Summary

This paper examines Physics Lab, a mobile app that has successfully engaged more than 7 million global learners in informal STEM learning activities. The study addresses the global challenge of engaging youth in STEM learning online, where participants construct and share simulation-based projects within a vibrant online community.

Through analysis of the platform’s evolution and community dynamics, we identified three key design principles that foster learner agency:

1. Goal generation and problem-solving - Supporting open-ended exploration and creative experimentation
2. Social interaction - Enabling collaborative learning and peer support
3. Social governance - Fostering youth ownership and leadership in community management

Implications

This research provides crucial insights for designing informal STEM learning environments that can:

• Scale to millions of learners globally
• Foster genuine learner autonomy and agency
• Support sustainable, youth-led community governance
• Bridge formal and informal STEM education contexts

The success of Physics Lab challenges conventional assumptions about adult supervision in online learning spaces and demonstrates the potential of well-designed platforms to empower youth as active creators, collaborators, and community leaders in STEM learning.