Cellular STEM: Promoting Interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education Using Cellular Messaging, Cloud Computing, and Web-Based Social Networks

Abstract

Cellular STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is a system conceived to interface computational/ visualization engines to SMS/MMS messaging for the purpose of enhancing STEM Education. The system allows users to send processing request to a computational/visualization engine (e.g. MATLAB, Octave) via SMS or MMS and receive the processed data back via SMS or MMS. The development of the Cellular STEM system using a social networking site managed better versus using a dedicated email account, primarily due to the versatile API of the social networking site as well as it alleviating the burden of message parsing. Additionally, SMS/MMS-based social networking sites have the potential to ultimately draw the attention of younger people toward STEM learning because of familiarity with the social networking site. Overall, the social networking site based-system was far more robust in terms of security, speed, development, and SMS/MMS message parsing. Furthermore Cellular STEM users can easily tailor the computational/visualization engine toolbox for specific courses or demonstrations. Based on the increase in cloud computing in education and in society in general, Cellular STEM has potential to be a major part of STEM education, and may warrant enterprise-level implementations customized on a per-institution basis.