Build the Future of STEAM Education as a Developer

Collaborate with Pedagogical Leads to create impactful educational simulators and earn revenue share in the STEAM StartUp program
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THE DEVELOPER ROLE

You Are the Simulator Builder!

As a Developer, you are the technical expert responsible for bringing educational visions to life. You:

  • Implement interactive simulators from pedagogical specifications
  • Transform educational concepts into engaging, functional applications
  • Ensure technical quality and performance standards
  • Guarantee cross-platform compatibility and accessibility
  • Serve as technical expert for your simulator projects
  • Make final decisions on technical architecture and implementation
  • Coordinate with Pedagogical Leads to realize their educational vision

This is not a passive coding role, it’s a creative technical partnership.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS TECHNICAL LEAD

Educational Implementation & Quality Assurance:

  • Develop simulators based on EASE lesson plan specifications
  • Ensure simulator accuracy and technical reliability
  • Implement interactive features and visual feedback systems
  • Optimize performance for classroom devices and networks
  • Test functionality across target platforms and browsers
  • Debug and resolve technical issues effectively

Project Collaboration:

  • Work closely with Pedagogical Leads throughout development
  • Translate pedagogical requirements into technical solutions
  • Provide technical guidance on feasibility and timelines
  • Deliver prototypes for pedagogical review and feedback
  • Meet agreed-upon milestones and quality standards
  • Deploy final simulator to platform specifications

Technical Expertise:

  • Maintain code quality and documentation standards
  • Apply best practices for educational software development
  • Ensure WCAG accessibility compliance
  • Implement secure, stable, and maintainable code
  • Update simulators based on platform evolution
  • Provide technical support post-launch
REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

Essential Qualifications:

  • Proficiency in web development technologies (HTML5, CSS, JavaScript)
  • Experience with interactive content or game development frameworks
  • Portfolio demonstrating technical implementation skills
  • Understanding of responsive design and cross-browser compatibility
  • Version control experience (Git or similar)
  • Ability to work asynchronously with remote teams
  • Problem-solving mindset and attention to detail

Preferred:

  • Experience with educational technology or serious games
  • Familiarity with physics engines, visualization libraries, or simulation frameworks (Three.js, Phaser, PixiJS)
  • Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1)
  • Experience with WebGL, Canvas API, or game engines (Unity WebGL, Godot)
  • Understanding of learning design principles
  • Portfolio of interactive educational projects
YOUR AUTHORITY & TECHNICAL OWNERSHIP

As Developer, You Have:

  • Final authority on technical architecture and implementation choices
  • Veto power on features that compromise technical quality or timeline
  • Decision authority on development tools, frameworks, and approaches
  • Quality control responsibility for code standards
  • Credit as technical lead on the simulator
  • Recognition as the developer behind the simulator

Your name and credentials appear on:

  • Simulator credits page
  • Technical documentation
  • Platform directory of developers
  • Marketing materials (with permission)
REVENUE & RECOGNITION

How You Earn:

  • 3 credits per simulator (as Technical Developer)
  • Credits = ownership stake in STEAM StartUp
  • Quarterly revenue distribution (every 3 months)
  • You earn more because you build more

Why 3 Credits vs Pedagogical Lead’s 1-2?

  • The Pedagogical Lead receives 1-2 credits for educational design work, but you:
  • Perform the technical implementation work
  • Handle ongoing technical maintenance
  • Provide technical expertise and problem-solving
  • Can work on multiple projects simultaneously

Build Your Portfolio & Income:

Each simulator you complete adds to your revenue-sharing stake in the platform. Your simulators will benefit educators worldwide while generating ongoing revenue based on your contributions to the growing platform library.

THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Your Journey as Developer:

Phase 1: Project Kickoff

  • Receive simulator proposal and EASE lesson plan
  • Review learning objectives and technical requirements
  • Assess feasibility and provide timeline estimate
  • Agree on milestones and deliverables

Phase 2: Technical Planning

  • Design technical architecture and data models
  • Select development frameworks and tools
  • Create technical specification document
  • Set up development environment and repository

Phase 3: Implementation

  • Develop core simulator functionality
  • Implement interactive features and user interface
  • Create visual feedback and data visualization
  • Integrate pedagogical requirements

Phase 4: Collaborative Refinement

  • Deliver prototypes to Pedagogical Lead
  • Incorporate pedagogical feedback iteratively
  • Refine interactions and visual elements
  • Ensure educational effectiveness

Phase 5: Quality Assurance

  • Test across devices and browsers
  • Verify accessibility compliance
  • Optimize performance and loading times
  • Conduct final technical review

Phase 6: Launch & Maintenance

  • Deploy to STEAM StartUp platform
  • Monitor technical performance
  • Address bugs and technical issues
  • Update as platform evolves
QUALITY STANDARDS YOU ENSURE

Technical Performance:

  • Loads within 5 seconds on standard classroom connections
  • Runs smoothly on devices 3-5 years old
  • Responsive across desktop, tablet, and mobile
  • Compatible with major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

Code Quality:

  • Clean, documented, maintainable code
  • Follows platform coding standards
  • Proper error handling and validation
  • Secure implementation practices

Accessibility:

  • WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance
  • Keyboard navigation support
  • Screen reader compatibility
  • Alternative text for visual elements

Educational Functionality:

  • Accurately implements scientific/mathematical/ STEAM principles
  • Provides clear visual feedback for user actions
  • Supports experimentation and exploration
  • Aligns with lesson plan learning objectives

FAQ's

Do I need educational expertise?
No. Your Pedagogical Lead handles educational design and content. You need technical skills and the ability to translate pedagogical requirements into functional, engaging code.
Can I develop multiple simulators?
Yes! Many developers work on several simulators simultaneously or sequentially. Each completed simulator adds 3 credits to your revenue share in the STEAM StartUp program.
What if the Pedagogical Lead requests technically unfeasible features?
You have veto authority on features that compromise quality, timeline, or technical standards. Work collaboratively to find alternative solutions that meet the educational goals while remaining technically sound.
Am I responsible for educational content accuracy?
No. The Pedagogical Lead owns educational content, curriculum alignment, and subject matter accuracy. You’re responsible for implementing their specifications correctly and ensuring the technical functionality works as intended.
Can I update my simulator after launch?
Yes. You maintain your simulators and can update them as needed for bug fixes, performance improvements, or compatibility updates. Major feature additions may be treated as new development work with additional credits.
What technologies can I use?
You have freedom to choose appropriate tools and frameworks that best fit the project requirements, provided they meet platform standards: web-based, performant, accessible, maintainable, and deployable on the STEAM StartUp platform.
How do I get started?
Click “Get Started” to express your interest in becoming a Developer. You’ll complete a profile with your technical skills, portfolio, and preferences. We’ll then match you with Pedagogical Leads whose projects align with your expertise and interests.
Hey there! Ask me anything!