NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Image above: ASEC teacher-mentors will work within the K-12 community to inspire the next generation of explorers. Credit: NASA

The Airspace Systems Education Cohort Program

The Airspace Systems Education Cohort is a nationwide network of motivated and creative teacher-mentors who inspire the next generation of explorers as only NASA can. Mentors engage students and teachers with quality NASA multimedia products that support math and science education in the context of Aerospace Technology.

The NASA Ames Research Center invites motivated and creative educators of grades 3-8 to apply to become an elite member of a NASA peer-mentoring network, the Airspace Systems Education Cohort (ASEC). Educators selected for this opportunity will attend a three-day institute at Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., in August 2005. This institute will engage participants in scientific inquiry at the leading edge of education and technology and prepare the educators to share their experiences with their students and colleagues. These mentors will work within the K-12 community to train other educators in the use of NASA's multimedia products that support math, science and technology education.

Program Requirements

Image to right: Students in grades 5-8 are challenged to design the air transportation system of the future in Future Flight Design. Credit: NASA

Each applicant is asked to sign a letter of commitment to the following tasks for the 2005-2006 school year:

• Full attendance and participation in the Summer Institute


• Classroom use of one or more Ames Educational Technology Team (AETT) products in its entirety


• A 30-minute presentation to the local teaching community, such as a staff meeting or department meeting


• Active participation in the ASEC online community


• Conducting one or more workshops featuring hands-on, in-depth training for two+ hours to reach a minimum of 15 educators


• Conducting one or more workshops at least 50 minutes in length to reach a minimum total of 60 teachers


• Keeping program leaders up-to-date if there are any changes in teaching assignments or contact information before completion of workshop commitments

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for the workshop:

• U.S. or Naturalized Citizen of the United States


• Employed as a full-time classroom teacher, administrator, or instructional specialist in math, science, or technology education


• Three years of classroom teaching experience


• Demonstrated ability and opportunity to conduct K-12 professional development workshops

Program Benefits

Image to right: Airspace Systems was created to address the need for a more capable National Airspace System through the development of cutting-edge technology. Credit: NASA

The Airspace Systems Educator Cohort allows the participant to receive many benefits, including:

• Expenses-paid participation in the three-day Institute hosted at NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif. Interact with program scientists, engineers, and associated educational programming in airspace systems, aeronautics, and nanotechnology. Tour world-class research laboratories and facilities on base.


• Continuing education graduate credit


• Year-long access to materials such as NASA educator guides, stickers, posters, bookmarks, CD-ROMs and lithographs for classroom and workshop distribution.


• Opportunities to pilot-test, review and influence the development of NASA Ames Educational Technology Products


• News releases and media opportunities featuring participant and school/district


• Membership to an online community in support of ASEC mentors and teacher workshop development


• Continued opportunities for professional development during the school year. Allows mentors to stay current with NASA research, ASEC program goals and AETT product development


• Recognition as an ASEC Fellow upon completion of requirements


• Nationwide networking opportunities

All applications are to be postmarked on or before March 21, 2005.
Participants will be notified by April 25, 2005.

Applications and Program Information:
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Adapted from ASEC Web site