PBL + STEM/STEAM Learning in Tennessee

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Tennessee’s Commitment to STEM Excellence

The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE)’s Best for All strategic plan sets a clear vision: that every student in the Volunteer State will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to successfully pursue their chosen path in life.
Central to that vision is a recognition that STEM education is no longer optional. The Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN), in partnership with TDOE, works to expand rigorous, integrated STEM and STEAM learning statewide. To prepare Tennessee students for a competitive future, schools across the state are working to ensure every learner is:

• Exposed to high-quality, hands-on STEM experiences
• Supported in building the critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills future employers demand
• Connected to career pathways in one of the nation’s fastest-growing STEM job markets
• Equipped to pursue postsecondary credentials and thrive in a high-skill, high-wage economy

Achieving these goals means investing in innovative learning environments, empowering educators, and making STEM accessible to every student. That’s where SmartLab comes in.

STEM LEARNING IN TENNESSEE

Driving Tennessee Forward

One of the main objectives of the Best for All initiative is to set Tennessee students on a path to success. In addition to academic achievement, this sentiment includes preparing learners for future career success. With major growth in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and technology industries across the state, hands-on STEM learning is one of the most powerful tools schools have to deliver on that promise. 

Here’s how SmartLab can help:

• SmartLab learners of all ages connect core math, science, and engineering concepts to hands-on activities. | See Details
• Career-bound students build familiarity with concepts they can apply to a wide range of professions. | See Details
• Learners practice life skills like goal-setting, time management, autonomy, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. | See Details
• Educators are supported every step of the way with comprehensive training and troubleshooting, enabling them to focus on their students. | See Details
• The SmartLab digital LearningHub keeps our curriculum in one easy-to-access place. | See Details

SMARTLAB STANDARDS ALIGNMENT

Preparing Learners for Academic Success

SmartLab learning environments are in close alignment with the following state-specific and nationwide standards: 

Here’s how SmartLab can help:

• Tennessee’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) Standards: Spanning 16 nationally recognized career clusters, Tennessee’s CTE framework prepares students for postsecondary and career success, a goal SmartLab’s career-connected curriculum is built to advance. | See Details
• Tennessee STEM Standards of Practice: This framework, implemented in grades K–5, builds cross-disciplinary STEM foundations from the earliest grades—laying the groundwork that SmartLab’s Explorer K–5 curriculum is designed to develop. | See Details
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards: Empowered with access to innovative tools—and the agency to explore their applications—students grow into their roles as digital citizens. | See Details