An App That Bolsters Schools’ Lessons
Photos courtesy of MarcoPolo Learning
An App That Bolsters Schools’ Lessons
Nermeen Dashoush leads curriculum design for educational media company MarcoPolo Learning
In the early childhood learning app MarcoPolo World School, a group of cartoon animal friends called the Polos don space suits, hop on a rocket ship, and jet off into space to give a tour of the planets in the solar system, teaching their order from the Sun and their characteristics along the way. This is just one of more than 500 video lessons—coupled with thousands of accompanying learning games—in the app geared toward students ages three to seven.
The mastermind behind the app’s lessons is BU Wheelock’s Nermeen Dashoush, a clinical assistant professor of early childhood education. Dashoush, whose work focuses on STEAM education for young children, has been the chief curriculum officer for the app’s parent company, MarcoPolo Learning, since 2013; she leads the curriculum design for all of the company’s lessons, learning games, and even its television series, The Polos. In 2019, the app was nominated for an International Emmy in the Kids: Digital category.
After the pandemic highlighted gaps in at-home learning provision, MarcoPolo Learning and the early childhood education support company Teaching Strategies announced a partnership to bring a version of the app, MarcoPolo School Edition, to schools around the country. They hope to eventually reach 5 million children nationwide. The app will be used to enhance both in-classroom and at-home learning.
“I went into science education to be able to provide quality science access to young children after recognizing major disparities in who gets access to STEAM education,” says Dashoush. “This exciting partnership will enable us to reach even more children than before.”