It was an opportunity one local high school teacher couldn’t pass up.
Erika Hitchcock, an art teacher at Green Run Collegiate in Virginia Beach, Virginia, had been looking for opportunities to give her students authentic learning experiences through the arts.
So when she spoke to officials at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, about taking them to see a photo exhibit featuring NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, an idea popped in her head.
Why not see if her students could take photos that communicate ideas of innovation and exploration at Langley and exhibit them at the museum?
They Pulled It Off
“Capturing Innovation: The Next 100 Years of NASA Langley through Our Lens” is on display at the Chrysler through April 29. The photos were taken by Green Run Collegiate photography students who were given a special tour of Langley, coordinated by center employees Kimberly Brush and Katrina Young, so they could capture the images.
“Digital photography was the perfect medium for students to document and communicate their ideas creatively,” Hitchcock said.
The project consisted of Green Run International Baccalaureate Visual Art (a college-credited course) and Fine Art of Digital Photography 2 students in grades 10-12. This was a curriculum-designed project in which concept and technical skills were assessed, Hitchcock said.
“We were inspired to do this project because this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us, and being able to go to NASA meant that we were about to capture something new and exciting for the public to enjoy,” said student Ashley Stewart.
The 34 photos are on display at the museum’s Education Workshop.
‘Astonishing’
“It was really fascinating seeing everything right before my eyes. It was a different experience being able to witness the facility and all the technology that it held,” student Mireen Yabut said. “As I was touring, I felt captivated by everything in my surroundings. From the subsonic tunnel to the ISAAC robot, all I could feel was astonishment.”
Hitchcock hopes the hands-on learning will not only show in her students’ photos, but in a further appreciation of technology.
“It was truly humbling to know and witness all this research and development so close to home and meet the people that are our leaders in these advancements,” she said.
Many of Hitchcock’s students had no idea about NASA’s advancements space, aeronautics and Earth science.
“Now that I know, I can truly say that the next 100 years of innovation for NASA is truly promising,” Yabut said. “Learning about all these advancements that have occurred over the years is proof that the best is yet to come.”
For a glimpse of the NASA Langley exhibit, which closed March 11, go to http://www.chrysler.org/exhibitions/picturing-innovation.
Eric Gillard
NASA Langley Research Center