NASA's Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy, or SEMAA, at West Virginia State University is an innovative project designed to reach K-12 students who are traditionally underserved and underrepresented in careers involving science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students meet regularly to engage in hands-on, interactive learning conducive sessions that are specifically designed for each grade level.
Through this project, students in surrounding school districts will be able to significantly increase their math and science literacy by conducting real-world experiments that encompass learning that fosters gathering, analyzing, synthesizing and applying data. The Project uses STEM-focused Curriculum Enhanced Activities, or CEAs, developed by NASA that features a collection of hands-on, inquiry-based learning activities that are aligned to national science, math and technology standards.
The newly designed Aerospace Education Laboratory will enhance students' prior knowledge by use of electronic, computerized classrooms stationed on the campus of WVSU. Working in teams, student researchers conduct 10 unique science research workstations that model real-world challenges in aviation and microgravity research. Working collaboratively, these students will use actual aerospace hardware and software to gather the essential data necessary to plan and complete a simulated cross-country flight(s) or additional stations inside the AEL. For more information pertaining to SEMAA at WVSU, please contact the site director.
