Community Learning and Engagement

Our mission is directed towards fostering lifelong learning that expands the boundaries of traditional educational experiences. This department designs programs that build up communities through individualized curriculum developed to prepare students for global success. We believe it is important to create environments that allow students to strengthen foundational knowledge and beyond in creative and engaging ways. We genuinely feel that through engaging with students in our communities in unique and revolutionary ways, that we can develop scholars with a lifelong love for learning and a passion for innovation and experimentation.

Community Outreach Programs

We collaborate with K-12 schools across Tennessee to offer a variety of programs and services to the community, including:

• BOSS (Big Orange STEM Saturday): Our department hosts an annual STEM conference for high school students to explore a wide range of career paths in advancing and innovative fields.
• Reading Design Challenge (RDC): We develop students’ literacy skills through reading comprehension and design challenges. This program prepares students for the annual TSIN competition and provides online instruction throughout the year.
• Research Capstone: Our department offers a year-long program teaching essential research and communication skills. Students build critical thinking and analytical skills, demonstrating their mastery by creating academic research papers and presentations.
• 2ndBRIDGE: We offer a day-long program for students to visit our campus, interact with college students, and connect with campus partners.

Tailored Library Instruction

Our department offers library instruction to foster STEM learning and exploration. Topics we have covered include:

• AI Literacy & Ethics
• Digital Citizenship
• Drone Technology
• Career Exploration

Research Assistance

Our research assistance services for visiting scholars include:

• Overviews on navigating our collections, utilizing our databases, and accessing online resources
• Instruction on developing effective research strategies
• Guided tours of Hodges Library