#1234: Integrating a Conversational Agent into PBS KIDS Media for Interactive STEM Learning at Home

Interactive media can be effectively enhanced through advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Through a research–practice partnership with PBS KIDS, we integrated AI into popular PBS KIDS shows to support dialogic interactions that actively engage children in STEM learning. These interactions help ground abstract STEM concepts in socially meaningful experiences. In this work, we present an interactive web app designed to scaffold children’s learning and engagement at home. We discuss design considerations, challenges related to children’s speech recognition, and insights from iterative testing that informed the app’s current stage of development.