Press Release

Challenger Learning Center Forum to Focus on Science, Math Education in Maine

By SpaceRef Editor
January 28, 2008
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Challenger Learning Center Forum to Focus on Science, Math Education in Maine
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Bangor – A cohort of Maine educators dedicated to improving Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (‘STEM’) K-12 education will hold their final workshop on Friday, February 1 at the Challenger Learning Center (CLC) of Maine in Bangor from 11 am to 2 pm. The meeting, the last of 5-part series called ‘STEMming the Gap,’ developed by CLC professional development staff and supported by the Maine Department of Education, will be open to the broader education community. Topics will include curriculum reform, the new Maine Learning Results (MLRs), and recruitment of next year’s STEMming the Gap class.

The workshop takes place just over a week after the state-wide “STEM Summit” at which Governor John Baldacci and former Governor Angus King, among others, spoke to more than 350 people about the importance of STEM education to Maine’s economic future.

During the past year, 14 dedicated middle and high school science and math teachers have committed themselves to becoming better teachers and advocates for education reform by participating in 4 professional development workshops over 6 days at the Challenger Center.

“Hopefully, they have gained a deeper knowledge of how students learn, how to probe and address science misconceptions, how to deepen the inquiry-based learning of an activity, and how to utilize education research to reform their teaching,” said CLC Professional Development Director Annette Brickley. “Feedback has been very positive and we are lucky enough to be able to extend these workshops to a new cohort of teachers over the course of the next year.”

Brickley said the project was designed to establish a community of teachers who value time to reflect on their teaching and their student learning, the sharing of ideas and an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. In coordination with broad-based education reform, repeating this sort of intensive work at the micro level has the potential to change the educational culture in Maine for the better.

The Challenger Learning Center is best known for its simulated space trips, which are integrated with middle school curriculum and designed to provide students with a hands-on educational experience which teaches as much as it does about communication and teamwork as it does about astronomy and math.

However, the CLC is also involved in a great deal of teacher professional development work and STEM outreach and education, Brickley said. The CLC is Maine’s only official NASA Educator Resource Center, offering a wealth of NASA curriculum and education materials to teachers throughout the state. In addition, the CLC is starting to partner with University researchers to disseminate the results of high-level research to schools and community organizations through the newly established Center for Earth and Space Science Outreach and Education.

Friday’s meeting is designed to provide a forum for this community of teachers to share their newly gained insights and discuss with the greater education community how their experience can be extended. The forum will also be an opportunity for other members of the education community to discuss resources for curriculum reform, ideas for in-service workshops, working with the new MLR’s, the opportunity to participate in the next series, as well as time to share the needs of your school system or organization and collaborate with others who have common goals.

Educators interested in attending should contact Annette Brickley at 990.2900 or abrickley@clcofme.org.

Challenger Learning Center
STEMming the Gap
Concluding Workshop

Friday, February 1
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
At the Challenger Learning Center
30 Venture Way, Bangor

For Immediate release – January 28, 2008
Contact: Annette Brickley, 207.990.2900 EXT. 2

SpaceRef staff editor.