GLOBAL MIX VISITS JSC FOR AEROSPACE SCIENCE TEACHERS' WORKSHOP



July 6, 1998



Norm Chaffee
Johnson Space Center
(281/483-2462)

<h4>Release: J98-27</h4> <h3>Global Mix Visits JSC for Aerospace 
Science Teachers' Workshop</h3> 

Educators from all over the world converged on the Johnson Space 
Center in Houston, Texas, this summer to take part in a 2-week 
program designed to share educational techniques and stimulate 
student interest in the space program.



Participants came from as far as Zimbabwe, Burma and Ecuador for the 
Aerospace Science In-Service Institute. The program is open to 
teachers from Department of State schools, attracting individuals 
from a rich mix of languages, backgrounds, and nationalities.



The teachers met with astronauts and visited JSC facilities such as a 
chamber where volunteers can live for months at a time to test 
recyclable life support systems; the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, a swimming 
pool where astronauts train underwater for spacewalks, and a NASA 
aircraft. During the program, they explored educational techniques 
incorporating the theme of space travel and exploration.



Though the visiting teachers are employed by the Department of State 
and teach in the State Department&rsquo;s schools, many of them are 
foreign nationals and teach foreign students as well as American 
children abroad. These students represent future scientists, 
politicians, artists and teachers from every corner of the globe. 
Though many of the students may never step foot on American soil, the 
ideas carried back to them by their teachers have the potential to be 
felt for generations.



"Most of the children that we deal with are the future leaders of 
their country so if we get them interested in the space program it 
could get them working toward unity," said Brenda Farkas, a sixth 
grade science and math teacher from Mexico City. When Farkas returned 
to Mexico City, she brought a whole new style of teaching with her. 
Based on what she has learned at the Johnson



Space Center, she has planned a new program, incorporating a space 
theme in all of the material that she covers. From now on, 
Farkas&rsquo; sixth grade students will not go to "class" as we know 
it. They will spend their time learning in "Mission Control."



As a result of this program, children from nations without a space 
program, such as Mexico, Ethiopia, and Malta, may be introduced for 
the first time to the excitement of space exploration.



In addition to the experiences teachers have while at the workshop, 
they are made aware of the many educational products available from 
NASA. The workshop is a part of JSC&rsquo;s ongoing involvement in 
the pursuit of educational excellence, a commitment to inspire 
America&rsquo;s youth as well as to create a variety of learning 
opportunities.



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