Educating the Next Generation of Explorers!

1
Educating the Next Generation of Explorers!
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Impacting K-12 STEM Education An In-Depth Look
at the NASA Science, Engineering, Mathematics
and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) Project Dovie
Lacy SEMAA Project Manager, NASA Glenn Research
Center
2
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
NASA Science, Engineering, Mathematics
Aerospace Academy (SEMAA)

• NASA SEMAA is an innovative, national project
  designed to increase the participation and
  retention of historically underserved and
  underrepresented K-12 youth in the areas of
  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
  (STEM).
• NASA SEMAA is currently located at 17 sites
  located throughout 13 states and the District of
  Columbia. SEMAA site locations include community
  colleges, four-year colleges and universities,
  HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, elementary and secondary
  schools, science centers and museums.

US Population
US Science Engineering Workforce
African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans,
and persons with disabilities 24
African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans,
and persons with disabilities 7
National Science Board. Science and Engineering
Indicators, 2000.
3

National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Project Overview At a Glance

• 2006 SEMAA STATISTICS
• 63,297 students, parents and
• teachers served
• 3000 elementary, middle and
• high schools represented

• GOALS
• Inspire a more diverse student population to
  pursue careers in stem related fields.
• Engage students, parents and teachers by
  incorporating emerging technologies.
• Educate students by utilizing rigorous STEM
  curriculum enhancement activities that meet
  national math, science and technology standards,
  and encompass the research and technology of
  NASAs four Mission Directorates.

• 2006 SEMAA DEMOGRAPHICS
• 85 underrepresented in STEM
• 48 female participation
• 43 lived at or below poverty level
• Over 1,500 with special needs

• SEMAA COMPONENTS
• Hands-on/Minds-on K-12 Curriculum Enhancement
  Activities (CEA)
• Aerospace Education Laboratory (AEL)
• Family Café

Direct Student Participants
4
Science ? Engineering ? Mathematics and Aerospace
Academy
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
SEMAA Sites

• Where are classes taking place?
• 14 College/University Campuses
• 14 Primary/Secondary Schools
• 1 Community Centers
• 11 Other locations
• 1 Museum/Science Centers

5
Science ? Engineering ? Mathematics and Aerospace
Academy
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Implemented via an Agency Approved Project Plan

• Defines the project
• What are we doing
• Why are we doing it
• Who are we doing it with
• Who are we doing it for
• Where will we do it
• How long it will take
• How much it will cost

Headquarters Office of Education ES Program
Manager

Glenn Center Ed Director
NASA Center Education Offices
Glenn SEMAA Project Manager
National SEMAA Office (NSO)
SEMAA Site Directors
SEMAA Participants
6
Science ? Engineering ? Mathematics and Aerospace
Academy
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Alignment to the Education Portfolio
SEMAA harnesses the collective resources of NASA,
institutions of higher education (including
HBCUs, HSIs, and TCUs), informal education
providers (science centers and museums), and
elementary and secondary schools/school districts
to support Outcomes 2 and 3 and an ultimate
push-pull capacity to move students to higher
and higher levels of STEM involvement.

7
Science ? Engineering ? Mathematics and Aerospace
Academy
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Project Design
Site Alignment to NASA Education Outcomes and
Operating Principles SEMAA Compliance Management
System (CMS)

Standard Operating Plan (SOP)

• SEMAA is managed via a performance-based/task-orde
  r contract between NASA GRC and the National
  SEMAA Office (NSO).
• SEMAA Sites are managed via performance-based
  subcontracts between the NSO and the SEMAA site
  host institutions.
• SEMAA subcontract deliverables are linked to NASA
  Education Outcomes and Operating Principles.

Monthly Teleconferences, Quarterly
Annual Performance Reports/NEEIS
Annual Reviews Improvement Plans
8
Science ? Engineering ? Mathematics and Aerospace
Academy
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Project Design

• The comprehensive focus of the NASA SEMAA
  Project is exactly the type of intervention that
  was needed in order to initiate systemic change
  in our communitys view of science and math. As a
  tribal college, we are observing that SEMAA is
  successfully engaging students in science and
  math who once retreated from these subjects.
• Stacy Phelps, Principal Investigator
  Oglala Lakota College

• SEMAA was developed in 1993 as a systemic
  initiative designed to
• increase exposure to STEM amongst K-12
  historically underserved and underrepresented
  students
• increase interest in STEM amongst K-12
  historically underserved and underrepresented
  students.
• SEMAA students participate in one academic year
  session and one summer session each year. SEMAA
  students who have participated in the entire
  series of K-12 curriculum enhancement activities
  will have completed 441 hours of advanced studies
  in STEM prior to enrollment in a post-secondary
  institution.

