Cyberchase: Mobile Adventures in STEM

Challenge

STEM knowledge enriches our experiences of the natural and social worlds. Providing children with early opportunities to interact with STEM through playful and creative activities can increase their chances of developing positive associations and dispositions toward STEM and lay foundations for lifelong knowledge and capabilities. Yet not all children have access to rich early STEM learning.

The WNET group and EDC are advancing the STEM learning of early elementary children of Spanish-speaking families and low-income families through Cyberchase: Mobile Adventures in STEM. The project combines the popular animated TV series Cyberchase with the potential of mobile texting to engage families in science and math activities.

Key Activities

The project carried out the following activities:

• Created new Cyberchase videos focused on using math to learn about earth science
• Researched target audience needs and interests
• Conducted a bilingual family learning program in 15 communities, in which parents received weekly texts combining this media with related STEM activities
• Studied the impact of the approach in supporting informal STEM learning and positive parent-child interactions

Our Impact

• The Cyberchase videos are helping build the mathematics and scientific literacy of millions of young girls and boys.
• The family learning program engaged families in 15 communities across the United States in fun and productive STEM experiences.
• The project provided insight into how media-supported family learning activities delivered to parents’ phones via text messages can foster engagement in STEM learning among low-income children and parents.