Comprehensive guide for creating, managing, and optimizing content across the STEAM-Labz ecosystem
Welcome to the STEAM-Labz Content Guidelines and Creation Plan. This comprehensive document serves as the central reference for all content creation activities across the STEAM-Labz ecosystem. Whether you're a staff member, educator, community contributor, or partner, these guidelines will help ensure consistency, quality, and accessibility in all published content.
STEAM-Labz is a non-profit initiative dedicated to providing accessible education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Our platform serves creators, makers, educators, and learners by fostering knowledge sharing and community collaboration.
The content we create and host plays a critical role in fulfilling our mission of lowering barriers to STEAM education and fostering innovation through community-driven learning.
| Term | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| STEAM-Labz | Always hyphenated with capital "S", "L" | "Join STEAM-Labz today" (not "Steam-Labs" or "STEAM Labs") |
| STEAM | All caps, no periods | "STEAM education" (not "S.T.E.A.M." or "Steam") |
| Stream-Labz | Hyphenated with capital "S", "L" when referring to video platform | "Watch the tutorial on Stream-Labz" |
| Community member | Preferred over "user" or "subscriber" | "Community members can submit projects" |
| Project | Use for all community-created builds and experiments | "Featured projects" (not "featured builds" or "featured works") |
Prefer "Connect the wires to the board" over "The wires should be connected to the board."
Address the reader directly: "You can adjust the settings" rather than "Users can adjust the settings."
Aim for 2-4 sentences per paragraph in educational content.
Avoid gendered terms and examples that may exclude certain groups.
When introducing technical concepts, briefly define them on first use. For example: "We'll use pulse-width modulation (PWM), a technique for controlling power delivery to components."
Projects are the core content type of STEAM-Labz, showcasing community creations and innovations.
Courses provide structured learning experiences on STEAM topics.
Introduction, learning objectives, prerequisites, and estimated completion time
15-30 minute self-contained lessons with clear objectives
Hands-on activities to reinforce concepts
Quizzes or exercises to validate understanding
Additional materials for further learning
Introductory concepts requiring minimal prior knowledge
Focused on building specific competencies
Complex topics for experienced learners
Video content hosted on our Stream-Labz platform using Cloudflare Stream.
Clear, descriptive, and keyword-rich
Overview with timestamps for longer videos
STEAM discipline, topic, difficulty level
16:9 ratio with text overlay
Forum content helps build community engagement and knowledge sharing.
Technical queries seeking specific answers
Open-ended topics for community input
Shared materials, tools, and references
Official updates and community news
Identify content needs, target audience, and key objectives. Define scope and format.
Create structured outline and develop initial content draft following templates and style guidelines.
Subject matter expert reviews content for accuracy; editorial review for style and formatting.
Incorporate feedback, refine content, prepare accompanying media, and finalize for publication.
Schedule and publish content, create promotional materials, and share across relevant channels.
Track performance metrics, gather user feedback, and update content as needed to improve quality and relevance.
Community member creates content using appropriate template and submits for review.
Automated checks for completeness and guideline compliance, followed by moderator review.
Moderators review content for quality, accuracy, and alignment with community guidelines.
Creator receives feedback and makes necessary revisions to meet guidelines.
Approved content is published and promoted as appropriate.
| Content Type | Approvers | SLA |
|---|---|---|
| Official Tutorials & Courses | Subject Matter Expert + Content Manager | 3-5 business days |
| Community Projects | Community Moderator | 1-2 business days |
| Stream-Labz Videos | Video Producer + Content Manager | 2-3 business days |
| Forum Posts | Automated + Community Moderator (if flagged) | Immediate to 24 hours |
Standardized templates ensure consistency across all content types while making it easier for creators to focus on substance rather than format.
Clear, descriptive title that indicates what the project is
Brief description (2-3 sentences) explaining what the project does and why it's interesting
Itemized list with quantities and optional links to sources
List of tools needed to complete the project
Numbered steps with clear descriptions and accompanying images
Any code, circuit diagrams, or design files with explanations
Common issues and their solutions
Ideas for extending or modifying the project
Acknowledgments and sources of inspiration
Clear, descriptive title indicating the lesson content
3-5 specific, measurable outcomes students will achieve
Knowledge or skills needed before starting this lesson
How long the lesson should take to complete
Any physical or digital resources required
Definitions and explanations of important terminology
The main instructional material, divided into logical sections
Hands-on activities to reinforce learning
Quiz questions or exercises to validate comprehension
Optional materials for further learning
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps make STEAM-Labz content discoverable to those seeking STEAM education resources.
Main search terms that define the content's core topic.
Related terms that add context and capture additional search intent.
Specific phrases that target niche search queries.
Include primary keyword near the beginning. Keep under 60 characters.
Compelling summary with keywords. Keep under 160 characters.
