About the STEM Center
- Strategic Initiatives
- Oakley STEM Center Faculty Associates
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- General FAQ
Vision | Mission | Core Values
The Millard Oakley STEM Center is the product of years of planning, dreaming, and developing valuable partnerships with government and education agencies, business and industry fields, and with the regional community and beyond to focus on enhancing, improving and impacting the way STEM subjects are taught, made accessible to students, and how those experiences are evaluated and studied.
The Oakley STEM Center energizes individuals, creates educational supports, and researches vital frameworks for innovative teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Oakley STEM Center improves the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (pre-school through university) by acting on goals in three areas: outreach, academics, and research.
- We reach out to the public through informal STEM education enrichment
- Offer a headstart for Science & Engineering Fair participants, EXPLORATION Workshops 5th-8th grade experiences, to P-16 (pre-school through college) students through Exploration and Expedition programs, and to educators through professional development opportunities for preschool through college teachers.
- We partner academically with the Colleges of Education and Arts & Sciences in the comprehensive preparation of teachers.
- We also partner with the Colleges of Engineering, Agriculture & Human Sciences, and Business in preparing future STEM and information systems professionals.
- We support innovative instructional design and use of active learning environments.
- We facilitate research of the STEM teaching and learning process and provide an outlet for STEM researchers to disseminate their work to the public.
- STEM literacy is a key component of responsible citizenship.
- STEM education is the shared responsibility of schools, industry, government, and the public.
- Our collective embrace of STEM priorities guides future economic growth as a region, state and nation.
- The STEM pipeline begins in early childhood.
- All children, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or learning style, can excel in STEM disciplines and can aspire to STEM careers.
- Effective teaching at all levels utilizes hands-on, minds-on inquiry into the natural world.
- Effective and innovative STEM teaching, preschool though university, should be recognized and shared.
- A campus-wide STEM collaboration partnering with lead education agencies, industries, and community organizations fosters economic development in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee.
- The Oakley STEM Center provides a regional presence for external agencies such as NASA, USDA, ORNL, and the TN STEM Leadership Council.
Outreach | Academics | Research
- Enrich P-16 (pres-school through college) student learning with hands-on inquiry and experiences;
- Enhance the preparation of new and practicing P – 16 teachers;
- Model innovative instructional design and learning environments;
- Conduct rigorous education research on the learning process;
- Connect Center activities to state, national, and international education initiatives across the STEM disciplines;
- Collaborate with lead education agencies, industries, organizations, and councils to strengthen STEM education.
Outreach Goal 1: Provide quality professional development (PD) for P – 12 (pre-school through 12th grade) STEM teachers based on local needs, aligned with state and national standards, and models best practices in STEM education.
- Conduct a variety of self-supporting and/or externally funded summer workshops;
- Facilitate year-round support for learning communities and communities of practice;
- Identify exceptional teachers and provide them with training to become professional development providers;
- Work with and through regional schools and lead education agency (LEA) partners and leadership councils to identify emerging needs and design PD to meet those needs for teachers who are expert in both content and pedagogy;
- Invite P-12 educators to hold meetings and workshops in the Center.
Outreach Goal 2: Provide quality STEM enrichment for students, preschool – high school.
- Collaborate with directors of existing on-campus and regional summer camps to determine appropriate utilization of STEM Center facilities;
- Conduct self-supporting and/or externally funded summer explorations for targeted groups of students;
- Establish a pre-school STEM enrichment program available to childcare programs and other caregivers;
- Host field trips for area schools;
- Establish a speakers’ bureau to provide timely, standards-aligned enrichment activities in area schools.
Outreach Goal 3: Provide public programming to increase informal STEM education opportunities for the community.
- Conduct one or more open house activities each year that include hands-on learning experiences for community members of all ages;
- Host evening presentations and guided discussions on a variety of STEM topics using faculty, students, local business and industry leaders, visiting resource persons, and electronic programming;
- Showcase faculty and student research and class projects though lobby displays and virtual access;
- Issue frequent press releases to area media;
- Create and maintain a vital website that celebrates past achievements, advertises and promotes current activities, and highlights future opportunities for partnership.
Academic Goal 1 – Model effective instruction for future teachers.
- Use the learning studios for STEM content courses required for pre-service teachers;
- Use the learning studios for graduate and undergraduate STEM methods courses;
- Establish policies and procedures for scheduling TTU courses in the facility;
- Ensure courses taking place in the building are purposeful in their use of research-based instructional design.
Academic Goal 2 – Create a STEM Student Ambassador program.
- Recruit, select, and train a group of undergraduate students to serve as articulate advocates for STEM careers and topics;
- Regularly schedule these ambassadors as assistants for outreach activities;
- Organize the students into cross-disciplinary teams to enhance their own learning and to increase their effectiveness with STEM clients;
- Model the training of these student ambassadors in consultation with existing effective programs.
Academic Goal 3 – Facilitate TTU faculty use of the Center.
- Host Brown Bag Lunch Seminar Series with the local American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) chapter;
- Encourage faculty to reserve STEM Center spaces for selected class activities;
- Encourage STEM departments to schedule regular courses in the Center based on the policies and procedures that clearly value evidence-based and/or research-based instructional design.
Research Goal 1 – Foster inter-collegial and multi-campus collaboration for STEM education research.
