PhoneLabs launches crowdfunding campaign for 3D printed phone kits that makes physics fun.
Australia is facing one of the world’s highest STEM skills shortages. 40% of Australian students find STEM subjects boring or too difficult. Education systems are clearly failing to fill the growing demand for STEM competencies vital for innovation-led future. While students are increasing disengaged with STEM education; to the dismay of many educators, they are increasingly engaged with their phones, driving many schools to banning the use of phones in class.
“The irony is that these phones have far more sensor, data logging, processing and display capacity than much of the equipment currently found in school labs,” according to Dr Sivam Krish, the founder of the learning start-up Sensibility Ltd. In most schools, students are still trained in basic physics principles using instruments - such as stopwatches – using tools and methods of teaching that have remained unchanged over a hundred years.
“The irony is that these phones have far more sensor, data logging, processing and display capacity than much of the equipment currently found in school labs,” according to Dr Sivam Krish, the founder of the learning start-up Sensibility Ltd. In most schools, students are still trained in basic physics principles using instruments - such as stopwatches – using tools and methods of teaching that have remained unchanged over a hundred years.
“Physics concepts such acceleration, force, momentum, have for long been taught through equations in abstract terms. This has changed”. With PhoneLab apps kids can now see in real time what they previously struggled to understand. By mounting phones on cycles and skateboards students can now see the laws of physics in action without the layer of mathematical abstraction.
“This makes a huge difference, as kids are able to connect with laws of Physics directly through their own actions”. Once physics is physically connected to fun – the stuff that kids naturally love doing through sport or play- learning follows easily. PhoneLabs web services will soon guide students through their experiential learning, letting them understand the laws of nature through physical activity directly through their phones. But that is just one part of what PhoneLabs is developing. The other is to is to combine the wide range of sensor capabilities (sound, light,magnetism,temperature & pressure), data logging capability and display capabilities of smartphones to create new learning experiences with specially designed 3D printed lab equipment.
3D PRINTED LAB KITS LAUNCHED on INDIEGOGO
A wide variety of physics experiments can now be carried out with 3D printed PhoneLabs kits. PhoneLabs and Google are working together to inspire the next generation of scientist and makers by integrating Google Science Journal with PhoneLabs 3D printed Lab kits. So far, the phones-on/hands-on approach to STEM education has been received well by students. Most of the students surveyed found this approach to learning to be a “much better way of learning”.
About Sensibility Ltd
Sensibility Ltd is an awarding winning Adelaide-based start-up company ( It won Start-up of the Year 2016 for South Australia at the Australian Information Industries Association’s ) and was a finalist in the National Design Entrepreneurship award.
“This makes a huge difference, as kids are able to connect with laws of Physics directly through their own actions”. Once physics is physically connected to fun – the stuff that kids naturally love doing through sport or play- learning follows easily. PhoneLabs web services will soon guide students through their experiential learning, letting them understand the laws of nature through physical activity directly through their phones. But that is just one part of what PhoneLabs is developing. The other is to is to combine the wide range of sensor capabilities (sound, light,magnetism,temperature & pressure), data logging capability and display capabilities of smartphones to create new learning experiences with specially designed 3D printed lab equipment.
3D PRINTED LAB KITS LAUNCHED on INDIEGOGO
A wide variety of physics experiments can now be carried out with 3D printed PhoneLabs kits. PhoneLabs and Google are working together to inspire the next generation of scientist and makers by integrating Google Science Journal with PhoneLabs 3D printed Lab kits. So far, the phones-on/hands-on approach to STEM education has been received well by students. Most of the students surveyed found this approach to learning to be a “much better way of learning”.
About Sensibility Ltd
Sensibility Ltd is an awarding winning Adelaide-based start-up company ( It won Start-up of the Year 2016 for South Australia at the Australian Information Industries Association’s ) and was a finalist in the National Design Entrepreneurship award.
