Haslam College of Business - UT Alum Helps Teachers Engage Students

Today’s educators are increasingly seeking ways to engage students while balancing growing demands on time and resources. Project-based learning has emerged as a powerful tool to foster student engagement but implementing it effectively can be challenging without the right support.

Joel Smith (UT, ’13), an alumnus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Arts and Sciences’ physics program, is working to bridge that gap through his business, TeachCraft. The platform helps educators design high-quality, data-informed project-based learning experiences while building a supportive community for implementation at every level.

Smith has spent more than 13 years in the classroom, where he’s developed a deep appreciation for project-based learning and its impact on students.

“I love project-based learning because it allows my students to find their own capability and learn how integral they are to our community,” he says .

Building a Learning Community

TeachCraft began as a tool Smith created for his own classroom. What started as a personal solution quickly gained traction when Smith’s coworker began using it during a shared planning period. The resource soon spread throughout their school, prompting Smith’s principal to encourage him to take the idea further.

After entering and winning the “What’s the Big Idea?” pitch competition at the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, Smith officially launched TeachCraft.

Today, the platform provides educators with the tools and support needed to implement project-based learning in a sustainable and accessible way. In addition to offering structured resources, TeachCraft fosters a community through shared materials, live events and ongoing support.

“We wanted to do something that allowed educators to use their time in the classroom to teach and inspire students,” Smith says.

According to his Melissa Stowers, director of college and career readiness at Smith’s school, coworkers are already seeing the benefits of the tool.

“TeachCraft will change the way we teach,” says Stowers.

Measurable Classroom Impact

As TeachCraft has grown, its impact has become increasingly evident in the schools it serves. Teachers using the platform have reported improvements in student engagement, reduced tardiness and absenteeism and stronger overall classroom communities.

Educators have also seen professional benefits, including higher evaluation scores and increased confidence in their teaching methods, according to STEM teacher Andy Herbert.

“I am teaching better and I still have time for myself during the day,” says Herbert.

For Smith, the most meaningful moments come from seeing the results firsthand.

“I was walking down the hall one day and saw all of the student products that had been created,” Smith says. “For the first time, teachers were able to implement project-based learning in a way that didn’t overwhelm them.”

From Educator to Entrepreneur

To navigate this transition from educator to entrepreneur, Smith turned to the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, where he gained access to mentorship and resources that helped him develop his business strategy, branding and market positioning.

Smith also says his time at UT played a foundational role in shaping his path. He notes the professors, support and culture that UT provides are unlike any other. The Volunteer Spirit truly changed his life.

He also credits UT’s Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for fostering a strong sense of community and support for aspiring entrepreneurs at the university.

“When I think of the Anderson Center, the first thing that comes to mind is the community and volunteer spirit that exists to help people create businesses and opportunities,” Smith says.

As TeachCraft continues to grow, Smith hopes to expand his impact by supporting more educators and building a team that shares his passion for improving education.

About the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The Anderson Center, housed in the UT Haslam College of Business, is the front door to entrepreneurship at UT. It connects Volunteers with the expertise, resources and collaborators at UT and across the regional ecosystem to advance ideas, tackle bold challenges and turn entrepreneurial ambition into results. At the Anderson Center, Volunteers are empowered to identify opportunities and take bold action to create value through new ventures.

For more information and upcoming events, visit the Anderson Center event page.

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Author:

Allison Kelly, Anderson Center director of marketing, akelly9@utk.edu

Contact:

Leah McAmis, senior editor, leah@utk.edu