Dr. Sheila Boyington, co-founder of Thinking Media, speaks during a news conference at The Chattanoogan hotel launching “Learning Blade,” a software program aimed at helping persuade 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to consider pursuing a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) degree in college.From rescuing an injured Dolphin to helping an orphanage in Haiti, middle school students enrolled in a new online training program quickly learn the value and fun of work in science, math and engineering.
Chattanooga entrepreneurs Dane and Sheila Boyington, both chemical engineers who previously developed a successful vocational testing and training program, launched a new web-based toolkit Monday they believe could address America’s deficiency in science, technology, engineering and math — the so-called STEM courses.
The new online program known as the Learning Blade provides an entertaining, game-based format to entice students to pursue “missions” to solve challenges using both reading and science skills. In the process, program developers hope to both teach and excite more young people into engineering and technical studies and vocations where the United States is losing its once-dominant lead in the world.
“This has always been a passion for us so we’re excited about investing our time and money in this venture,” said Sheila Boyington, co-founder of Thinking Media in Chattanooga. “We chose to begin our work at the middle school age, when students are most likely to develop preferences about technology and their future career paths.”
The Boyingtons already built one of the most successful online teaching and testing programs, “KeyTrain,” which they sold to ACT Inc., two years ago. The couple are using those proceeds, and working with national leaders on STEM education from business and academia, to develop the Learning Blade.