The goal of the STEMports project was to create an augmented reality (AR) application that could be used by organizations as an innovative way to engage players in learning about Science, Technology, Math and Engineering (STEM) in their local communities. To achieve this, the project team along with community partners created The Station, an AR app for community STEM learning that exists as a freely available download in the Apple app store. Using the app on a mobile device, players explore the world around them through educational quests. Virtual game play is linked to real world locations and discovery through GPS. Game content is created through a web-based editor which only requires input of text, photos and GPS locations. The non-programming nature of the editor has been hugely attractive to our partner organizations because it allows for their staff, often not technically trained, to be able to easily create content.

Our relationships with community partners have been essential to all of our work. Our work focused on rural Maine and our partners included local land trusts, K-12 schools, out of school providers, small museums and a non profit focused on agriculture education. This broad group connected with us because each wanted a new way to connect with youth, visitors and families. We have provided onboarding and training to our community partners on how to use The Station and the companion editor. These training sessions have been both in-person and virtual, allowing us to meet the widespread location, and for a period of the project, COVID-19 restriction needs of our partners. Through our website, we also provide tutorial videos on how to create quests using the editor. Our partners have been involved in creating game content, hosting public play testing events, participating in youth centered workshops and providing feedback to the project team in all the different phases of the work. These partnerships have resulted in dozens of co-created quests across the state of Maine.

Responses from our partners have been very positive. The K-12 educators involved reported that they had very positive experiences with student workshops. In interviews, they highlighted that students who were often uninvolved in regular classroom activities were completely engaged with the co-design process because it gave them a tool to elevate their voice and choice. Community partners reported that while they were originally reluctant to incorporate technology into their outdoor learning experiences, the tools and design process allowed them to see how an AR game can enhance their visitor experiences. They are now eager to build more content and are spreading the word to their colleagues at similar institutions across the state.

Community engagement and collaboration are core to the success of smart and connected community projects. We have developed a model to engage community partners who are interested in using technology to enhance outdoor learning experiences for their visitors. This model is based on research findings from partner surveys and interviews. Particularly, we have learned that for organizations to feel that this is a useful tool, they need to be the ones to drive the content created for a game like The Station. We feel that emphasizing this approach - community led and asset based - will be important to the field as we learn how to make products that are truly valuable to our user communities.

Museums, parks, land trusts and similar spaces are rich learning resources for communities. They are eager for tools to help them connect with teachers, students, families and the public. While our original game content was focused on STEM learning and STEM careers, our partner organizations showed us the many ways that they are interested in using The Station as a way to tell the stories of their spaces. As we think about future uses of the app, we see it as a tool that can engage players in art, history and much more. 

Last Modified: 02/20/2024
Modified by: Ruth Kermish-Allen