Edmark

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

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. Edmark was listed on NASDAQ. Their audience was children between the ages of 2 and 16 years. Edmark had more than 65 industry design awards.

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

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

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.

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

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

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''
*''ThemeWeavers: Nature''
*''Travel the World with Timmy! Deluxe''
*''Let’s Go Read! 1: An Island Adventure'' - ages 4–6
*''Let’s Go Read! 2: An Ocean Adventure'' - ages 7–12
*''Stories & More: Animal Friends''
*''Stories & More: Time and Place''
*''MindTwister Math''
*''Space Academy GX-1''
*''Virtual Labs: Light''
*''Virtual Labs: Electricity''
*''Talking Walls'' ― runner-up for the Macworld 16th Annual Editors' Choice Award for Education
*''Talking Walls: The Stories Continue''

'' Early Learning House''

*''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) 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 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
*''Thinkin' Things Sky Island Mysteries'' ― ages 8–12
*''Thinkin' Science''
*''Thinkin' Science Series: ZAP!'' (1998)
*''Thinkin' Space''

'' Imagination Express''

*''Imagination Express: Neighborhood'' Release date: October 1994
*''Imagination Express: Castle'' Release date: November 1994
*''Imagination Express: Rain Forest'' Release date: May 1995
*''Imagination Express: Ocean'' Release date: October 1995
*''Imagination Express: Pyramids''
*''Imagination Express: Time Trip, USA''

'' 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".

References

External links

Educated Ideas


* [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/23/business/edmark-corp-reports-earnings-for-qtr-to-dec-31.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A17%22%7D Edmark Corp. reports earnings for Qtr to Dec 31]

Behind the Fading of a Onetime Software Star


* [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/11/technology/library-thinking-skills-thinkin-things-collection-3.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A17%22%7D&gwh=63096A11E6C709DE5BC04C55035A8AEF&gwt=pay LIBRARY/THINKING SKILLS; Thinkin' Things Collection 3]

SOFTWARE; Home Lessons For Children Ready to Read

{{Authority control
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Software companies established in 1970
Software companies disestablished in 2017
Riverdeep subsidiaries
Companies based in Redmond, Washington
Educational software companies
Publishing companies established in 1970
Publishing companies disestablished in 2017
Mattel
1970 establishments in Washington (state)
2017 disestablishments in Washington (state)
2000 mergers and acquisitions