MusiQuest STEAM: interactive audio-enabled lessons for elementary STEM learning
Official title: MusiQuest STEAM: interactive digital media for K-5 STEM education integrating audio and music
Funded at Edify · NIH-11318976 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A kid-friendly, audio-rich learning tool designed to boost elementary STEM understanding by weaving music and sound into 60 hands-on lessons.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Edify NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,066,009 |
| NIH project number | 5R44GM156157-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11318976 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are elementary school students in grades K-5 and teachers implementing STEAM curricula in diverse classroom settings.
✕Less likely to help
Students and teachers in contexts where digital access or local resources limit use may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
MusiQuest STEAM is a hands-on digital learning program for grades K-5 that uses music and sound to explain science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. The project develops 60 lessons with built-in audio and interactive components, created with input from subject experts and researchers. The team will test usability with students and teachers and conduct a classroom feasibility study to see how well the lessons work in real classrooms. The goal is to make STEAM more engaging and accessible by addressing resource gaps, teacher workload, and assessment in elementary schools.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, students may experience more engaging STEM learning and stronger foundational skills in science and math.
How similar studies have gone: Previous STEAM initiatives show engagement gains when music and interdisciplinary approaches are used, but this project tests a scalable, audio-rich method in real classrooms.
Where this research is happening
-
Edify
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zax, Jacob Mellman — Edify
- Study coordinator: Zax, Jacob Mellman
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Interactive digital media for K-5 STEM education using music
This study is creating a fun music and science program for kids in grades K-5 to help them learn better by mixing art with STEM subjects, making it more exciting and engaging for young learners.
-
Interactive digital media for K-5 STEM education using music
This study is creating a fun and interactive music program for kids in grades K-5 to help them learn science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through music and art, making it easier and more enjoyable for them to understand these subjects.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.