9
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
K-12 Curriculum Enhancement Activities (CEA)

• Developed by a team of Math and Science Content
  Experts, NASA STEM Content Experts, Primary and
  Secondary School Teachers, Curriculum
  Instructional Designers and Graphics Designers.
• Hands-on, inquiry-based activities.
• Draw heavily on NASA Mission Directorate
  research.
• Aligned to National Math, Science and Technology
  standards
• NASA SEMAA graduates who have participated in the
  entire K-12 CEA will have completed 441 hours of
  advanced studies in STEM prior to their
  enrollment in a post-secondary institution.

10
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
K-12 Curriculum Enhancement Activities (CEA)
All SEMAA students are encouraged to participate
in one academic year session and one summer
session each year.
Three Academic Year Models of Operation

• Saturday Model (45)
• - Grades 3-12 typically meet for 3 hour sessions
  over an 8 week period
• Grades K-2 typically meet for 3 hour sessions
  over a 5 week period.
• After School Model (19)
• Typically conducted as 1-2 hour sessions, 2-3
  days per week.
• In School Model (22)
• Typically conducted over the course of an
  academic year quarter.

• Academic Year Session
• Summer Session

11
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Aerospace Education Laboratory (AEL)

• The AEL is a state-of-the-art, electronically
  enhanced, computerized classroom that puts
  cutting-edge technology at the fingertips of NASA
  SEMAA students in middle and high school. There
  are currently 31 AELs located throughout the
  Country and in Puerto Rico, including one at each
  of the 17 SEMAA sites.
• Classes are conducted in the AEL utilizing
  different scenarios covering all of NASAs
  science and technical missions. In addition to
  serving as a state of-the-art laboratory for
  SEMAA classes, the AEL also engages community
  groups, outside organizations, and the general
  public at large in exciting outreach programs
  conducted year-round.

12
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Aerospace Education Laboratory (AEL)
The AEL workstations are equipped with aerospace
hardware and software that model real-world
challenges in the areas of aeronautics and
microgravity. In ten (10) unique workstations,
visitors can explore technology through 'hands
on/minds on' activities that model real-world
challenges in aerospace.

• Aeronautics Workstations
• Meteorology / Weather
• Virtual Reality Flight Station
• Wind Tunnel Control Station
• Remote Sensing
• GPS/Amateur Radio
• Internet/World Wide Web
• Aircraft Design Station
• Aeronautics Interactive
• Resource Center
• Activity Center

• Microgravity Workstations
• Biotechnology/Material Science
• Fluids Physics/Combustion Sci.
• Global Positioning System
• ISS Virtual Reality Tour
• Living in Microgravity
• Microgravity Demonstrator
• Microgravity Interactive
• Robotics in Microgravity
• Resource Center
• Virtual Reality

13
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Family Café
NASA SEMAA sites offer an informal, interactive
forum that encourages families to become partners
in their childrens STEM education. This forum
is popularly know as the Family Café. The Family
Café provides direct service to parent/adult
family members by sponsoring hands-on activities,
workshops, guest speakers and roundtable
discussions focused on educational and parenting
information.

• Promotes sustained Family Involvement at SEMAA
  sites around the country.
• Provides Parents/Caregivers with relevant
  parenting and STEM Education information.
• Researches and presents information to
  parents/caregivers on other STEM projects
  available for their childs participation in an
  effort to maximize student exposure and interest
  in STEM.

14
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Family Café

• Family Involvement Components
• Family Focus Groups STEM focus groups for
  parents/adult family members only recommended to
  take place simultaneous with a student
  activity/project/competition in an adjacent
  classroom setting within the school.
• Family Nights Hands-on, STEM focused
  activities for family and child to work on
  together within the school setting.
• Home-Based Family Initiatives Hands-on, STEM
  focused activities for family and child to work
  on together within the home setting.

15
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Project Outcomes by Design

• Increase Student Exposure to STEM Education
• K-2 students engaged in 27 classroom hours
  annually
• 3-12 students engaged in 36 classroom hours of
  annually
• Increase Student Interest in STEM Education
  
  
  
• FY-2006 Science - 38 Increase
• Technology - 39 Increase
• Engineering - 52 Increase
• Mathematics - 39 Increase
• Engage the Underserved in STEM Education
• FY-2006
• Ethnic Minorities - 85
• Females - 49
• Low Income (below the national poverty level)
  43 Student with Special Needs - Over 1,500

NEEIS Data
16
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Project Outcomes by Design

• Increase Family Involvement in STEM Education
• Families engaged in up to 21 classroom hours
  annually (Family Focus Groups only)
• Engaged over 25,500 parents/caregivers from
  FY-2004 through FY-2006.

