Our 47th Anniversary: Mobile Ed’s Milestones

Year after year, 47 to be exact, Mobile Ed has been dedicated to educating students through entertainment. Since 1979, our performers have traveled from school to school delivering unique educational experiences to millions of students. Today, Mobile Ed is a leader in education-based entertainment, offering 40 different assembly programs covering a wide range of subjects, including science, history, character development, reading, and writing.

When Mobile Ed’s founder, Larry Thompson, first tried to schedule assemblies for his students in 1979, he was disappointed to find that the options for educational content were limited. This, however, gave Larry the bright idea to take matters into his own hands and create assemblies for students that were both entertaining and educational. After all, he wasn’t just a teacher, but an entertainer as well—starring as Mr. Whoodini, a magician sidekick to Bozo the Clown! This provided Larry with the perfect background to found Mobile Ed Productions, a company dedicated to bringing fun, engaging educational experiences directly to students.

The Early Days: Learning in a New Light

It all started in 1979 with The Amazing World of Light. Mobile Ed’s very first assembly program introduced students to the properties of light and the electromagnetic spectrum. This assembly
used strobe lights, lasers, and holograms to get students excited to learn about how light behaves and the interesting ways it can be manipulated. For Mobile Ed, this was the beginning of an educational journey that would grow and take shape through the years. Though this program has since been retired, its legacy can be felt in programs like Forces and Motion, which help bring physics concepts to life in ways that keep students excited and engaged.

Finding Our Identity: The Sky’s the Limit

If we had to choose a marquee assembly that best represents Mobile Ed, it would have to be our SkyDome Planetarium. This exciting portable planetarium program is practically synonymous with Mobile Ed and has become an annual staple at schools across the country since the ‘90s. This immersive program doesn’t just inspire students; it becomes a core memory they look back on fondly, often ranking among their favorite days at school! Over the years, the SkyDome has kept pace with the latest developments in space science while instilling a sense of wonder in students, urging them to explore the world around them and beyond.

The Next Level: Picking Up STEAM

In today’s tech-driven world, educators are eager to introduce their students to the latest technology and innovations as soon as possible. Since 2013, Mobile Ed’s STEAM Museum has addressed this demand by bringing the science museum straight to students at their school. Using 12 hands-on stations, the STEAM Museum helps students explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math concepts by giving them direct access to state-of-the-art exhibits that spark their interest and help develop their proficiency in emergent technologies.

Keeping the Vision Alive at Mobile Ed

47 Years later, Mobile Ed continues to honor Larry’s original vision for mobile education by developing and delivering high-quality educational programs to schools across the country. Though some assemblies, like the Amazing World of Light, have been retired, others, like the SkyDome Planetarium and the STEAM Museum, receive ongoing updates to keep them feeling fresh with up-to-date information. What hasn’t changed throughout the years is Mobile Ed’s dedication to supporting educators by providing exciting educational experiences that align with curriculum standards and get students excited to learn.

Ready to bring the excitement of a Mobile Ed assembly to your school? Click the button below to check availability and schedule a program for your students today!