AIAA Educator Academy:
A New Challenge for AIAA Sections
Edgar Bering
June 5, 2013
Outline
• Academy Overview
• The Three Modules
 Mars Rover Celebration
 Electric Cargo Plane
 Space Weather Balloon
• Starting an Academy Program
 Miniworkshop
 Full Workshop
 Capstone Events
The Problem
• Effectively inspire K-12 students to pursue STEM careers
• Engage our Educator Associates with AIAA members
Strategic Goals
• Engage 65% of the AIAA membership in STEM
K-12 Outreach
 Market research indicates 52% actively want to help
with outreach right now!
• Engage 8 million students per year with an AIAA
volunteer or in an AIAA activity
 Trivial if Goal 1 is attained
• To reach all kids, need high volume programs
that can be run far from our population centers
One Solution
• Use a series of Curriculum Modules that will
teach engineering-related concepts in fields such
as aeronautics, astronautics and robotics (STEM)
• This regional program will increase interaction
among Educator Associates, AIAA Professional
Members, K-12 students, and the local
community
The Layers
Regions and
Sections
Educator Associates and Section Mentors
impacting thousands of Students
The Objectives
• Publish AIAA-approved, standards-aligned curriculum
modules that convey the wonder and excitement of
careers in aerospace. The first three of these have been
published.
• Have these curricula adopted on a long term basis in
many schools.
• Engagement with the schools that are using the
curricula by their local sections.
• Quantitative efficacy assessments from the teachers
using the materials.
The Modules
• Mars Rover
 Originated in Tucson Section
 Matured by Houston Section
• Tethered Electric Cargo Plane
 Mid-Atlantic Section
• Space Weather Balloon
 Houston, Michigan, Northern NJ Sections, with
others
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Mars Rover Celebration
Students design and build a Mars Rover to carry out
a specific science mission on the surface of Mars.
• Grade Levels:
 3-5 and 6-8
• Contact:
 Dr. Edgar Bering
University of Houston
EABering@uh.edu
Electric Cargo Planes
Students design and build an electric cargo plane
that carries the maximum amount of payload
• Grade Levels:
 6-8 and 9-12
• Contact:
 Tom Milnes, MSEE
JHU Applied Physics Lab
Thomas.Milnes@jhuapl.edu
Space Weather Balloons
Students design and build a space weather balloon
to collect data
• Grade Levels:
 9-12
• Contact:
 Dr. Ben Longmier
Assistant Professor, University of Michigan
Longmier@umich.edu
The Reward
Mars Rover Celebration Curriculum Module
What is the Mars Rover Curriculum Module?
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A six week inquiry based
science curriculum for grades
3-8.
Teams select a specific science
mission on Mars.
15 5E Lesson Plans.
All Lessons feature an
Essential Question
Science Notebook evaluation
Standards Aligned
Key Words and Reading
Strategy
What is Mars Rover Celebration?
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Primary and middle school
(Grades 3-8) students design
and build a model Mars rover.
Teams select a specific science
mission on Mars.
The model is a mock-up of
mostly found/recycled objects.
Option to contain a low-cost
solar-powered car kit ($10) or
radio-controlled car ($25) may
serve as the chassis.
Standards & Skills
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Science process skills
Laboratory experience
Investigation planning
Data collection
Inference
Organization
Communication
Writing
Teamwork
Mars Rover Pedagogy
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Conceptual understanding can be delivered through both
inquiry and direct instruction.
Inquiry-based science instruction promotes a greater
understanding of scientific investigation as a process.
This approach supports the central goal of the Mars Rover
Celebration—to promote long-term interest in STEM-related
fields and careers.
Cobern, W. W., Schuster, D., Adams, B., Applegate, B., Skjold, B., Undreiu, A., and Gobert,
J. D. (2010). Experimental comparison of inquiry and direct instruction in science. Research
in Science & Technological Education, 28(1): 81–96.
http://www.wmich.edu/way2go/docs/Experimental%20comparison%20of%20inquiry%20and
%20direct%20instruction%20in%20.pdf
Mars Rover Pedagogy
• Student choice should drive classroom activities & discourse.
