NASA and Texas Instruments Use Human Spaceflight to Bring Math and Science Topics into High School Classrooms
HOUSTON -- NASA and Texas Instruments are using the theme of human
space exploration to develop digital libraries of math and science
problems for high school students. The goal is to bring real-world
topics in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM,
into classrooms to spark students' excitement and interest in these
critical career fields.
The collaboration will produce two digital libraries. One, called
Exploring Space Through Math: Applications in High School
Mathematics, will provide problems based on NASA data that are set in
the context of space exploration. The project material will cover
almost the entire high school math curriculum, with applications in
Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Pre-Calculus.
The other digital library, named Science at Work: Exploring Space with
NASA-AP, will contain questions for Advanced Placement classes. This
program seeks to develop and test problems in calculus, statistics,
physics, chemistry and biology.
"As students solve real problems NASA faces in space exploration, they
will practice during high school and college the skills necessary to
pursue a career in a STEM field," said Charles Lloyd, NASA's lead for
the effort and program manager for Human Research Program Education
and Outreach at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "NASA and
Texas Instruments are passionate about motivating the next
generation's interest in science and math subjects and equipping
these students to take us farther into space and improve our lives
here on Earth."
The libraries of questions will use NASA applications and data while
incorporating Texas Instruments' math learning technology. Each
problem includes student and teacher editions to help the teacher
link content to higher concepts.
"Our goal is to make STEM subjects more fun and interactive," said
Werner Garciano, director of Professional Development for Texas
Instruments' Education Technology. "Working with NASA is a great
opportunity to bring exciting, real-world math experiences into the
classroom. Our collaboration will expand the digital content and
professional development that Texas Instruments provides teachers,
and will help engage students more deeply in math. Together, we
believe these activities will break through to students who have
never considered a STEM career path."
Both projects will be available in the fall of 2010 on NASA's Web
site. With this program, NASA continues its investment in engaging
and retaining students in STEM disciplines critical to the agency's
future engineering, scientific, and technical missions. For more
information about NASA's education programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/education
For more information about NASA's Human Research Program Education and
Outreach, visit:
http://humanresearch.jsc.nasa.
The digital libraries also will be available through Texas
Instruments' Teachers Teaching with Technology workshops and online
at the Texas Instruments' Activities Exchange at:
http://education.ti.com/
Source: NASA
