Learning
Beyond Boundaries
21st Century and Beyond: Advancing Education in Technology, Robotics, and Computer Science.
Engineer mighty things
It is now more crucial than ever to provide young individuals with challenging STEM learning experiences that can promote their academic, intellectual, and social growth during these trying times. The educational landscape has seen major shifts in recent years, and our mission is to assist families with engaging and enjoyable robotics and STEM education.
What began as my vision for TRC in 2011 became a reality in 2022 when we created a vibrant 21st-century learning center for K-12 students to acquire vital skills through excellence in Technology, Robotics, and Computer Science. By incorporating carefully selected content from prestigious organizations like FIRST Robotics, NASA JPL Education, and Pitsco Education, among others, I am dedicated to delivering high-quality STEM education to as many students as possible. To fulfill this goal, I am committed to inspiring students to develop and refine their 21st-century digital skills through Playful Learning, an educational method championed by LEGO Education, NASA STEM Education, and numerous other esteemed organizations.
I genuinely believe that through our interactive TRClasses, TRCamps, TRCompetition teams, and TRCommunity programs, students will gain a richer understanding, appreciation, and acknowledgment of the challenges and opportunities presented by a premier STEAM education. In the year ahead, I will remain focused on leveraging modern learning technologies to inspire students to pursue their aspirations and strive for careers and educational pathways in STEM fields, ultimately becoming the trailblazers of science and technology in the 21st century.
Join us as we soar to new heights in 2026 and beyond, continuing to cultivate the next generation of innovators for America.
Dare Mighty Things!
Michael Puckett
Owner and Director
Making Giant Leaps Possible
TRC Education is paving the way for students to achieve monumental success by offering comprehensive education in Technology, Robotics, and Computer Science, designed to cultivate the essential skills for the digital age of the 21st century. Our focus lies in three core learning domains: Technology, Robotics, and Computer Science (TRC), and our courses are tailored to give young learners a competitive edge as they aspire to careers and advanced studies in engineering technology.
In 2022, TRC Education introduced an innovative learning center to our community: the Tennessee Robotics Center, which offers afterschool and homeschool educational opportunities for K-12 students. In 2023, we relocated to a new site near I-840, enabling us to better serve students traveling from the west of Murfreesboro, Nashville, and throughout Middle Tennessee. By 2024, we expanded our facility to incorporate an advanced program focusing on high school robotics and aerospace education.
In 2026, we will unveil our new online program TRCOnline and bespoke curriculum, TRConstellation. Our mission remains steadfast: to inspire and empower students to pursue extraordinary achievements within the fields of STEM and robotics.
A Persistent Pursuit
The rapid advancement of AI technology and constant change in today’s dynamic environment necessitate an ongoing commitment to education to acquire the knowledge and skills essential for utilizing engineering and technological tools and principles. These competencies empower educators to design, develop, prototype, deliver, and evaluate authentic learning experiences.
TRC Education inspires and equips students to transcend traditional boundaries. My five-year vision is to establish a state-of-the-art 21st-century learning center tailored for afterschool and homeschool students, alongside an online learning platform where learners from all walks of life, diverse locations, and varied interests can engage in Technology, Robotics, and Computer Science education from anywhere on the globe, including outer space.
The areas of educational interest remain focused on:
- Engineering Design
- 3D Printing and CAD
- Computer Science and Coding
- Educational Technology (EdTech)
- Digital Media Production
- Robotics Engineering and Mechatronics
- Cyber Education and Networking
- Aerospace and Aeronautics Education
- Space Science Education
- Earth Science
our Next Giant Leap
The Tennessee Robotics Center's Strategic Stars Plan outlines an ambitious vision for enhancing engineering education throughout Middle Tennessee, driven by five guiding stars that illuminate our journey towards impacting over 5,000 students annually by 2030. Just as the stars in a constellation function in unison, each strategic pillar—Program Excellence, Geographic Expansion, TRCamp Innovation, Community Impact, and Operational Excellence—collaborates to forge a robust educational framework that will extend from our flagship in Murfreesboro to new locations in Nashville, Mt. Juliet, and Franklin.
Through this constellation of sites, we will implement our comprehensive TRConstellation pathway, transforming inquisitive students into confident engineers while strengthening Tennessee's STEM pipeline via innovative summer camps, partnerships with schools, and industry collaborations. By aligning with these Strategic Stars, TRC Education will grow from a singular point of excellence into a vibrant constellation of learning centers, each propelling students towards futures as innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders who will influence the technology landscape of tomorrow and embrace audacious challenges.
What will our next Giant Leap be? Only God knows, but He will guide us, and I will always heed His call. We must simply listen.
Be still and know.
Dare Mighty Things
"Dare Mighty Things!" has evolved into a foundation of our identity at TRC over the years, a phrase I frequently share with my students. It was recently featured as a decoder ring on the landing parachute of the Mars Perseverance Rover.
"It is not the critic who matters; not the one who merely points out how the strong may stumble or how the doer of deeds could have done better. The true credit resides with the individual actually in the arena, whose face bears the marks of dust, sweat, and blood; who strives valiantly, makes mistakes, and falls short time and again, for there is no genuine effort without failure and shortcomings. Yet, this person perseveres in their endeavor, experiencing great enthusiasm and dedication; pouring themselves into a noble cause. At best, they know the triumph of significant achievement, and at worst, should they fail, at least they do so while daring greatly…"
"It is far nobler to pursue mighty goals and achieve glorious victories, even if they come with setbacks, than to align oneself with those unfortunate souls who neither experience joy nor suffering, for they exist in the dull twilight that recognizes neither triumph nor defeat."
1 "The Man in the Arena: Citizenship in a Republic," Address delivered at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
2 "The Strenuous Life," Hamilton Club, Chicago, April 10, 1899
Image at left: Mars Decoder Ring Found at: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/mars-decoder-ring
