MindLabs
MindLabs
Educators Pick Best of STEM® Product Review
An educator-led review of MindLabs, powered by the Catapult X
This product review is part of the Educators Pick Best of STEM® Awards, created to give educators quick, reliable insights into innovative STEM tools.
Through Catapult X’s educator-led review process, we combine written analysis and video commentary to highlight real classroom impact.
In this feature, STEM educator Kim Collazo shares her authentic experiences with MindLabs, offering practical, classroom-tested perspectives to help educators make informed decisions.
MindLabs: Educator Review and Insights
MindLabs brings augmented reality, interactive science challenges, and hands-on exploration together to help students think and work like real scientists. Designed by Explore Interactive, MindLabs gives elementary learners an intuitive way to investigate STEM concepts, build circuits, test ideas, and practice problem-solving in a highly engaging digital-plus-physical format.
Educator Rating for MindLabs: ★★★★★
Educators consistently praise MindLabs for its:
- Engaging AR-driven learning
- Strong alignment with NGSS
- Clear facilitation of inquiry-based lessons
- Classroom-ready structure
- Ability to support both teachers and independent learners
Founded
2016
Industry
E-Learning Providers
Website
https://exploremindlabs.com
MindLabs brings augmented reality, interactive science challenges, and hands-on exploration together to help students think and work like real scientists. Designed by Explore Interactive, MindLabs gives elementary learners an intuitive way to investigate STEM concepts, build circuits, test ideas, and practice problem-solving in a highly engaging digital-plus-physical format.
Educator Rating for MindLabs: ★★★★★
Educators consistently praise MindLabs for its:
- Engaging AR-driven learning
- Strong alignment with NGSS
- Clear facilitation of inquiry-based lessons
- Classroom-ready structure
- Ability to support both teachers and independent learners
Founded
2016
Industry
E-Learning Providers
Website
https://exploremindlabs.com
⭐ MindLabs Educator Review: Video Insights
In this educator-led review, STEM educator Kim Collazo shares practical insights on how MindLabs supports real classroom instruction, boosts student engagement, and aligns with modern science teaching practices.
Through a series of short video clips, Kim highlights how MindLabs fits into daily lessons, encourages independence, and helps teachers bring NGSS-aligned inquiry to life. These clips break down how students use the app, how teachers integrate it, and why MindLabs is becoming a favorite tool among STEM educators.
Easy Integration Into Classroom Routines
Kim explains how teachers can quickly bring MindLabs into their lessons using ready-made activities and guided AR experiences. She highlights how the platform requires minimal prep time and fits smoothly into existing science units.
How MindLabs Solves Hidden Classroom Challenges
Kim shares the instructional challenges MindLabs helps address—from increasing student independence to creating more opportunities for self-guided exploration. She discusses how the tool reduces off-task behavior and helps students focus through structured problem-solving.
Engagement Through AR and Interactive Challenges
MindLabs uses augmented reality and story-driven missions to capture student interest. Kim describes how AR visualization, puzzle-solving, and immediate feedback help students stay motivated and excited during science activities.
A Practical Teaching Tip for Boosting Inquiry
Kim offers an educator tip on making science more interactive: combining structured tasks with open exploration. She explains how MindLabs helps students ask questions, experiment, and discover concepts for themselves.
Educators Speak Out on MindLabs
MindLabs’ Curriculum & Interactive Notebook Tools
This clip highlights how MindLabs offers a complete, classroom-ready curriculum paired with an interactive digital notebook. Kim explains how these resources help students document their thinking, reflect on their learning, and stay organized throughout STEM challenges.
Helping Students Think Like Scientists
Kim discusses how MindLabs supports NGSS-aligned inquiry by encouraging students to hypothesize, test ideas, and revise their thinking. The platform helps students engage in authentic scientific practices rather than memorizing facts.
Empowering Student Agency Through Open-Ended Discovery
Kim shares how MindLabs gives students ownership of their learning. Through experimentation and exploration, learners gain confidence, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of science concepts.
Encouraging a Growth Mindset Through Trial and Error
Kim reflects on how allowing students to fail and retry within MindLabs challenges helps build resilience. She highlights how this small shift in teaching approach strengthens problem-solving and perseverance.
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