- Form, update, and support research teams from College of Education, College of Arts & Science, College of Engineering, College of Agriculture & Human Sciences, and College of Business;
- Effectively administer existing and new grants through the STEM Center;
- Encourage and submit new proposals to National Science Foundation, Department of Education, NASA, Department of Energy, and other government agencies;
- Develop policies and procedures for grant submission and administration;
- Develop working relationships with program officers for state and national agencies, and with foundation program officers;
- Develop research oriented relationships with business, industry, and medical leaders.
Research Goal 2 – Communicate the capabilities of the learning studios and interview rooms as research spaces.
- Establish protocols and schedule usage;
- Develop a budget model for “time and access” in use of Center space as a part of funded research and industry partnerships;
- Conduct on-going dissemination and training on the use of the digital recording equipment;
- Form industry research partnerships for sustainable updates of building furnishings and equipment.
Research Goal 3 – Disseminate STEM research and development occurring at the University and in the region.
- Offer effective outreach models for STEM faculty to use in addressing broader impacts of proposed research;
- Prepare and/or support the design of exhibits and activities relating STEM topics to key thematic areas such as space, energy, environment, and health;
- Foster WCTE: Upper Cumberland Public Television partnership in regional video productions of STEM topics and educational outreach;
- Highlight industry advances and the links to STEM education initiatives in the Upper Cumberland region.
University Faculty & Program Administrators
- Mr. Pat Callahan, UCHRA Employment and Training Director
- Dr. Sandra Koczwara, Director, Upper Cumberland Middle Grades Math Partnership
- Dr. Don Visco, Coordinator, Awarded Outstanding Teaching Award for ASEE-SE, STEM Brown Bag Lunch Seminars
- Mr. Ray Jordan, Concepts of Biology
- Mr. Adolph King, Associate Vice President, Roane State Community College
Lobby | Auditorium | Learning Studios | Virtual Theater
Ray Morris Hall (RMH) is a 26,000 sq. ft. STEM-education facility on the campus of Tennessee Tech University. Ray Morris Hall is home to the Millard Oakley STEM Center for the Teaching and Learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics which provides interactive learning studios, an auditorium, a virtual theater, and other resources specifically designed to meet the research and learning needs of STEM educators and students of all ages. The state-of-the-art facility also includes electronic infrastructure to capture learning activities for research and distance learning.
The STEM Center facility is also a inspiring example of using green technologies in the finishing and furnishing of rooms and spaces.
- Dimensions: 90' x 30'
- Features: multi-purpose space, flat screen monitor displays, vending machines, restrooms, access to Learning Studios and Virtual Theater.
- Furnishings: equipped with a variety of seating options 1) Lobby Benches are upholstered with 100% recycled fiber content; 2) the tall Cafe Chairs are upholstered with one of the first biodegradable polyurethanes on the market; it is PVC-free and is manufactured in a facility that recycles 99% of all water and raw materials used in production; 3) the Spark Chair Loungers are upholstered with 100% post-consumer recycled polyester content.
- Capacity: The auditorium seats 240 students or visitors in a theater setting. Wheelchair access and seating available.
- Features: Instruction/demonstration table with water, gas and electrical oulets, dual screen presentations, full electronic and recording capabilities.
Learning Studios / Rooms 131, 135, 137 & 139
Early Childhood Learning Studio / Room 131
- Capacity: 20
- This Learning Studio is dedicated to providing young learners (PreK-3rd grade) access to engaging, STEM-related learning experiences. The studio houses interactive games, puzzles, and activities to stimulate young minds in a colorful environment furnished with child-sized, child-friendly decor.
Mathematics Learning Studio / Room 135
- Capacity: 49
- The Mathematics Learning Studio offers a variety of accessible resources and technologies to assist learners in communication and comprehension of mathematical concepts.
Physics/Engineering & Earth/Space Sciences Learning Studio (dry lab) / Room 137
- Capacity: 36
- From Physics and Engineering to Earth/Space Science the dry lab is a flexible, interactive space for students and educators to explore mechanics, energy, the universe, and more.
Biology & Chemistry Learning Studio (wet lab) / Room 139
- Capacity: 36
- The biology and chemistry lab is equipped with cutting-edge ventilation hoods, sinks, gas, water, and a variety of safety features in support of the projects and activities presented in this extraordinary, interactive learning space.
For more information call 931-372-6573.
Oakley STEM Center for the Teaching and Learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Q: Is the Millard Oakley STEM Center involved in stem cell research?
A: No. The reference to the word "STEM" reflects the national STEM-education initiative focused on improving teaching and learning strategies in SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING and MATHEMATICS.
Q: Does the Oakley STEM Center have programs and events open to the public?
A: Yes. The Oakley STEM Center offers a variety of family and community-centered activities thoughout the year; most are free admission. Visit the Kids & Families, Virtual Theater and Events section of the website for more information about upcoming opportunities.
Q: Does the Oakley STEM Center offer professional development for educators?
A: Yes. The Oakley STEM Center provides several unique and Tennessee Learning Standards-aligned professional development workshops and experiences annually. For current information visit the Teachers (PreK-12) and the NASA Educator Resource Center sections of the website.
Q: Does the Oakley STEM Center host university courses at TTU?
A: Yes. The Oakley STEM Center hosts over 60 TTU courses, representing a diverse group of university departments, each semester in its state-of-the-art Learning Studios and Auditorium (capacity 240).