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[FAQ] Before you start
Questions
[01]Do I need to install anything?
No. The STEM Engine, the Workshop and the Virtual School run in a modern browser on a laptop or desktop. A tablet works for most lessons.
[02]Are the builds realistic?
They are marked against the standards real workshops use: ISO 273 clearance holes, ISO 4762 screws, ISO 2768-1 tolerances, TWI and Miller welding practice, and NASA-STD-8739.3 for soldering. The drone's power-on check traces the wires you actually drew, and rovers drive in MuJoCo physics.
[03]Which boards and sensors can students use?
ESP32, ESP8266, Arduino Uno and Nano, Raspberry Pi 5 and Pico, Pixhawk flight controllers, and sensors including the DHT11 and DHT22, HC-SR04 ultrasonic and MPU6050 IMU, with servos, relays, brushless motors, ESCs, LiPo packs and solar panels.
[04]Can a group build one project together?
Yes. Build Together lets a group share one project, taking turns or all building at once, with every change live for every member. A finished project can be downloaded as a 3D model.
[05]How do instructors assess the work?
Instructors set STEM practicals as assignments and IoT challenges with a rubric. The server re-derives every entry with the same engine the student used and scores it, so a grade reflects the circuit or the build, not what the browser reported.
[06]Where is CognitaSTEM available?
Everywhere with an internet connection: learners and makers across Africa, North and South America, Europe and Asia. Prices are in US dollars, and in Kenyan shillings for learners in Kenya.