Challenger Learning Center wins award

The Challenger Learning Center at Heartland Community College has been honored with the national Arthur C. Clarke Award for Innovation in Education.

The Arthur C. Clarke Award recognizes a Challenger Learning Center that has implemented a new and innovative program that impacts student learning, supports teachers, and/or promotes creativity.

This award is given in recognition of the KidWind Renewable-Energy Student Challenge, a project that engaged over 150 students in grades 4-12 to design, build, and test a model wind turbine.

“The KidWind Challenge is a unique opportunity for kids to develop STEM skills while gaining the benefit of the renewable energy educators and students at Heartland,” said Dr. Julia Ossler, Director of Heartland’s Challenger Learning Center. “Thousands of students participate in immersive educational experiences each year at the Challenger Learning Center. Events like the KidWind Challenge help make the connection between STEM learning and careersin industries like wind energy, electric vehicles, solar energy, and many others.”

Heartland’s Challenger Learning Center developed a six-week curriculum for students to learn principles and execute the design of a model wind turbine. In February of this year, student teams tested their model in a wind tunnel set up at the Astroth Community Education Center on the Heartland Campus, with professionals from the renewable energy industry evaluating the design and measuring performance.