Welcome to our review from Common Sense Education, where we explore tools that can be used in classrooms. Today, we’re excited to talk about a new app called Royelles. This app is designed to inspire girls and non-binary kids to get excited about STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Let’s dive into what makes this app special!
Royelles is a free app that has received a positive three-star rating. It aims to help kids feel good about themselves while learning about STEM in a fun and creative way. The app is unique because it includes diverse characters, especially women of color, who are often not represented in STEM-focused apps.
The main character in Royelles goes on an exciting journey where she makes important choices about her future. These choices involve leadership, space travel, and solving STEM challenges. The story is told over 12 chapters, and each chapter is narrated by Crystal Johnson, who works at NASA. How cool is that?
As kids go through the chapters, they also engage in social media-style chats that encourage self-reflection. After finishing the chapters, they get to play a game where they drive a rover in space and tackle more STEM challenges. This makes learning interactive and fun!
Teachers can use Royelles in their classrooms by focusing on one chapter a day. This allows students to reflect on what they’ve learned before moving on to the next STEM challenge. The app also includes a glossary to help with vocabulary, which is a great tool for learning new words.
Royelles is not just a game; it’s an inspirational journey that explores decision-making and leadership. While it combines many elements, it does so in a way that encourages kids to think creatively and boldly. The app’s beautiful story and narration make it a unique learning experience.
Overall, Royelles is a fantastic app that promotes positive messages and inclusivity. It can be a valuable resource for educators looking to inspire their students in STEM. If you’re interested in learning more about educational tools like this, you can visit commonsense.org/education. Keep exploring, and have fun learning!
Imagine you are the main character in a STEM adventure like the one in Royelles. Write a short story where you make important decisions about a STEM challenge. Think about what kind of leader you would be and what exciting discoveries you might make. Share your story with the class!
Using materials like cardboard, paper, and markers, design your own space rover. Think about the challenges it might face on a distant planet and how it would overcome them. Present your rover design to the class and explain its special features.
Using the glossary from the Royelles app, create flashcards with new STEM vocabulary words. Pair up with a classmate and quiz each other on the meanings. See who can remember the most words and use them in a sentence!
Choose a character from Royelles or a real-life STEM leader you admire. Prepare a short presentation or skit where you act as this leader, explaining their contributions to STEM and why they inspire you. Perform your role-play for the class.
Research different STEM careers that interest you. Create a poster or digital presentation about one career, including what skills are needed and why it is important. Share your findings with the class and discuss how STEM careers can change the world.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Welcome back to our editorial team for Common Sense Education, where we review and rate various tools for your classroom. My name is Tanner, and I’m here with Chrissy. Today, we have a new app to discuss that I haven’t heard of before, but I got a little preview, and it looks interesting.
Chrissy, what do you have for us today?
This is a free app called Royale. It earned three stars, which is a solid and positive rating. I want to talk about what excites me about this app and some areas for improvement.
To give you an overview, this app aims to get girls and non-binary kids excited about STEM and help them feel positively about themselves. What I find cool is that it does this in a creative, inclusive, and authentic way. Sometimes, platforms trying to promote positive self-image can feel cheesy, but this app integrates those messages seamlessly within its narrative.
You can see in the screenshots that there’s representation that is often lacking in apps, particularly in STEM-focused ones. Women of color are underrepresented, so having an app that focuses on STEM and leadership with diverse characters is unique. I would love to see more of that.
The main character navigates a series of choices about her future, involving leadership, space travel, and STEM-related challenges. Kids progress through 12 chapters, narrated by Crystal Johnson, the Deputy Director of Tech and Investments for NASA, which is exciting in itself.
However, it can be challenging because kids need to go through all 12 chapters, which are interspersed with social media-style chats for self-reflection. This integration of narrative, chat, and exploration can feel a bit overwhelming.
After completing the chapters, kids move on to a game where they drive a rover in space and tackle more STEM challenges. In a classroom setting, it would require careful planning to integrate this app meaningfully. Educators might consider using one chapter a day, focusing on the reflective components before diving into the STEM challenges.
It would be beneficial if the game mechanics highlighted the themes more effectively. The transitions between the different elements can feel a bit repetitive, even though the story and narration are beautiful. The app includes an in-text glossary for vocabulary, which is a thoughtful addition.
Overall, it’s a unique and inclusive app with positive messages. If educators can find a way to use it effectively in their classrooms, it could be a valuable resource. I wanted to share this app since it may not be widely known yet, but keep in mind that the mechanics require some consideration for effective use.
Does the review include images of the different experiences? I’m finding it a bit challenging to understand the various components.
Yes, the screenshots show the chapters, and you can see the main character and the STEAM content once you’re in the game.
This app reminds me of “Read to Lead,” which blends game-based learning with real-life experiences. However, this app has a more fantastical element, while “Read to Lead” focuses on practical crisis response.
This app has an aspirational and inspirational aspect, exploring the protagonist’s inner world and decision-making. While it tries to integrate many components, it can be challenging to assemble them cohesively.
Creating games is difficult, and this effort is admirable given its ambitious scope. If you want to read this review and others like it, you can visit commonsense.org/education. We’re back every Tuesday with videos like this, so please like this video, watch more, and subscribe. See you next week!
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This version removes any informal language, filler words, and repetitive phrases while maintaining the core content and structure of the original transcript.
Royelles – A digital platform or game designed to inspire and empower young girls in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). – Example sentence: In our technology class, we explored Royelles to learn more about exciting careers in STEM.
App – A software application that can be downloaded and used on a smartphone, tablet, or computer. – Example sentence: We used a new app in our science class to simulate different weather patterns.
STEM – An educational approach that integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. – Example sentence: Our school has a special STEM program that encourages students to build robots and solve engineering problems.
Learning – The process of gaining knowledge or skills through study, experience, or teaching. – Example sentence: Online learning has become more popular, allowing students to study from anywhere in the world.
Kids – Children or young people, especially those attending school. – Example sentence: The kids in our class are excited to use tablets for their history project.
Classroom – A room where teaching and learning take place, typically in a school. – Example sentence: Our classroom is equipped with a smart board that makes lessons more interactive.
Challenges – Difficult tasks or problems that require effort and determination to overcome. – Example sentence: Solving math challenges helps students develop critical thinking skills.
Characters – People or creatures in a story, game, or play, often used to teach lessons or convey messages. – Example sentence: The characters in the educational game taught us about the importance of teamwork.
Creative – Using imagination or original ideas to create something; inventive. – Example sentence: Our art teacher encourages us to be creative by designing our own digital artwork.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. – Example sentence: Education is important because it helps us understand the world and prepares us for the future.
