Artificial intelligence can answer a question, explain a scientific concept or generate an idea in seconds. But children still need opportunities to build things themselves, test their ideas and work through the problems they encounter along the way.
Devina Bhojwani, president and co-owner of IDEA Lab Kids, believes that is exactly why hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education is becoming more important as AI becomes part of everyday life.
“AI is not there to replace the teacher in the classroom,” Bhojwani said. “It should reduce the burden on educators and give them more opportunities to engage students in meaningful, hands-on learning.”
As AI becomes more capable, Bhojwani believes skills such as curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and leadership will become increasingly valuable.
“Children need to know how to use AI, but they also need to know how to think independently of it,” she said. “They need to be curious enough to ask the next question and confident enough to test whether an answer actually works.”
Hands-on STEAM gives children opportunities to put their ideas into practice and work through challenges as they arise.
“AI can explain how a circuit works, but there is a different kind of learning that happens when a child actually builds one, discovers it doesn't work and has to troubleshoot it,” Bhojwani said.
Even when educators recognize the value of hands-on STEAM, finding the time and resources to incorporate it into their lessons can be difficult. That challenge led to the development of STEAM On Demand, a platform that combines short instructional videos with hands-on experiments and activities. Built-in pauses encourage discussion, questions and experimentation while reducing the preparation required from educators.
“The video isn't the lesson; the hands-on experience is the lesson,” Bhojwani said. “Technology guides the experience, but students are still building, experimenting, discussing and creating.”
IDEA Lab Kids and STEAM On Demand are also using emerging technology to expand access to educational content, including making instructional videos available in English and Spanish and incorporating AI into coding and other learning experiences.
Bhojwani believes that preparing children for an AI-driven future also means teaching them to use the technology thoughtfully.
“Children are going to grow up with AI, so simply keeping it away from them isn't the answer,” she said. “We need to teach them how to ask good questions, evaluate what AI gives them and understand that an AI-generated answer isn't automatically the right answer.”
That education can begin early. For younger children, STEAM is not about mastering advanced technology. It is about developing the habits they will need throughout their lives: asking questions, experimenting, solving problems, collaborating and being willing to try again.
“By the time students reach high school, we want STEAM to already feel familiar to them,” Bhojwani said. “Early exposure gives children years to build confidence as problem-solvers, creators and critical thinkers.”
As AI becomes more integrated into education, Bhojwani sees an opportunity for technology to remove barriers for educators while creating more room for the experiences that technology cannot provide on its own.
“AI can give a child an answer,” Bhojwani said. “Our job is to make sure children still know how to ask questions, test ideas, create something themselves and figure out what to do when the first answer doesn't work.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/lyricoslearning.
ABOUT LYRICOS® LEARNING, LLC:
Lyricos® Learning, LLC is the home to IDEA Lab Kids and is also the creator of STEAM on Demand, a leading provider of streaming interactive content and tools for planning and leading standards-aligned, engaging and fun TK-8 STEAM hands-on lessons.
ABOUT IDEA LAB® KIDS:
IDEA Lab® Kids was founded as a way for kids to explore their love of science, technology, engineering, art and math subjects. The award-winning Houston-based education franchise system offers after-school classes, camps, birthday parties, open labs and much more to children. The brand has positioned itself to be a leader in the growing STEAM education space with franchises in the U.S., Canada and internationally. IDEA Lab Kids franchises are only offered or sold in states where they are registered or compliant with applicable franchise laws.
The franchise fee of $35,500 provides an assigned territory for establishing a location and for offering IDEA Lab On-the-GoSM. The startup costs for an IDEA Lab Kids franchise can range from $163,000 to $465,000. To learn more about franchising with IDEA Lab Kids, visit https://1851franchise.com/lyricoslearning/info.
ABOUT STEAM ON DEMAND®:
STEAM on Demand® is a technology platform that offers science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) interactive lessons “on demand” which are designed to be used in a collaborative classroom setting or online. Hundreds of interactive video lessons have been developed as part of the platform’s core content. These kid-tested videos spotlight topics that align with national and state-level curriculum standards across all STEAM subjects and guide teachers and students through hands-on projects. Also included is access to a variety of coding pathways for students of all levels. The platform provides all the content and tools needed to plan and conduct entire after-school programs.
