ExoTrex Aims to Promote STEM Equity via Gaming

Dig-It! Games has launched episode one of its new game ExoTrex, the first in a planned series of three episodes that aim to educate and motivate students through scientific space adventures.

Designed for students in grades 8 to 10, ExoTrex "uses fun puzzles and problem solving exercises to build critical thinking skills that promote college and career readiness across STEM content areas like science and math," according to a news release. "In an effort to reach underserved students, who are severely underrepresented in STEM careers, Dig-IT! Games worked hard to include features that make complex topics in the game accessible to all students."

The game also features Dr. Burke, a black scientist character voiced by Hakeen Oluseyi, chief science officer for Discovery Communications and the Science Channel.

Future episodes will take players around the solar system and beyond, according to information released by the company, asking them to take samples in search of a planet that can sustain human life and use scientific thinking to save humanity. ExoTrex is designed to work with any HTML5-compatible browser.

More information is available at dig-itgames.com.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.

  • laptop displaying a glowing digital brain and data charts sits on a metal shelf in a well-lit server room with organized network cables and active servers

    Cisco Unveils AI-First Approach to IT Operations

    At its recent Cisco Live 2025 event, Cisco introduced AgenticOps, a transformative approach to IT operations that integrates advanced AI capabilities to enhance efficiency and collaboration across network, security, and application domains.

  • sunlit classroom with laptops on every desk, each displaying a glowing AI speech bubble icon above the screen

    Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot to Become Available for Teen Students

    This summer, Microsoft is expanding availability of its Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot products for students aged 13 and older. Administrators will be able to grant access for students based on their institution's plans and preferences, the company announced in a blog post.

  • colorful geometric illustration features gaming devices, computer accessories, and stacks of books

    Gaming in K–12 Classrooms Is Powering the Future Tech Workforce

    Today's most forward-thinking schools are using gaming as a platform to train students for real-world roles in fields like aviation, robotics, remote operations, and data center management.