GoalsRaise the expectations of science and mathematics skills of young people, and ensure that today's students are well prepared to enter the future workforce as leaders and innovators. Target audience is grades K-12.
Provide space related simulations and activities that will lead to further investigation in high-tech careers.
Connect Homeland Security related fields and technologies through scenario driven programs that will impact K-12 students and educators. These newly created programs will connect to community members and first responders.
Focus on featuring opportunities for young women and minorities to inspire them to pursue careers in STEM fields.
Provide teachers and parents with the training, skills and information to excite students about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics establishing a framework to increase science literacy.
Provide the business community a location for corporate training in leadership, and team building.
Provide unique experiences by incorporating Humanities and Science together, linking multiple content areas that will promote creativity.
Serve as a resource and hub for many programs, including K-12 mentoring, FIRST Robotics, BEST Robotics, Society of Women Engineers, Minorities in Engineering Program, Ambassador Program, and many other programs.
Create programs that will target underserved and underrepresented populations as well as Gifted and Talented students.
Create STEM action labs that will promote hands- on minds-on education and help establish connections to the corporate world and provide links to the vast resources of organizations such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), International Technology Educators Association (ITEA).
Support NASA's Explorer Schools Program, one of NASA's main educational initiatives that align and integrate STEM with existing mission related content from NASA. The NASA Explorer Schools Program was chosen as one of the Top 50 Government Innovations for 2006 by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation.
Professional Development Goals
Include informal education institutions such as museums, government organizations, environmental centers, parks, etc, as a way to bring unique and supplemental material to classrooms that may not be available in a standard curriculum.
Create Science Institutes as a way to deliver inquiry based learning.
Create Engineering Institutes and integrated activities as a systems approach to delivering content for teachers.
Create an online resource for teachers featuring contacts and information regarding, STEM, energy, environment, public health issues, and community events.
Identify and prioritize the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)/Geography-Earth System as it relates to environmental education, homeland security, and related careers.
Customize programs and training for schools delivered in the Problem Based Learning method.
Integrate and train about technologies to improve teacher use and understanding in areas, such as computers, software, handheld computers, smart boards, and videoconferencing.
Continue to develop partnerships with Higher Education, NASA Explorer Schools, and other states to develop pilot projects to expand the Professional Development to impact a larger area and create a network of educators to share best practices.
Use an online platform for threaded discussions and sharing of teacher/coordinator/trainer/student activities via the web and follow-up distance learning technologies for dissemination of information.
|
Challenger Learning Center