Short, descriptive URLs with keywords. Use hyphens between words.
Use H1 for main title, H2 for sections, H3 for subsections. Include keywords naturally.
Descriptive file names, alt text with keywords, and compressed file sizes.
Original Title:
My LED Project
SEO-Optimized Title:
DIY Arduino LED Matrix: Interactive Light Display Project for Beginners
Meta Description:
Learn how to build your own interactive LED matrix display using Arduino. This step-by-step tutorial includes circuit diagrams, code examples, and troubleshooting tips for makers of all levels.
Original Title:
Introduction to 3D Printing
SEO-Optimized Title:
Complete 3D Printing for Beginners: From Design to Finished Models (2025 Guide)
Meta Description:
Master 3D printing from scratch with our comprehensive beginner's course. Learn modeling techniques, slicer settings, printer maintenance, and create your first 3D printed projects in just 5 lessons.
A strategic content calendar ensures consistent publishing while aligning with educational needs, community interests, and organizational goals.
| Content Type | Frequency | Best Day/Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projects | 2-3 per week | Tuesday & Thursday, 10 AM ET | Mix of difficulty levels and STEAM disciplines |
| Course Modules | 1 per week | Monday, 9 AM ET | Release consistently to build learning momentum |
| Tutorial Videos | 2 per week | Wednesday & Friday, 3 PM ET | Coincide with related project releases when possible |
| Livestreams | 1-2 per month | Saturday, 1 PM ET | Announce at least 1 week in advance |
| Community Spotlights | 1 per week | Friday, 11 AM ET | Feature outstanding community contributions |
Focus: Coding & Programming Fundamentals
Focus: Environmental & Outdoor Projects
Focus: Robotics & Physical Computing
Focus: Creative Arts & Design
Spreadsheet template for planning and tracking content across all platforms.
Download TemplateKanban-style board for tracking content from ideation to publication.
Access TrackerAnalytics dashboard for monitoring content engagement and impact.
View DashboardCommunity contributions are the heart of STEAM-Labz. These guidelines help ensure quality, consistency, and inclusivity while empowering community members to share their knowledge and creativity.
Share your builds, experiments, and how-to guides with the community.
Develop learning materials for STEAM topics in your area of expertise.
Create visual demonstrations, tutorials, and explanations for Stream-Labz.
Contribute to open-source projects, libraries, and tools for the community.
Complete your profile with your areas of expertise and interests.
Create Contributor Account →Familiarize yourself with the relevant standards and templates for your contribution type.
Browse Templates →Develop your contribution following the appropriate template and guidelines.
Submit your completed content for review by STEAM-Labz moderators.
Review typically takes 1-3 days depending on content type and complexity.
Address any feedback from reviewers, then your content will be published on the platform.
Once published, you'll receive credit as the creator and can track engagement metrics.
By contributing to STEAM-Labz, you agree to the following licensing terms:
You retain ownership of your original content, but grant STEAM-Labz a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute your contribution.
Code contributions are typically released under an open-source license (MIT, GPL, etc.) to promote sharing and reuse within the community.
You will be credited as the creator of your content, and we encourage others to provide proper attribution when reusing or referencing your work.
Effective moderation ensures that STEAM-Labz remains a safe, inclusive, and educational environment for all community members.
Apply moderation policies equally to all users regardless of status or contribution history.
Ensure content respects diversity and creates a welcoming environment for learners of all backgrounds.
Prioritize user safety while preserving educational value and open discussion of ideas.
Provide helpful guidance for content improvements rather than simple rejections.
Maintain clear communication about moderation decisions and policy enforcement.
Regularly review and refine moderation practices based on community feedback and emerging needs.
Community members can flag content for moderator review when they identify potential issues.
Automated systems scan published content and comments for policy violations.
| Violation Type | First Occurrence | Second Occurrence | Third Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Formatting Issues | Friendly correction with explanation | Revision request with template reference | Content editing by moderator |
| Inaccurate Information | Correction request with sources | Temporary hide until corrected | Content removal if uncorrected |
| Inappropriate Language | Edit with notification to author | Temporary access restriction (24h) | Extended restriction (1 week) |
| Copyright Violation | Content removal and warning | 1-week contribution restriction | Account review and possible suspension |
| Harassment/Abuse | Content removal and warning | Temporary account suspension (1-2 weeks) | Permanent account termination |
If you believe a moderation decision was made in error, you can appeal through the following process:
Carefully read the moderation notice and cited policy violations.
Complete the appeals form with a clear explanation of why you believe the decision should be reconsidered.
A different moderator will review the appeal within 3 business days.
You'll receive a detailed explanation of the appeal outcome, which will be final.
High-quality images and videos enhance content by providing visual context, improving understanding, and making learning more engaging. These guidelines ensure consistent,