STEM Teaching Center Brings Community Learning and Engagement to Life

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STEM Teaching Center Brings Community Learning and Engagement to Life

Kayleigh Armstrong (left) and her team lead a science workshop at the Boys and Girls Club of Chester.

Community engagement is a hallmark of the Widener student experience. Whether by volunteer hours or service learning courses, undergraduate and graduate students can engage with the Chester community and surrounding areas throughout their time at Widener.

Brandi Meredith got involved in her first year and never looked back.

"I love, especially at Widener, you get into the field out in the community freshman year. Most schools you wait until junior year but we are doing our observation hours, we're doing field hours, we're doing community hours as freshmen," said Meredith.

The senior early education and special education major has lost count of the number of volunteer hours she's accrued. What she hasn't lost sight of is the impact and experience she's gained ahead of starting her career as a teacher.

"We had so much experience in the classroom and in the community that really prepared me for student teaching. It also encourages me to get more involved in the school district that I'm going to work in because I can see such a benefit just in Chester, and I couldn't imagine not getting involved in other communities," said Meredith.

Meredith is among the many students delving into community engagement opportunities through Widener's STEM Teaching Center.

Students learn alongside Widener undergraduates in a hands-on workshop at the Boys and Girls Club of Chester.

Previously known as the Science Teaching Center, the STEM Teaching Center launched in 1992 to develop partnerships and programming geared toward providing professional development opportunities and resources for area science educators. Today, backed by various grant funding, the center invites Widener students to work collaboratively alongside faculty to conduct research and provide teaching and learning experiences for local K-12 school students.

The center is making a big impact in the community. In the fall 2024, it connected with more than 400 students through over 25 sessions at five Chester schools and organizations.

"We know that a STEM education early on in a student's life can have a profound impact on their academic trajectory. If you keep these young minds engaged at an early age, it becomes engrained in them," said Ria Mazumder, associate teaching professor of engineering.

According to Mazumder, who co-directs the center with Meghan Klems, associate teaching professor of chemistry, Widener students from all programs and disciplines, not just STEM-based majors, can sign up and get involved in the hands-on teaching and learning.

There is something here for everyone. Whether you're a criminal justice or sport and event management major, the STEM Teaching Center can connect you with meaningful community-based engagement that will positively impact your student career." Ria Mazumder, STEM Teaching Center co-director

For Kayleigh Armstrong, a junior biomedical engineering major, her experience leading a workshop at the Boys and Girls Club of Chester taught her the importance of communicating complex information - a critical skill for engineering professionals.

"In a real job when you are the engineer, you could be explaining information to somebody that has no idea what you're talking about. In that aspect [this experience] definitely related to trying to figure out the language you need to use to explain something that not only you fully understand, but the person receiving the information as well," said Armstrong.

Armstrong (left) and the her team lead students through fun and engaging activities.

Armstrong and her classmates developed and led a workshop as part of a bioinstrumentation class in the fall semester. Using an LED pulse sensor that was activated by an increased heart rate, the workshop taught students about health instruments and the valuable health awareness they provide.

"It was a great way to put forward what we're learning into the community," said Armstrong. "The students were so excited; they wanted to take the sensor off and jump up and down to light all the lights up immediately. They asked so many questions about the science behind everything."

In addition to engineering workshops like Armstrong's, Widener students have access to a variety of volunteer opportunities through the center from basketball games and arts and crafts clubs to science lessons and homework support.

No matter the activity, each engagement is designed to leave a lasting impression on young learners and set them up for future success.

"If you're feeling a little leery about joining, just join because it'll make such an impact; you will not realize how much of an impact you are making on those kids," said Meredith.

Get Involved with the STEM Teaching Center