of students because no one wants to be at the lowest level."
- Tyler, Class of 2018
"I love the idea of themed worlds. I think that if a particular student is having difficulty connecting with the unit, this game is a way to further immerse them into understanding the topic. I love how competitive it is and how you actually have to think while playing which is probably why I enjoy this idea so much."
- Abby, Class of 2018
" I think that if a particular student is having difficulty connecting with the unit, this game is a way to further immerse them into understanding the topic."
- Vanessa, Class of 2018
From Fellow Teachers:
"This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen for use in a classroom. I really like how you incentivize mastery of concepts and skills through the side quests."
- Mr. H, Middle School Social Studies, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
"Fantastic way to get kids to buy in and care, theme is true to content and interesting. It seems entertaining without sacrificing learning, and probably entertaining while enhancing learning."
- Mrs. M, High School History, Jamaica NY
"I would've loved to have used games in my classroom! I reviewed this as a non-gamer, if there is such a thing, and think it has great potential to engage students! I love the side expedition opportunities! I wish I had you as a teacher!"
- Mrs. C., Secondary Science Coordinator, Virginia Beach VA
"You're THE MOST CREATIVE HUMAN. I need you to lead a seminar so I can learn all the things!"
- Ms. A., Eighth Grade History, Houston TX
"I'm not a gamer, but I was hooked by the intro slides. You've certainly piqued my curiosity!! I could definitely see kids being interested and it would certainly make them want to come to class! I don't have to understand it all because we could do it together. I love the parts I am grasping."
- Ms. S., Middle School Instructional Specialist, Lowell MA
"You have been able to take the technology of today and adapt it so that students will become so involved that their understanding of the people and events that you are providing will be something they will become immersed in. That is what school is supposed to be. I highly commend what you are doing. You will make a great difference in the lives and education of these students."
- Mr. R., Middle School Social Studies (retired), Bethlehem Township NJ
"This is incredible! [...] What I have seen is just astonishing. I would love to sit in and see how the students react and where they take it."
- Mr. O., High School Biology, Arlington VA
"Excellent attention to detail, a really cool concept, and I think that it will make class super exciting for both the kids AND the teacher (love the improv aspect-each class experience will be so unique). Overall, this gaming concept is a genius method to reach every student at every level. I can think of at least 10 teachers in the building who would probably want to give it a whirl."
- Ms. D, High School Research Librarian, Arlington VA
"Game changing. Really inspiring way to package course content around a common theme and get students fully engaged in approaching the content as a challenge, something to overcome, and something to win!"
- Mr. P., High School International Baccalaureate Coordinator, College Park MD
Finally, some specific thank yous, shout-outs, and acknowledgements to my incredible team of Beta Testers and feedback rock stars, who've spent hundreds of hours between them reviewing my game instruction manual and game piece mock-up designs. Noteworthy among this group are fellow teachers, parents of current and former students, course alums, and professional gamers alike -- including five published authors, two University professors, two members of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Teacher Advisory Council, two representatives from the 2017 ASCD Emerging Leaders cohort, two education Ph.D. candidates, my first teacher mentor, a full time blogger and video game reviewer, a professional trading card game judge, and a dozen of my incredibly talented former students from my classrooms over the eight years of teaching that have brought me to this point. And last on this list but first in my heart and in all things, my wife, Laura Meehan, a world-class educator in her own right, my inspiration, and the beating heart behind everything that I do.
Thanks you guys!