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Teachers incorporate real world math and science into lessons
Aerospace Projects Writer Dryden's Education Office conducted a rural NASA Educational Workshop (NEW) for education teams from four islands in the state of Hawaii. Twenty-five educators representing the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu and Maui came to Dryden's workshop July 31 to Aug. 11. "Over a period of months, the Education Office has discussed the special challenges faced by Hawaii's science, math and technology teachers with the NASA Headquarters Education Division, a key representative from the Hawaii State Science Supervisor's Office, Justin Mew, and with education leaders Art and Rene Kimura," said Dryden Education Director Dr. Marianne McCarthy. Using the Headquarters rural NASA Educational Workshop model, Dryden worked with the Kimuras and the Science Supervisor's Office to identify teams of educators. Each educator team was comprised of at least one classroom teacher and a school administrator and/or district official with decision-making capabilities. The problem faced by Hawaii NEW alumni, who attend NASA workshops as individuals, is that they sometimes do not feel empowered to influence their school and district administrators. After they leave the workshop environment, the effect may not extend beyond the individual teacher's classroom. By creating a network of Hawaiian educators and enlisting state level support with the state superintendent's office and department of education, the likelihood of creating positive systemic change in math, science and technology education is substantially increased, said McCarthy. Laule'a Smythe of Kalaheo Elementary School in Kauai, Hawaii, summed up the experience of many teachers: "Being here and seeing projects first hand allowed me to take back knowledge and experiences I have only read or heard about." Sheila Sumida of Webling Elementary School in Aiea, Oahu, Hawaii, said the spirit of teamwork at Dryden also was inspirational. "A lot of the workers take pride in what they do. They have to work as a team. I will tell my students that they have to work with people to accomplish anything. Experimental airplanes are a good example. The projects are not always successful the first time and teams of people have to keep on trying until the project is a success," she said. NASA Educational Workshops provide opportunities for educators to observe NASA Dryden's aeronautical and earth science research and development through direct interaction with pilots, scientists, engineers and educational specialists. Activities, including tours of aircraft and project briefings, are incorporated into the workshop to help teachers adapt new content knowledge, experience and materials into their specific educational situations. Michelle Davis, a Dryden aerospace education specialist with ASandM, said she appreciated how people all over Dryden assisted in showing the teachers how the concepts they teach are used in work at Dryden. The educators examined topics related to the four NASA Enterprises: Aerospace Technology, Space Science, Earth Science, and Human Exploration and Development of Space. The workshop centered on Dryden's aerospace flight research mission and how it may be used as content for teaching mathematics, science, technology and geography. The Hawaiian educators also visited the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. and traveled to Lockheed Aeronautical Company, Palmdale, Calif., to view the X-33, an advanced technology demonstrator for a single-stage-to-orbit reusable launch vehicle. |
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Responsible NASA Official: John Childress For questions, contact: Dryden Web Group Page Curator:WD-Team Modified: September 26, 2000 |
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