Sci-Quest: An Interactive Guided Hero's Journey through the Scientific Method to teach Core Scientific Concepts and Hands-on Skills to Underrepresented Populations in Science

XplorStem Academy, developed with NSF Phase I and II funding, is a bilingual, interactive education technology platform designed to bridge the gap between high school and college-level STEM education. The platform combines TikTok-style videos, hands-on experiments, and guided scientific workflows to teach foundational concepts and laboratory skills. Piloted in three Title 1 schools with over 300 students, including 50% English learners, XplorStem Academy has demonstrated significant improvements in engagement and learning outcomes, including a 62% increase in comprehension of experiment-related concepts. The proposed Phase IB project will evolve XplorStem Academy into Sci-Quest, an AI-powered, gamified platform reimagining the scientific method through the Hero’s Journey framework. New components include 1) AI-driven games that dynamically reinforce vocabulary and key concepts, 2) Natural Language Processing tools providing real-time feedback to guide hypothesis formation, answer open-ended questions and conclusion writing, and 3) AI-augmented skills labs teaching critical laboratory techniques. These components address pilot-identified challenges, such as low engagement with writing tasks and repetitive research cycles, while maintaining the platform’s hands-on, interactive approach and augmenting re-enforcement of foundational knowledge. Sci-Quest will equip underserved students with the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed for STEM careers, ensuring accessible, engaging, and effective science education aligned with national standards.