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Monthly Archives: November 2016

Exploring Children’s Apps: A Course for Media Mentors

by Carissa Christner
November 29, 2016

Librarians are perfectly situated to become media mentors for families seeking help navigating the digital landscape, but not all librarians are comfortable in that realm themselves—yet. Perhaps you are (or know) a children’s librarian who would like to start using apps in the library, but you’re not sure how to … 







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Five Years of Educate to Innovate

by Allison Mishkin
November 28, 2016

On November 14, 2016, the National STEM Video Game Challenge celebrated its fifth year with an awards ceremony and reception in Washington, DC at National Geographic for all 24 student winners and their families, as well as leading educators, game designers, and policy makers from across the country. I’ve been … 







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5 Tips for Using Family Time with Apps to Promote Learning

by Katy Svehaug
November 23, 2016

When we think of apps for kids, we often think of games for either entertainment or learning. But apps aren’t limited to just games or books—they can also provide important social, emotional, and physical experiences too. In Family Time With Apps, we explore how to find the best apps to fit your … 







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Meet the Winners: Caleb Koo

by Katy Svehaug
November 14, 2016

“I’ve always been interested in crafting stories,” says Caleb Koo, a 15-year-old from Galena, Ohio. “And telling stories through a video game is very easy.” Caleb designed Conquering the Underworld, which won the Middle School Gamestar Mechanic category of the 2016 National STEM Video Game Challenge. In this “choose your … 







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Meet the Winners: Elisha Azaria

by Katy Svehaug
November 14, 2016

Aspiring programmer Elisha Azaria, 13, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania learned about the National STEM Video Game Challenge from his father — whose work with artificial intelligence helped to inspire Elisha’s winning game design. Created as a complex 3D game, Alien AI Abduction won the Middle School Unity category of the 2016 National … 







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Meet the Winners: Kimberly Do

by Katy Svehaug
November 14, 2016

Kimberly Do, 16, has a deep fascination with outer space. An avid member of her school’s NASA Student Astronaut Challenge team, the Plant City, Florida native used cosmological interest to inspire her game design, Escape Velocity, winner of the High School Game Design Document category of the 2016 National STEM … 







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Meet the Winners: Shrey Pandya and Lucas Armand

by Katy Svehaug
November 14, 2016

When Shrey Pandya, 13, of Exton, Pennsylvania and Lucas Armand, 14, of Malvern, Pennsylvania set out to create their own fast-paced first person shooter game, they were determined to come up with a concept that was educational, nonviolent, and engaging for young players. The result, Outbreak: Cellular Warfare, is an … 







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Meet the Winners: Ronan Boyarski

by Katy Svehaug
November 14, 2016

When 12-year-old Ronan Boyarski first started playing Minecraft, he quickly became curious about how video games were designed. The Locust Grove, Virginia-based student started investigating the process using Scratch before taking classes in Minecraft Modding, app making, and programming in C and Swift. His latest game design, Hungry Black Hole, … 







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Meet the Winners: Zane Godil

by Katy Svehaug
November 14, 2016

Zane Godil, age 12, learned about the National STEM Video Game Challenge from friends in his community of Beaverton, Oregon who had entered in previous years. “It was interesting and exciting to see what they’d come up with and hear about their experiences,” Zane says. With a little encouragement from … 







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Meet the Winners: Puja Chopade

by Katy Svehaug
November 14, 2016

For 10-year-old Puja Chopade of Madison, Alabama, major world problems like global warming served as inspiration for her video game design. Puja’s original game, Save the World!, won the Middle School Game Design Document category of the 2016 National STEM Video Game Challenge. In Save the World!, players learn about … 







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