STEM-Related K-12 Outreach Using High-Altitude Balloon

Program Collaborations

Claude Kansaku, Oregon Institute of TechnologyLinda Kehr, Ferguson Elementary SchoolCatherine 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 80,000-130,000 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 30-90 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

LaunchOITBalloonProgram

Oregon NASASpace GrantConsortium

FergusonElementary

School

K-12 Outreach Mission Element

Funding in supportof 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 < http://education.nasa.gov/pdf/151156main_NASA_Booklet_final_3.pdf >)

““To the Edge of Space”To the Edge of Space” CollaborationCollaboration

K-12/University Collaboration

• Program Extension is sustained through a two-year pipeline cycle

Collaboration Partners

LaunchPayloadReceiveTraining

Extension Model

• Program Extension

• Training for K-12 teachers through OIT’s “Journey to the Edge of Space” balloon class

Collaboration Partners

LaunchPayloadReceiveTraining

Extension Model

• Program Extension

LaunchPayloadReceiveTraining

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

ReceiveTraining

ReceiveTraining

Extension Model

• Program Extension

Brief history of the collaboration

LaunchPayload

LaunchPayload

Extension Model

• Program Extension

FergusonElementary

School

Year 1

Spring 2005 Launch

Brief history of the collaboration

ReceiveTraining

ReceiveTraining

LaunchPayload

LaunchPayload

FergusonElementary

SchoolFergusonElementary

School

FergusonElementary

School

K-12/University Collaboration

• Program Extension

2ndFerguson

Classroom

Year 2

ShastaElementary

School

ReceiveTraining

LaunchPayload

Spring 2006 Launch

Brief history of the collaboration

LaunchOIT High-Altitude Balloon Program Outreach

K-12/University Collaboration

• Program Extension

FergusonElementary

School

ShastaElementary

School

AltamontElementary

SchoolHenleyElementary

School

DefenseSTAR BASE

Outreach

Year 3

2ndFerguson

Classroom

DistrictElementary

TAG

DistrictElementary

TAG

DistrictElementary

TAG

2ndShasta

Classroom

ReceiveTraining

LaunchPayload

Spring 2007 Launch

Brief history of the collaboration

LaunchOIT High-Altitude Balloon Program Outreach

K-12/University Collaboration

• Program Extension

FergusonElementary

School

ShastaElementary

School

AltamontElementary

SchoolHenleyElementary

School

DefenseSTAR BASE

Outreach

2ndFerguson

Classroom

DistrictElementary

TAG

DistrictElementary

TAG

DistrictElementary

TAG

2ndShasta

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 (claude.kansaku@oit.edu)

Linda Kehr (kehrl@kcsd.k12.or.us)

Catherine Lanier (spacegrant@oregonstate.edu)

Questions

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

LaunchPayloadReceiveTraining

K-12/University Collaboration

• Program Extension

FergusonElementary

School

Year 1

ReceiveTraining

LaunchPayload

Spring 2005 Launch