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Given our double-winged philosophy, we adhere to the following learning principles:

1. STEAM that triggers curiosity:

1. What? STEAM is an interdisciplinary approach to teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. STEAM can trigger children’s innate curiosity and inspire them to be lifelong learners. We aim to make STEAM engaging by presenting personally relevant content to kids. To do this, we draw examples from real-life experiences, take children to places that they normally would not go (e.g. polar expeditions), and introduce them to real-life professionals (e.g. software engineers) that they would not be able to meet at school.
2. How?

   1. App: The app includes STEM Trivia games; interactive videos featuring real-life examples and STEM role models and gamification features that reward children for learning.

      

   2. For instance, children learn about the science of heat conservation through a video of a polar explorer digging up a snow hole. Similarly, we talk about the science of bioplastics through an inspirational story of a young scientist who made bioplastics out of banana peels at age 16.

      

   3. Kits: Kits offer flexibility for children to experiment on their own with the modules, ask questions and find answers for themselves. The guidebooks point to the real-world relevance of each project and concept.

1. Why? Children are naturally curious. Traditional schooling ignores children’s natural curiosity and instead gives children an amount of information that won’t benefit them in the long run. In addition, this information is often isolated with no real-world relevance. This ends up robbing children off of their curiosity and ends up turning learning into a chore. Our aim is not to give knowledge; rather it is to trigger children’s curiosity which inevitably opens them up for knowledge acquisition.

2. Hands-on learning:

1. What? Hands-on learning is a form of education in which children learn by doing. Instead of passively listening to a didactic lecture, children engage with the subject matter to solve a problem or create something from scratch. We believe that we can use the power of digital learning to make hands-on learning even more effective.

2. How?

   1. App: The interactive videos in the app are linked with DIY projects where children can apply the knowledge they acquire from the videos to create something from scratch or run a scientific experiment. With a library of over 300 DIY projects and experiments, the Twin app allows children to find a project that fits their interests.

      1. For example, after learning about the importance of plants for climate change through a video, children are directed to a project where they can make their own seedball.

         

3. Kits: Twin kits allow kids to figure out key engineering and science concepts by observing, testing, and reiterating their own creations. LEGO® compatible electronic modules give children the freedom to build projects that are as complex or as simple as they’d like and be the captains of their own learning journey.

   1. For example, after learning that depending on the angle of the sun shining on the solar panel, it can create more energy. Kids can use this information to make a solar panel that rotates towards the sun so that solar energy output can be maximized. Children can build up the confidence to see what they can do with technology and how it can help the world towards a sustainable future.

      

4. Why? Learning by doing has an undeniable positive impact on children’s skill development, yet our school systems and media consumption culture usually deter children from reaping these benefits at an important time in their developmental growth. Therefore, we aim to combine the benefits of digital learning with that of hands-on learning to cultivate the ideal learning experience for kids.

3. Focus on future skills to foster social innovation:

1. What? Future skills refer to the cognitive skills and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills that are essential to be competent in the 21st century. Twin learning principles are aligned with the OECD’s Learning Compass 2030. We firmly stand by an active learning approach where children build knowledge for themselves by staying inquisitive. This, in turn, creates space for skill development. To stay true to our vision to raise socially responsible individuals, we ensure that our content introduces solutions or innovations that can serve the greater good.

   

2. How?

   1. App: Each activity in the app is tagged with the cognitive and SEL skills that are targeted by a given activity. Each video and DIY project is designed with specific skill development goals in mind. SEL topics such as staying motivated in the face of challenges are embedded in the videos. We show kids that beneficial technologies can be developed by observing nature, questioning our world, and making conscientious decisions.

      1. For instance, while talking about the science behind camouflage, we also teach children to have compassion for the animals around them. Similarly, while teaching autonomous cars, we show kids how this technology can be used to ease the lives of those with disabilities.

         

3. Kits: The kits give children the opportunity to discover and explore on their own. While doing so, kids develop their creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills. The guidebooks and the activities in the app tie the STEAM concepts to SEL concepts and show how technologies can be used for the greater good.