We’ve all seen those funny online videos – a kid hilariously misidentifying something. While these moments can be a little hilarious, there’s a bigger picture. Many children lack the skills to identify and report emergencies. But Mohammed Muniru Sa-ad, a Ball State University graduate student in the Emerging Media Design and Development (EMDD) program, is tackling this head-on with a groundbreaking app, and being awarded an Aspire Grant played a key role in making it happen!
Inspiration struck Mohammed during a visit to the Muncie Children’s Museum. There, amidst the exhibits, sat an outdated phone booth designed to teach kids how to dial 911. “This just won’t cut it,” thought Mohammed. “Kids need something exciting, something that grabs their attention.” This sparked a project that would become a creative force for good.
Fueled by a desire to help children, Mohammed began his research. One statistic jumped out: a whopping 91% of kids can’t recognize and report emergencies, according to the American Pediatric Association. Realizing the problem was bigger than just dialing 911, Mohammed broadened his focus to encompass broader emergency reporting.
His question became clear: how can educational solutions bridge this gap and empower kids with the knowledge they need? The answer, he discovered, lay in the power of play. “Kids are natural learners,” he reasoned, “but it has to be fun!” With this insight, Mohammed embarked on a research journey, exploring gamification and its impact on childhood education. Armed with this knowledge, he set about crafting his solution: an app specifically designed to teach children the skills they need to handle emergencies with confidence.
But Mohammed knew it wouldn’t exist in a vacuum. To ensure its effectiveness, he identified a diverse group of stakeholders: parents, teachers, first responders, and even 911 operators. Through interviews, he pinpointed key challenges hindering emergency reporting by children. These included difficulty remembering parents’ full names, mistaking situations (like sleep for unconsciousness), and failing to recognize health-related emergencies.
This is where the Aspire Grant entered the picture. Mohammed learned about the program through weekly updates sent out by project manager, Matt Lowe. Mohammed immediately recognized its potential. The project required research tools and participant incentives, making the grant’s financial support crucial. The application process itself proved to be a valuable learning experience. Condensing his multi-page project plan into a single, clear, 2-page application wasn’t easy. It forced Mohammed to meticulously outline the problem space, research process, and budget narrative while showcasing his capabilities through previous work. Receiving the Aspire Grant was a pivotal moment. Not only did it provide the resources he needed, but it also validated his project’s potential. “It was a huge confidence boost,” he reflects, “knowing that others believed my idea could make a real difference.”
From Fall 2023 to Spring 2024, Mohammed poured his heart and soul into developing the app. The most rewarding part? Witnessing his stakeholders interact with the mid-fidelity prototype. Seeing the app’s accessibility, intuitiveness, and potential to equip kids, empower families, and enhance first-responder efforts fueled his passion even more. Children, once helpless, would now be informed and capable of acting.
But Mohammed’s vision extends beyond the initial app. He aspires to develop a high-fidelity, fully functional application. The future also holds possibilities for VR integration, creating an even more immersive learning experience for children. His ultimate goal? To design applications that make life easier for everyone, with a specific focus on individuals with autism and visual impairments.
For aspiring Aspire applicants, Mohammed offers a similar tip: “Make sure your project is relevant and impactful. Keep your statement concise and seek guidance from your advisor.”
Ball State University, with its unwavering dedication to scholarship and excellence, is proud to support students like Mohammed through the Aspire Grant program. Let the Aspire Grant empower you to turn your creative vision into reality. Head over to the Aspire webpage to explore the guidelines and begin your application! Good luck!