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NASA’s BEST StudentsBeginning Engineering, Science and Technology

http://userpages.umbc.edu/~hoban/BEST

ESMD Project Managers Meeting

Kennedy Space Center

February 26, 2008

Delivered by Dr. Susan HobanGoddard Education

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Supported through NASA Exploration Systems Mission Directorate UMBCUMBC

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Today’s Presentation

• Project Summary

• ESMD mission content

• Outcomes and target audience

• Project status

• Distribution strategy

• Notable successes and lessons learned

• What’s next?

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NASA’s BEST Students: The Team

Goddard Education• Carmel ConatyUMBC Goddard Earth Science

and Technology Center:

• Laurie Cook• Marci Delaney• Brittany Hamolia• Susan Hoban• Chris Smith/Honeywell

Partners from:• UMBC Engineering• Anne Arundel County

Public Schools• Anne Arundel

Community College

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NASA’s BEST Students: Project Summary

• STEM standards-based, Engineering Clubs

• 2-week Summer Bridges

• STEM Collaborative Challenge

• STEM Systems

• STEM Expo

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ESMD Mission Content

Lunar Exploration

– LIDAR Mapping

– Search for Lunar Ice

– Rockets, satellites, rovers, habitats (power generation, food-water-oxygen), etc.

– Launching, orbiting, landing

– Mission Design & Execution

Having said that…

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The Engineering Design Process

Video 1: Introduction

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Outcomes

NASA Education Outcome 2

Attract and retain students in STEM disciplines through a progression of educational opportunities for students, teachers, and faculty.

• Objective 2.1: Short-duration PD

• Objective 2.2: Long-duration PD

• Objective 2.3: Curricular support resources

BEST Components• Engineering Clubs• Summer Bridge• STEM Challenge• STEM Systems

– Curriculum– Professional Development

• STEM Expo– Curriculum– Professional Development

“Other PD workshops, as assigned….”

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Target Audience

Professional Development Curriculum

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BEST emphasis: Professional Development

• Engineering Clubs– K-2– 3-5– 6-8

• STEM Challenge, 6-8• STEM Systems

– 9-12– 6-8

• STEM Expo, “Family”– Mainly 6-8Primarily ePD

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Project Status

• Engineering Clubs

– Pilot completed 2008

– 23 schools, >300 students

– Activity Guides in Product Review

– 12 more activities underway

– ePD ongoing

• STEM Expo

– Pilot Nov. 15, 2008

– 149 attendees

– Handbook in development

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• STEM Collaborative Challenge– Search for Lunar Ice Robotic Challenge– Underway with 3 schools (MD, England, Germany)…maybe

to add one in AZ– ePD with a twist: in Second Life (under development with

NASA Learning Technologies office)

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STEM Systems, ramping up

• Discussion Forum with stakeholders 3/19/09

• Summer Bridge in July• High school course

– Pilot in STEM Magnets

– Fall 09, Spring 2010

• Middle School Modules to follow, 2010

• University Course (MAE Program), 2011

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Project Status, conclusion

• Summer Bridge– Last year combined MSDE, AACPS – 40 students– This year, two offerings (Robotics, STEM Systems)

• Evaluation & Research– Dr. Bob Wolffe, Bradley University, outside evaluator/per NAS Report– Effectiveness of ePD, Laurie Cook

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BEST 2009+ Distribution Strategy

Under construction!• AESP• DLN Network• Existing online channels, e.g. Blended Schools • Home Schooling Networks• Engineering Education, e.g.

– Project Lead the Way– Boston Museum of Science

• Professional Organizations– Community partners

That’s why we’re here!

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Notable Successes

• 2008 pilot of Engineering Clubs in AACPS– Strong positive feedback – uniqueness for K-2, 3-5– Strong positive student response – request to repeat– Constructive criticism from teachers

• E.g. Activities take more than one session

• Tentative results for ePD– Teachers responding positively to convenience– Need more training on STEM content

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Lessons Learned

• Remote staff takes more management time– BEST Multimedia team

• 4 undergraduates around the country developing multimedia pieces for recruiting tool for Engineering Clubs

• Did not finish on schedule• Working on wrap-up strategy

– STEM Collaboration Challenge• Similar issue, originally planned for High School level, but

remote developer fizzled out• (In this case, able to resurrect for middle school with in-

house support)

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What’s Next (near future)• February

– Engineering Clubs ePD series– Engineering clubs starting in AACPS and in 1

Baltimore school

• March– STEM Systems Education Discussion Forum

• April– LRO VIP Event at Goddard Visitor Center

• Summer Bridges – Robotic Lunar Exploration, June 22 – July3– STEM Systems – July 13 - 24

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NASA’s BEST StudentsBeginning Engineering, Science and Technology

• BEST Materials http://userpages.umbc.edu/~hoban/BEST

• Electronic Professional Development– Sign-up: Marci.Delaney@nasa.gov

– Delivery: Brittany.L.Hamolia@nasa.gov

– Research: Lcook@umbc.edu

• Project Information– susan.hoban@nasa.gov