Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning

The Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning is a vibrant organization that is part of Framingham State University (FSU), a higher education institution established by Horace Mann in 1839 as America’s first public teacher preparation school. The McAuliffe Center, created in 1994 to honor the legacy of the first teacher in space and FSU alumna, Christa McAuliffe, functions as a hub for much of the University’s informal STEM education activity. Each year approximately 10,000 K-16 students participate in the Center’s programs that feature activities in the Challenger Learning Center, FSU planetarium, exhibit areas, and teacher professional development.

Our Vision is to foster a community of lifelong learners by providing innovative, integrated STEM pedagogies, practices, and programs that are accessible to all audiences.

Our Mission is to contribute K-16 integrated STEM learning opportunities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the sharing of resources, building of partnerships, and advancement of educational practices.

Current STEM Education Initiatives at the McAuliffe Center

Professional development programs offered by the McAuliffe Center

• Hub for Computer Science professional development programs for high and middle school teachers
• Developer, in collaboration with the STEM College and the Center on Climate Change Education, of a summer institute on Climate Change Pedagogy for middle and high school teachers
• Space Station Explorers for Out-of-School Time PD Program

Internship program for undergraduate students

• NASA STEM Summer internship (paid)
• STEM focused: planetarium and CLC (for credit)
• Non-STEM focused: marketing, graphic design, social media (for credit)

Educational activities offered through Challenger Learning Center

• Space Mission simulations for middle school students
• Space Mission simulations for high school students
• Space Mission simulations for out-of-school time programs
• Space Mission simulations for FSU undergraduate students
• Space Mission simulations – used as team building activity – for professionals and local businesses
• The simulation programs include Earth Odyssey, Expedition Mars, and Lunar Quest

Educational activities offered through the Framingham State University Planetarium

• Development of new programs for early childhood
• Programs for K-12 students
• Programs for out-of-school time audiences
• Classes for FSU undergraduate students, both STEM and non-STEM majors
• Programs and lifelong learning initiatives for the general public

Professional initiatives to which the McAuliffe Center contributes

• Organizer of Science on State Street, FSU-based science festival
• Co-lead and manager of the Metrowest STEM Education Network
• Partner of MassCAN for CS professional development initiatives
• Member of the Executive Board of the Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers
• Serving on STEM education advisory boards for Boy Scouts of America, Big Brother Big Sister/MySTEM, Center for Climate Change Education, Catalyst Collaborative@MIT, Museum Institute for Teaching Science
• Partnerships with Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 21^st Century Community Learning Center Program at Framingham Public Schools, Chandra X-ray Observatory, MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, CASIS, NASA Universe of Learning