IDEA Lab Kids
SPONSORED
As AI makes information instantly accessible, IDEA Lab Kids is helping children build the curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that come from learning by doing.
Artificial intelligence can answer a question, explain a scientific concept or generate an idea in seconds. But children still need opportunities to build things themselves, test their ideas and work through the problems they encounter along the way.
Devina Bhojwani, president and co-owner of IDEA Lab Kids, believes that is exactly why hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education is becoming more important as AI becomes part of everyday life.
“AI is not there to replace the teacher in the classroom,” Bhojwani said. “It should reduce the burden on educators and give them more opportunities to engage students in meaningful, hands-on learning.”
As AI becomes more capable, Bhojwani believes skills such as curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and leadership will become increasingly valuable.
“Children need to know how to use AI, but they also need to know how to think independently of it,” she said. “They need to be curious enough to ask the next question and confident enough to test whether an answer actually works.”
Hands-on STEAM gives children opportunities to put their ideas into practice and work through challenges as they arise.
“AI can explain how a circuit works, but there is a different kind of learning that happens when a child actually builds one, discovers it doesn't work and has to troubleshoot it,” Bhojwani said.
Even when educators recognize the value of hands-on STEAM, finding the time and resources to incorporate it into their lessons can be difficult. That challenge led to the development of STEAM On Demand, a platform that combines short instructional videos with hands-on experiments and activities. Built-in pauses encourage discussion, questions and experimentation while reducing the preparation required from educators.
“The video isn't the lesson; the hands-on experience is the lesson,” Bhojwani said. “Technology guides the experience, but students are still building, experimenting, discussing and creating.”
IDEA Lab Kids and STEAM On Demand are also using emerging technology to expand access to educational content, including making instructional videos available in English and Spanish and incorporating AI into coding and other learning experiences.
Bhojwani believes that preparing children for an AI-driven future also means teaching them to use the technology thoughtfully.
“Children are going to grow up with AI, so simply keeping it away from them isn't the answer,” she said. “We need to teach them how to ask good questions, evaluate what AI gives them and understand that an AI-generated answer isn't automatically the right answer.”
That education can begin early. For younger children, STEAM is not about mastering advanced technology. It is about developing the habits they will need throughout their lives: asking questions, experimenting, solving problems, collaborating and being willing to try again.
“By the time students reach high school, we want STEAM to already feel familiar to them,” Bhojwani said. “Early exposure gives children years to build confidence as problem-solvers, creators and critical thinkers.”
As AI becomes more integrated into education, Bhojwani sees an opportunity for technology to remove barriers for educators while creating more room for the experiences that technology cannot provide on its own.
“AI can give a child an answer,” Bhojwani said. “Our job is to make sure children still know how to ask questions, test ideas, create something themselves and figure out what to do when the first answer doesn't work.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/lyricoslearning.
ABOUT LYRICOS® LEARNING, LLC:
Lyricos® Learning, LLC is the home to IDEA Lab Kids and is also the creator of STEAM on Demand, a leading provider of streaming interactive content and tools for planning and leading standards-aligned, engaging and fun TK-8 STEAM hands-on lessons.
ABOUT IDEA LAB® KIDS:
IDEA Lab® Kids was founded as a way for kids to explore their love of science, technology, engineering, art and math subjects. The award-winning Houston-based education franchise system offers after-school classes, camps, birthday parties, open labs and much more to children. The brand has positioned itself to be a leader in the growing STEAM education space with franchises in the U.S., Canada and internationally. IDEA Lab Kids franchises are only offered or sold in states where they are registered or compliant with applicable franchise laws.
The franchise fee of $35,500 provides an assigned territory for establishing a location and for offering IDEA Lab On-the-GoSM. The startup costs for an IDEA Lab Kids franchise can range from $163,000 to $465,000. To learn more about franchising with IDEA Lab Kids, visit https://1851franchise.com/lyricoslearning/info.
ABOUT STEAM ON DEMAND®:
STEAM on Demand® is a technology platform that offers science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) interactive lessons “on demand” which are designed to be used in a collaborative classroom setting or online. Hundreds of interactive video lessons have been developed as part of the platform’s core content. These kid-tested videos spotlight topics that align with national and state-level curriculum standards across all STEAM subjects and guide teachers and students through hands-on projects. Also included is access to a variety of coding pathways for students of all levels. The platform provides all the content and tools needed to plan and conduct entire after-school programs.
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