STEM Buddies EN by Z. Soufan

Abstract

Soufan, Ziad. STEM Buddies EN. Project Hikaya, 2018. Vers. 1.1.2. Google Play Store, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stem_buddies.en
 This educational application uses a combination of multimedia elements such as video, audio, and text to create an engaging and interactive storytelling experience that teaches children about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) topics.
 The app consists of three parts: an animated story, a short quiz, and downloadable colouring pages. Upon opening the app, the user is prompted to watch the animation first, with learning objectives presented for the chosen topic. After the short, subtitled, five-minute video, in which the viewer has the opportunity to pause and rewind, the user is then directed to either the quiz or the colouring pages, which reflect the material presented in the video. This intuitive and logical organization ensures that the informative video is a precursor for the interactive activities and consequently enables learning through reflection and repetition.
 Through accessible language, the current module, “Water Cycle,” seamlessly integrates an original, engaging story and memorable characters with pedagogical elements that explain how rain forms (evaporation, condensation, precipitation), the importance of water, and the problems associated with the lack of rain. The simple, five-question quiz contains multiple question types and uses audio, text, and pictures to provide children with multiple avenues for identification and learning. Through the quiz, children are required to make intelligent decisions regarding what they have learned. Feedback is given in the form of gamification, with correct answers being positively reinforced by the attainment of gold stars, and completion of the quiz resulting in a personalized certificate of achievement for that module. A myriad of colouring pages, available for use within the app or for individual download, reflect familiar themes and characters and continue to provide some interactivity after the module has been completed.
 Available in English and Arabic, this new, free application currently only contains one subject module, with more scheduled to be released in the future. With superior graphic design, no ads, and no in-app purchases, the possibility for distractions and unintended purchases are removed. Despite these desirable features, the video and narrative itself could be more interactive on the textual and visual level by incorporating hotspots for touching, swiping, and exploring. I would recommend it for use in public libraries and by teachers in elementary schools for children aged 5 to 9.
 Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Raven Germain
 Raven Germain is a second year MLIS student at the University of Alberta with a love of children’s literature. When not studying, she enjoys travelling, playing piano, and immersing herself in fantasy novels.