The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC or U of I) is a public land-grant research university in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area of Illinois. Established in 1867, it is the flagship institution of the University of Illinois System and one of the largest public universities in the U.S. with over 59,000 students.

As part of the Land Grant system, the U of I’s Extension program receives federal funding to benefit the health and wellbeing of residents and communities in every part of Illinois. Based in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), Extension is the university’s statewide network of educators, faculty experts, and staff dedicated to providing educational opportunities in support of that mission, part of which includes using Starlab to bring additional STEM learning opportunities to students in both rural and urban communities.

Using Starlab as a ‘Portable Field Trip’ to Increase Access for Underrepresented Elementary Schools

U of I’s Extension program operates a 4-H program, composed of a program manager, two educators, and 8 program coordinators who develop and execute the youth programming. Through a mix of both federal and local funding, as well as support through endowments and local foundations, the program was able to secure Starlab.

“In our grand scheme, Starlab was not going to be a burdensome investment. Because of the longevity of the technology, our ability to use it almost anywhere, and the fact it was going to fill a gap for our local schools, Starlab was the perfect kind of purchase to make with our funding sources,” says Katie Buckley, County Director for U of I’s Extension program.

With costs increasing for field trips and limited resources, most of the schools in our rural districts cannot afford field trips. Starlab serves as both an alternative to and reinforcement for classroom instruction, bringing concepts in astronomy, geology, meteorology and other STEM disciplines to life in ways these students haven’t experienced.

U of I Extension focuses its efforts on third through sixth grade students, aligning their content and programming with NGSS standards. In addition to studying the scientific concepts around the constellations and solar system, they tie in lessons around astrology and Greek mythology, exposing students to storytelling elements that work to more deeply engage students in the material and support retention.

“It’s a cool experience, but we also make sure Starlab ties into what they are learning in their classrooms so the experience is just as valuable for teachers as it is for students. With activities like Mission to Mars, Galactic Quest and even eclipse safety and training designed to reinforce what they’re learning in Starlab, all of our lessons are standards aligned, and we work with teachers to ensure the experience will echo the units they’re teaching. The idea is to show students how the things they’re learning about look in real life.”

 

Expanding Access Beyond Schools to Broader Communities 

The primary goal of the U of I’s Extension 4-H educational programming is to enrich the STEM culture in some of the most rural counties in central Illinois. In addition to school presentations, the program brings Starlab into rural public libraries, its Children’s Discovery Museum, as well as the Challenger Learning Center, leveraging Starlab’s portability to expand access to families and other members of the community.

“My heart belongs to STEM. Before I was County Director, I was a 4-H educator for this unit and have always been devoted to STEM and youth experiences. We want to find engaging, fun ways for students and families to participate in science instruction and Starlab is one of the ways we do that. The feedback from teachers and students is especially rewarding. Our schedule is always jam packed because everyone wants a Starlab presentation,” shared County Director Katie Buckley.

With curriculum aligned to NGSS standards, along with lessons that apply across grade levels, U of I’s 4-H program can more easily create an interactive learning experience that brings hard-to-understand concepts to life. As a result, students can easily visualize and understand many complex concepts around space, astronomy, and our planet.