Educators Enrich Curriculum through Space Discovery Graduate Course
“If kids love what they’re doing
they’ll learn from it, and kids love space,” said Juanita Hutto, 3rd grade
bilingual math, science and social studies teacher at Dunn Elementary in
Houston. Hutto was one of 16 teachers encouraged by her school district to
take the “Rocketry and the Biology of Living in Space” Space Discovery
graduate course conducted by the Space Foundation.
Twenty-four K-12 educators participated in the weeklong course, held July
8-12 at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). Course activities
included building and launching model rockets, touring the USAFA, and
participating in underwater training and Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
exercises.
Course participant Esperanza Bosworth, math and science teacher and MESA
advisor at Merrill Middle School in Denver, said the course expanded her
curriculum, therefore helping her students to become more aware of careers
in space and encouraging them to follow their dreams.
Lyn Osbourne, 8th grade Algebra teacher at Manitou Springs Middle School,
took the course to strengthen her space science knowledge and “bring real
applications back to the classroom.”
Jim Blase, Sierra High School math and science teacher, said the Space
Discovery courses “get me (and my students) to think differently about
science.” He is taking all five courses offered this summer.
“Space Discovery graduate courses assist teachers to gain new skills and
content knowledge in math and science that result in increased student
achievement in these disciplines,” says Dr. Patricia Arnold, vice president
of education for the Space Foundation. The courses offer credit towards the
new space studies specialty Master’s Degree Program offered by the
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Separate graduate credit is also
available.
“Rocketry and the Biology of Living in Space” course instructors included
Dr. Paul Vergez, USAFA Astronautics Professor; Ann Grimm, Estes Industries
Education Director; Capt. Brian Joseph, USAFA Assistant Professor of
Astronautics; Capt. Scott Putnam, USAFA Aeronautics Instructor; Dr. Doug
Kirkpatrick, visiting USAFA Aeronautics Professor; Joe Fulton, USAFA
Aeronautics Instructor; Lt. Col. Mike Filler, U.S. Space Command Chief of
Space Operations; and Tim Pleasant, Concord University School of Law
Professor.
Space Discovery courses are open to all K-12 educators and all participants
are eligible for a $150 NASA fellowship. Additional Space Discovery courses
to be held this summer are “Astronomy Principles for the Classroom,” July
22-26 at the USAFA; and “Robotics Made Easy,” August 5-9 at Air Force Space
Command. “Biology and Physical Research” was held July 15-19 at the USAFA,
while “Earth Systems Science” took place June 24-28 at the Garden of the
Gods Trading Post. Register online at www.spacefoundation.org or by calling the
Space Foundation at 1- 800-691-4000.
The Space Foundation has trained more than 20,000 teachers since 1986 on
Teaching With Space through Space Discovery graduate courses and Space in
the Classroom national conferences. All courses and conferences meet state
and national educational standards, with optional graduate credit available.
