Frequently
Asked Questions
- What
happens at Challenger Learning Center
- Who
does a Challenger Learning Center reach
- How
many students can participate in a
mission at one time
What
happens at the Challenger Learning Center?
It starts with a one-day workshop for
teachers, where they receive information and
materials about the "mission." Then
the teachers brief the students about their
trip to the Challenger Learning Center, form
teams and prepare their scientific
assignments. The actual visit includes a
two-hour "flight" in a high-tech
simulator. The class becomes a crew of
scientists and explorers, and is divided into
a Mission Control group and a Spacecraft
group to perform a series of hands-on
experiments. Later, back in the classroom,
students participate in post-flight
activities that use the data they gathered
during their mission.
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Who
does a Challenger Learning Center reach?
The primary target audience for Challenger
Learning Centers is students in grades 5-9.
Generally, the visits of these classroom
groups are scheduled during regular school
hours. Many Challenger Learning Centers then
invite other groups to visit the facility
during the summer, on weekends and sometimes
in evening sessions. Groups might include
individuals, youth clubs such as the Scouts
and 4-H, corporations and families.
The program builds on concepts that are
inherent to all children, to naturally
embrace every student, regardless of gender,
race, economic or physical status, including
those who may not have been traditionally
represented in the sciences.
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How
many students can participate in a
"flight" at one time?
As many as 32 and as few as16 students are
needed to fly a full mission at a Challenger
Learning Center. Annually, each Challenger
Learning Center hosts approximately 10,000
individuals per year, making the total number
of visitors to Challenger Learning Centers
over 350,000 each year.
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