From left: Chancellor Emeritus Bill Stacy, Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, Chancellor Emeritus Fred Obear, and Perry Storey.
Where can students enjoy an out-of-this-world experience in a hands-on educational program that engages them in science, technology, engineering, and math? The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Challenger STEM Learning Center has offered simulated space missions and STEM labs since it opened on January 27, 1995.
In the last two decades, UTC and Chattanooga have forged close ties with this special educational venue.
“The UTC Challenger STEM Learning Center is an example of the strength of partnerships between our campus and our community,” said UTC Chancellor Steve Angle. “Since opening 20 years ago, our Challenger Center has brought the excitement of science and math to life for more than 160,000 elementary and middle school students from around the region. At the same time, UTC science education majors have honed their skills in curriculum development and instruction in this facility. This partnership is helping prepare science teachers as well as inspire a new generation of young scientists for the future.”
The first Challenger Learning Center opened in Houston in August 1988. Today, there are 44 Learning Centers in the U.S., Canada, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Collectively, these centers reach more than 400,000 middle-school aged students and 40,000 teachers each year. Since 1986, the Challenger Center has impacted more than four million students.
Perry Storey, Ed.S., Director of the Challenger STEM Learning Center at UTC, is focused on the goal of inspiring young students to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
“The research is very clear on this issue: we need to engage students as early as possible in their educational development to curb their potential hesitation regarding STEM-related courses and career fields,” Storey explained. “Too often, students have had negative experiences in math and science areas, leading them to develop an attitude that they cannot be successful in these subjects. At the Challenger Center, we want to provide a positive educational experience that will stay with them for a lifetime.”
A trip to the Challenger Learning Center brings classroom lessons to life. The simulated environment is created from computer technology, real science data, hands-on activities, and STEM-related content, complete with a simulated space shuttle, a mission control room, and an orbiting space station. Students become astronauts, scientists, engineers, researchers, and journalists—all sharing in the thrill of discovery.
A brief history
On January 28, 1986, the seven crew members of the Space Shuttle Challenger/STS-51L “Teacher in Space” mission set out to broaden educational horizons and to advance scientific knowledge. Their mission exemplified mankind’s noblest and most wondrous qualities – to explore, discover, and teach.
In the aftermath of the Challenger accident, the crew’s families came together, firmly committed to the belief that they must carry on the spirit of their loved ones by continuing the Challenger crew’s educational mission. In April 1986, they created the Challenger Center for Space Science Education.
The UTC Challenger STEM Learning Center was the special project of Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, the widow of the Challenger Space Shuttle Commander Dick Scobee and a founding Chairperson for the National Challenger Center for Space Science Education in Washington D.C. Rodgers, who lives in Chattanooga, has been a driving force behind the Challenger Centers. She has taught in every grade-level classroom from kindergarten through college.
She is often asked her reaction to the number of Challenger Centers and the number of students who have enjoyed the programs.
“I wanted to create one Challenger Center!” Scobee Rodgers said in a recent interview. “After we created the first one in Houston, people saw it and then they wanted one. I heard from a congressman, a senator, a governor, a businessman—each wanted one in their community.”
Many times, Scobee Rodgers has heard from classroom teachers who see the benefit of introducing their students to Challenger Center programs, where young men and women can apply the skills they learn in the classroom.
“The experience comes alive and they remember the information their teacher has provided,” she explained. “Students learning in the Challenger Centers come away inspired. Many come back in the summertime for camps and for birthday parties. The popularity continues. It is a tremendous value to the school system and its fun for the students.”
Partnership with the University
At UTC, the Challenger STEM Learning Center is part of the College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies.
“UTC boasts the first Challenger Center located on a university campus,” said Dr. Valerie Rutledge, Dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies. “This partnership provides many opportunities to be active in and at the forefront of STEM Education. We also use this facility to enhance the experiences of K-12 students and prospective teacher candidates and as an experiential learning setting which is a unique location for workshops, professional development, and team building activities.”
The UTC Challenger programs reach students and several hundred teachers each year in a service area that includes Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Since its opening in 1995, more than 160,000 students and teachers have been served with quality STEM programs.
In 2004, the Micronaut program was developed to serve younger students ages 5-7. The innovative Micronauts program has been adopted by many other Challenger Centers in the Network.
In 2007, the Center added three new classrooms: the Congressman Zack Wamp Classroom of Technology, the Clarence Harris Foundation Classroom of Science, and the Dr. Bernard W. Benson Classroom of Exploration.
A visit to the Challenger Center not only helps young students envision a future in STEM careers, but also exposes them to UT Chattanooga and encourages them to plan for their future, Storey said.
“The majority of the young students we serve will be first generation college students,” Storey said. “With STEM jobs requiring post-high school education, we want each student to ‘Dream big—and reach for the stars.’ With recent funding from the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and Volkswagen, planning has begun for the next generation of STEM labs with coding and 3-D printing.”
Programs
Programs and virtual missions are provided for grades K-9. There are also STEM summer camps, teacher professional development programs, team-building programs and retreats for professionals. Coming soon: “Next Generation STEM Labs for Coding and 3-D Printing.” Explore the Challenger STEM Learning Center programs, and prepare to sign up for summer camps beginning in February.
