The Chocolate Journey
Online experience to spark interest in STEM while learning about chocolate.
About the project
Team: Atarraya Uniandes Research group.
The Chocolate Journey is an educational experience within the STEM Routes project by Atarraya Uniandes. The primary goal of the STEM Routes initiative is to design and implement interdisciplinary and rigorous educational experiences that foster the exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for students betwwen ages 13 to 17.
I led the design of the STEM Routes project and the co-creation of its pilot, The Chocolate Journey, in 2021. Guiding a team of +20 volunteers, we developed a modular educational journey consisting of seven 45-minute activities. The Chocolate Route replaces a full school day with workshops that explore the role of STEM disciplines in the chocolate-making process.
Illustrations by photographeeasia
Why chocolate?
The theme was chosen to align with research conducted in cacao and chocolate production by the Science and Engineering faculties at Universidad de los Andes. Chocolate was selected for its universal appeal and familiarity, making it an engaging and relatable topic for participants.
Furthermore, because of the Colombian peace context, chocolate also allowed us to show students that research in STEM fields is also crucial in the social well-being of our country.
user and desk research
Together with the team of volunteers, we reviewed various research papers on fostering interest in STEM fields and designing educational experiences for children. As a group, we also conducted several interviews, card sorting activities and benchmarking to inspire and inform our efforts in developing the pilot.
Imperatives
Activity design template
Drawing from university research on cacao and chocolate production, we defined the core topics for the educational journey and identified the relevant STEM disciplines. We formed five interdisciplinary teams, each comprising a creative professional (art/design), one or more experts in engineering or science, and an education specialist, to design modular activities. To streamline the process, we provided activity templates.
Over four months, the volunteer team met weekly for one-hour sessions to design both the activities and the overall journey. I directed and mentored each co-creation session, ensuring the project objectives were met. After each meeting, an intern and I reviewed the team’s progress, analyzed their work, and planned the next session, creating tools to support the teams in their collaborative efforts.
Educational journey
The final design of the journey included a welcome session, five modular workshops, and a closing session, each lasting 45 minutes—aligning with a full school day in Colombia. The schedule also incorporated recess and lunch breaks, following the schools’ standard timetable. The workshops were interconnected and sequential but designed with modularity, allowing students to start at any workshop after the welcome session. This setup enabled all activities to run simultaneously, each led by two specialized Atarraya volunteers. Groups rotated through virtual rooms, guided by an Atarraya member who accompanied them throughout the journey.
VIRTUAL SPACE DESIGN
We wanted to provide students with a unique experience, different from the online classes they had during the pandemic. After exploring various options, we found Gather Town, a platform that allowed us to create virtual worlds for each modular workshop. Students navigated through each space based on the activities, ensuring their engagement, as their avatars would be left behind if they were not actively participating.
Pixel art custom designed elements:
Workshops
Welcome session
The welcome session introduced the journey with a video on the chocolate-making process, an overview of the day’s activities, and instructions for participants. Students were then divided into breakout rooms with groups of up to 15, and met the instructor who would guide them on Gather Town platform.
Choco Peace
In this workshop, children explored the history and daily lives of cacao farmers in Colombia, their practices, and their perspectives on the peace process. The goal was to highlight the social contributions of STEM disciplines to cacao cultivation and chocolate production.
Flavor Lab
In this workshop, students delved into the flavor and aroma of chocolate, exploring the role of microorganisms in the process and their significance in food science. They conducted a basic cacao tasting and learned about fermentation processes.
Nanotechnology for chocolate
In this workshop, students were introduced to the concept of nanotechnology through videos, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. They discovered how nanotech is used to address the removal of cadmium in cacao. The activity was inspired by collaborative research between Universidad de los Andes and Casa Luker.
The Chocolate Factory
In this activity, students explored how cacao is transformed into chocolate and the role of industrial processes and STEM disciplines in improving production methods. They also designed a machine to optimize chocolate production.
Sweet ideas, disruptive solutions
This activity introduced students to innovation and sustainability in cacao production through examples and an ideation exercise. Working in small groups, they explored sustainability opportunities, learned about innovative uses for cacao waste, and brainstormed product ideas for areas like health, materials, or cosmetics.
Closing session
At the end of the day, participants gathered again to play a game that reinforced the journey’s learning objectives. Using the interactive platform Mentimeter, the team gathered feedback on the experience. The session concluded with a motivational speech encouraging curiosity and exploration of STEM disciplines.
Implementation
For the pilot we implemented the journey with 5 schools and 160 9th grade students in Colombia, ones from rural areas and others from urban areas. We also designed and mail delivered kits with materials to use during hands-on activities and the chocolate tasting session.