• Foster SEMAA Student Participation in National
  STEM Pipeline
• FY-2006
• Successfully linked SEMAA students to 50 other
  NASA and non-NASA STEM Projects (i.e. NES,
  Flight Projects, NASA Awareness Days, Gear Up,
  Civil Air Patrol, Young Eagles, etc.)

• Develop Partnerships for Sustainability
• Leveraged over 8.4 Million in financial and
  in-kind contributions from FY-2004 through
  FY-2006, representing a 42 match to NASA
  funding.

17
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Project Highlights

• Engaged over 224,000 students, parents/caregivers
  and teachers from FY-2004 through FY-2006.
• Creation of 30 NASA SEMAA Aerospace Themed
  Academies and schools within the Miami-Dade
  County Public Schools (M-DCPS). These academies
  are sustained ventures, supported in
  collaboration by numerous partners including but
  not limited to M-DCPS, US Dept. of Education,
  Florida Memorial College, Miami Museum of Art,
  Miami Museum of Science,etc.
• Current semifinalist for the Innovations in
  American Government Award.
• Establishment of Parent Academies through 150K
  grant provided by Library Sciences (FSC).
• SEMAA has engaged homeless children, as well as
  critically ill children within hospital settings
• NSF awarded two grants for the development of two
  high school curriculum models for SEMAA project
  (space medicine and geosciences)
• NM State Legislative provided funding to support
  NMSU SEMAA operations (FY-2005 110K, FY-2006
  88K)
• SEMAA students majoring in STEM degrees and
  leading STEM professions.
• Reported increases in math and science test
  scores in schools (NMSU).
• Reported increases in STEM knowledge as a result
  of participation in SEMAA (MSU).
• Reported increases in the number of math and
  science courses taken by SEMAA participants.
• Numerous testimonials from students, teachers,
  parents/caregivers, and a broad range of STEM
  stakeholders.

18
Science ? Engineering ? Mathematics and Aerospace
Academy
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Incorporating NASA-Unique Resources
NASA SEMAA sites are required to continuously
incorporate NASA-unique resources into the local
project, as called for within NASAs Content
operating principle. NASA-unique resources are
comprised of content, people, and facilities.

• NASA Content Beyond the SEMAA K-12 Curriculum
  Enhancement Activities, SEMAA sites incorporate a
  wide range of other NASA content into the project
  services including but not limited to NASA
  educational publications, multimedia resources
  (DVDs, CDs, Videotapes), participation in
  webcasts, lithographs, posters, etc.
• NASA People SEMAA sites are responsible to work
  with their NASA center to arrange for NASA
  scientists, engineers and astronauts to visit
  their site and speak with the SEMAA students.
  This type of participation in the project by NASA
  personnel is routine within the SEMAA project.
• NASA Facilities SEMAA sites located within a
  reasonable distance from their NASA center take
  their SEMAA students and families to the NASA
  center for exposure to NASAs world-class
  laboratories and facilities. Virtual tours are
  available for SEMAA students located outside of a
  reasonable driving distance from their NASA
  center.

In FY 2006, SEMAA utilized and/or distributed to
participants 11,863 NASA educational products.
19
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Ensuring Highly Qualified Personnel
AEL Aerospace Education Laboratory CEA
Curriculum Enhancement Activities
20
Science ? Engineering ? Mathematics and Aerospace
Academy
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Ensuring Project Growth through Innovation

• K-12 Curriculum Enhancement Activities
• Mars Robotics Laboratory (MRL)
• Space Medicine High School Curriculum Module
• Astrobiology High School Curriculum Module
• After-School and In-School Models
• Career Tool Kit (FY-2007 Milestone)
• Aerospace Education Laboratory
• Microgravity Droptower
• e-simulations (Space SIM, Mars Flight, etc.)
• Audio sound files and flash video in AEL
  Workstations
• Family Café
• Family Nights
• Home-Based Family Initiatives
• Project Management
• Online SEMAA Information Management System (SIMS)
• SEMAA National Sustainability Committee (NSC)

21
Science ? Engineering ? Mathematics and Aerospace
Academy
National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C.

January 19, 2007
Where Were Headed

• Engage in More Rigorous Evaluation
• Document Increase STEM Knowledge
• Document an Increases in STEM Test Scores in
  schools
• Document Increase in the number of historically
  underserved students pursuing STEM degrees
• Document Increase in the participation of the
  historically underserved groups in the STEM
  Workforce
• Synergy and Collaboration
• Increase the number of Cross Agency
  collaborations (Revitalize DoDEA MOU)
• Increase the number of Inter Agency
  collaborations
• Increase the number of collaborations within the
  broader STEM community (academia, corporations,
  public and private sectors, etc.)
• Expand the SEMAA In-School Model to additional
  school districts
• Sustain the SEMAA Project Beyond NASA Funding