STEM-Related K-12 Outreach Using High-Altitude Balloon Program Collaborations Claude Kansaku, Oregon Institute of Technology Linda Kehr, Ferguson Elementary School Catherine Lanier, Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium

Introduction “To the Edge of Space” Collaboration between higher education and K-12 schools Supports and promotes the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in K-12 schools

Agenda What is “high-altitude ballooning”? Collaboration partners Brief history of the collaboration Outreach extended into education Summary of results to date Future plans Questions

What is “high-altitude ballooning”?

The “Balloon Satellite” “BalloonSat” vehicle is a latex weather balloon Filled with helium or hydrogen Capable of carrying lightweight payloads up to 80, ,000 feet FAA allows for payloads of up to 12 pounds without special waivers What is “high-altitude” ballooning?

The Typical Mission BalloonSat ascends into “near space” until it bursts –Parachute system returns payload to earth A chase team tracks and follows the BalloonSat flight in real-time The chase team recovers the downed payload What is “high-altitude” ballooning? LaunchOIT balloons have traveled between miles downrange

OIT / K-12 Roles OIT’s LaunchOIT Program –Provides launch and recovery services –Provides K-12 teacher development –Participates in related activities K-12 classrooms –Design science experiment payloads –All students encouraged to observe and participate in the launch –Representatives participate in the chase What is “high-altitude” ballooning?

The Balloon Satellite “Stack” What is “high-altitude” ballooning? OIT provides “vehicle” and position reporting module K-12 classes design and attach science payloads

Collaboration partners

K-12/University Collaboration “To the Edge of Space” Three entities form the collaboration LaunchOIT Balloon Program Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium Ferguson Elementary School K-12 Outreach Mission Element Funding in support of NASA educational mission objectives Collaboration Collaboration Partners

How does NASA fit in? National Space Grant Program Present in all 50 states Umbrellaed under the National Space Grant Student Satellite Program Collaboration Partners

Activities fit within NASA’s recently deployed Education Framework NASA Educational Mission Collaboration Partners The NASA Education Strategic Coordination Framework (Taken from ) “To the Edge of Space” Collaboration Collaboration

K-12/University Collaboration Program Extension is sustained through a two-year pipeline cycle Collaboration Partners

Launch Payload Receive Training Extension Model Program Extension Training for K-12 teachers through OIT’s “Journey to the Edge of Space” balloon class Collaboration Partners

Launch Payload Receive Training Extension Model Program Extension Launch Payload Receive Training Collaboration Partners

Brief history of the collaboration

The Beginning OIT began its balloon program in 2002 First successful launch and recovery in summer 2004 –Public outreach at the Oregon State Fair Serendipitous start in the fall of 2004 with Linda Kehr –“Seat-of-the-pants” science payload activity Brief history of the collaboration

Receive Training Receive Training Extension Model Program Extension Brief history of the collaboration Launch Payload Launch Payload

Extension Model Program Extension Ferguson Elementary School Year 1 Spring 2005 Launch Brief history of the collaboration Receive Training Receive Training Launch Payload Launch Payload

Ferguson Elementary School Ferguson Elementary School Ferguson Elementary School K-12/University Collaboration Program Extension 2nd Ferguson Classroom Year 2 Shasta Elementary School Receive Training Launch Payload Spring 2006 Launch Brief history of the collaboration

LaunchOIT High-Altitude Balloon Program Outreach K-12/University Collaboration Program Extension Ferguson Elementary School Shasta Elementary School Altamont Elementary School Henley Elementary School Defense STAR BASE Outreach Year 3 2nd Ferguson Classroom District Elementary TAG District Elementary TAG District Elementary TAG 2nd Shasta Classroom Receive Training Launch Payload Spring 2007 Launch Brief history of the collaboration

LaunchOIT High-Altitude Balloon Program Outreach K-12/University Collaboration Program Extension Ferguson Elementary School Shasta Elementary School Altamont Elementary School Henley Elementary School Defense STAR BASE Outreach 2nd Ferguson Classroom District Elementary TAG District Elementary TAG District Elementary TAG 2nd Shasta Classroom Year 4? Brief history of the collaboration

Outreach into education

K-12 Classroom Experience Outreach extended into education

In the Elementary Classroom Not a fire-and-forget outreach –Former 5th graders return as 6th graders Outreach extended into education

More Than Outreach Not a fire-and-forget outreach Outreach feeds education! –21 Oregon educational standards addressed Science Mathematics English/Language Arts Technology Social Sciences Outreach extended into education

Collaborative Experience Not a fire-and-forget outreach Outreach feeds education! “Authentic science” that is valued Outreach extended into education

Collaborative Experience Not a fire-and-forget outreach Outreach feeds education! “Authentic science” that is valued –A rich learning environment that connects K-12 and university students K-12 teachers and university faculty Parents and the general public Outreach extended into education

Supporting the Classroom Not a fire-and-forget outreach Outreach feeds education! “Authentic science” that is valued Professional development for teachers –ENGT 507 “Journey to the Edge of Space” –Experiential, hands-on learning –Peer mentoring in a learning community Outreach extended into education

Summary of results to date

What has been the impact? Seven K-12 educators have been trained Over ___ elementary school students have been involved –__ Girls and __ Boys –Atmospheric science –GPS technology and applications –Designed science experiment payloads Summary of results to date

Student/Parent Activities Six student-designed science payloads have ascended to 80,000-90,000 feet __ students have participated in the balloon chase and payload recovery Over __ parents and students have participated in a preparatory “Breakfast with a Scientist” outreach __ students have participated in a follow-on year Summary of results to date

University Involvement Six OIT faculty intimately involved in “Journey to the Edge of Space” Truly multidisciplinary –Mechanical Engineering –Electrical Engineering –Computer Engineering Technology –Natural Science (Biology) –Mathematics –History Summary of results to date

Future plans

Follow-on Projects Intention of developing a “how-to” curriculum for elementary teachers that can be taken statewide This spring, initiated a long-term study on the perceptions and attitudes relating to engineering study/career –6th graders (1 year after) –8th graders (3 years after) –Post-high school decisions (no planned mechanism, yet) Future plans

Thank you! Contact Information Claude Kansaku Linda Kehr Catherine Lanier Questions

Snapshot of OIT Engineering Engineering Technology Allied Health Professions Recently added degree programs –Embedded Systems –Electrical Engineering –Applied Mathematics

Snapshot of OIT Engineering Engineering Technology Allied Health Professions Recently added degree programs –Embedded Systems –Electrical Engineering –Applied Mathematics Oregon’s Center for Health Professions is scheduled to open fall term 2007.

K-12 Outreach at OIT Pre-college and Sponsored Programs –Advanced Credit Program (ACP) –TWIST and GRAD Summer residential programs –ISEF Regional Science and Engineering Fair –MATHCOUNTS Competition Oregon’s affiliate university for Project Lead the Way – national pre-engineering curriculum

K-12 Outreach at OIT Pre-college and Sponsored Programs –Advanced Credit Program (ACP) –TWIST and GRAD Summer residential programs –ISEF Regional Science and Engineering Fair –MATHCOUNTS Competition Oregon’s affiliate university for Project Lead the Way – national pre-engineering curriculum 4.5 day LaunchOIT high-altitude balloon workshop in 2006

Launch Payload Receive Training K-12/University Collaboration Program Extension Ferguson Elementary School Year 1 Receive Training Launch Payload Spring 2005 Launch