AIAA Recognition for the Challenger Center Network

(from left to right) Roger Simpson, Chair of AIAA Foundations Board of Trustees; Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, Founding Chair and Founding Director, Challenger Center for Space Science Education; and David Thompson, President, AIAA.

June 2009

Chattanooga resident Dr. June Scobee Rodgers accepted the 2009 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation Award for Excellence for the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in Alexandria, Virginia, last May.

The Challenger Center Network was recognized for “two decades of inspiration and fostering interest in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”

Rodgers, widow of Challenger Commander Dick Scobee, is the founding director and founding chair for the center.

Challenger Center plays a key role in engaging young Americans in science and technology. Challenger Learning Center programs worldwide continue the space shuttle Challenger 51-L crew’s mission of engaging teachers and students in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. Over the past 23 years, Challenger’s network of 46 Challenger Learning Centers around the world has reached millions of teachers and students. Each year more than 300,000 students fly a simulated space mission at one of the Challenger Learning Centers. Over 35,000 teachers attend professional development workshops.

The UTC Challenger Center is part of the international network of Challenger Centers, and was the first center located on a college campus. UTC’s Challenger Center developed the Micronauts program for young children, which has been adopted by Challenger Centers around the world.

With more than 31,000 members, the AIAA is the world’s largest professional society devoted to the progress of engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. In a critical 2008 AIAA report, “Working Together to Build the Aerospace Workforce of Tomorrow,” AIAA noted that “Methods should be sought to support, expand, and clone programs like the Challenger Learning Centers, which have used space as the ‘spark plug’ to motivate STEM education interest in over five million children.” STEM includes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education.

The AIAA Foundation Award of Excellence recognizes unique contributions and extraordinary accomplishments by organizations or individuals. Past recipients are: the National Reconnaissance Office, Sen. John Glenn, Norman R. Augustine, Daniel Goldin, Gen. Tommy Franks, John Travolta, Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, Alan Mulally, L.S. “Skip” Fletcher, Gordon Bethune, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The science community, NASA, and aerospace industry are striving to attract students who can one day meet the needs of a versatile technical and scientific future workforce. AIAA’s 2008 report warns that the United States needs to make a greater investment in STEM education to maintain and increase the skilled workforce needed in the 21st century.

Challenger Center for Space Science Education is a non-profit organization founded in 1986 by the families of the astronauts tragically lost during the last flight of Challenger Space Shuttle 51-L. Using space exploration as a theme, Challenger Center creates positive experiences that raise students’ expectations of success.

By Tia Tappan, UTC intern

http://blog.utc.edu/news/2009/06/challenger-center-awarded-for-excellence/

THEC grants aimed at improving teacher education

(from left to right) Dr. Phil Oldham, Provost, Dan Barstow, President of the National Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Tom Patty, Director of the UTC Challenger Center, Chancellor Roger Brown

April 6, 2009

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) has awarded funding to five projects from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, for a total of $358,937. UTC had more Improving Teacher Quality (ITQ) Grant Program proposals funded than any other Tennessee higher education institution. UTC projects recommended for funding represent 38 percent of all the ITQ projects funded. “This demonstrates our commitment to grooming leaders in education and preparing teachers for their best classroom experience,” said Dr. Mary Tanner, Dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies. “Improving the classroom skills of our teachers is a significant step in increasing learning and student achievement.”

Other Tennessee institutions to secure ITQ funding are Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Memphis, Lipscomb University, and the Memphis College of Art, receiving one award each; Tennessee Tech and UT Knoxville each received two awards. Four out of the five UTC projects will support Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. “Promoting STEM education is a national goal of the federal government,” said Chancellor Roger Brown. “These initiatives help move Chattanooga and Tennessee toward that goal.”

The five UTC projects funded by the ITQ Program are:

• Project: “PLAN of ACTion for High School Mathematics Teachers”
  Director: Tracy Hughes, Mathematics
  Award: $74, 679
  Description: In tenth grade, students take the PLAN test which provides critical information about a student’s future college math readiness level. This summer workshop for high school mathematics teachers will cover teaching strategies, a deep knowledge of math content and a firm understanding of state standards so they can use PLAN test results to benefit their students.

• Project: “Mapping a Curriculum to EXPLORE in Middle School Mathematics”
  Director: Meg Kiessling, Mathematics
  Award: $62,709
  Description: New mathematics standards will be adopted by the state of Tennessee Department of Education for the 2009-10 school year. This summer workshop will assist middle school educators in understanding the changes.

• Project: “Mathematical Processes and Problem Solving”
  Director: Dr. Deborah McAllister, Teacher Preparation Academy
  Award: $74,760
  Description: This series of summer workshops will target improvement in teachers’ mathematical process and problem solving skills.

• Project: “STARS in the Classroom: Science Teachers Achieving Real Success in the Classroom”
  Director: Tom Patty, Director of the UTC Challenger Center
  Award: $74,536
  Description: This summer professional development workshop will allow elementary and middle school teachers from the Memphis City School system to integrate and deepen their knowledge of science, learning and pedagogy through hands-on, inquiry based instruction.

• Project: “Reading Nonfiction, Reading the World: Preparing Middle and High School Students for Academic Success and Informed Citizenship”
  Director: Dr. Lauren Ingraham, Department of English
  Award: $72,253
  Description: This summer workshop will introduce teachers to reading strategies, reflective writing, hands-on projects, and assessment methods designed to help teachers facilitate their students’ understanding of nonfiction texts.

To learn more about participation in any of the workshops described, please contact the office of Dr. Mary Tanner, Dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies at (423) 425-4249.

http://blog.utc.edu/news/2009/04/thec-grants-aimed-at-improving-teacher-education/