• Teachers should act as “guides” & “listeners” whenever
possible.
• Active exploration should precede explanation of new material.
• Student experience and preconceptions should be recognized
and addressed.
• Divergent thinking should be actively encouraged.
Mars Rover Celebration Event
Why an Event?
The Mars Rover Capstone Event
• Helps to prepare children in a way
that traditional classroom lessons
cannot fully achieve
• Students learn to work in teams over
a period of time, accountability for
project completion, presentation
skills, and experience the scientific
method in a fun and fulfilling activity
• Students can participate in a STEMbased activity encompassing many
individual interests.
Getting Ready
The Mars Rover Capstone Event
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Designed to be executed in a
single classroom, one grade level,
a school-wide competition, or a
citywide event.
Smaller school-level competitions
help reduce the number of models
in the city-wide competitions.
Tethered electric cargo plane
The 2nd Module is taught regularly.
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Tethered Electric Cargo Plane
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Exposes students to Aerospace Engineering
Students study how to make things fly.
Indoor setting
No expensive Radio Control equipment
A capstone event where the students compete to
see which student or student team can lift the
most cargo can be added.
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Electric Powered Flight as a Learning Tool
• Topics for Learning
 Newton’s Laws, Forces and Torques, Conservation
of Mass, Momentum, and Energy, DC Electronics,
Dynamics, Kinematics, Propulsion, Energy
Conversion, Aerodynamics, Gravity, Stability,
Equilibrium, Drag, Lift, Friction
Why Tethered Flight?
• Radio Controlled Airplanes Can Be
Problematic for School Use
 Expensive Electromechanical Controls Needed
 Large Airfield and Good Weather Needed
• Tethered Flight Solves These Problems
Tethered Flight Concept
Tether
Power
Supply
Power
Pole
Clear Packing Tape
• Constrained Flight Path
- Can be done Indoors
- Expensive RC Equipment not needed
Flat
Speaker
Wire
Electric Cargo Plane Challenge
• Must complete one lap of tethered flight with and
without cargo about the power pole
 Plane must be 8” off the ground at all times
• Scoring
MESA
MEC
Oral
30
30
Written
55
20
Design
Performance
40
55
20
30 30 x Cargo/Best Cargo
TOTAL
180
55 - Most Weight
50 - Next Most …
100
What You Get
MANDATORY
Kelvin Electronics 850647
3-6V, 17000 RPM, .26A
http://www.kelvin.com
$.79 each
OPTIONAL
Kelvin Electronics 990175
$5.75 per set of 8
What’s Needed
• Power Pole - We recommend Kelvin 850747 - $175
 http://www.kelvin.com
• Power Supply
 Model Train Variable DC Transformer
What’s Needed
• Wings - Pink or Blue Foam Board - Home Depot $12
• Fuselage - Basswood or Graphite Kite Stay
Where to Put Cargo
• Don’t Want to Change Trim of Airplane
• Should Add Cargo Such that Center of
Gravity (“Balance Point”) Does not move
 Aerodynamic and Gravity Forces remain aligned so
Airplane Remains Trimmed
Practice, Practice
• Successful teams will have experience flying,
adjusting, and repairing planes
 Unlikely to do well if your plane hasn’t been tested
with power pole
• Teachers can use AIAA Grant Program to
Obtain Power Pole and Power Supply
Space weather balloons
Project Aether: Aurora
A precursor/test of concept for the new 3rd Module
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Project Aether: Aurora
Benjamin Longmier, Ph.D.
Adjunct Faculty
Physics Department
University of Houston
blongmier@uh.edu
281-526-0554
www.ProjectAether.org
What we did
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Send HD cameras up to the edge of the
aurora borealis on our specially designed
high altitude weather balloon platforms.
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Would like to perform 10-30 launches into the aurora
Fairbanks, Alaska
Apr 2012 timeframe
14 day trip
Take simultaneous video/photo data from
0km (ground) , 30km (balloon), and 400km
(ISS) altitudes.
Increase the technology readiness level of
several science instruments in a relevant
environment.
Took advantage of low-cost off-the-shelf
equipment to perform science work within the
plasma environment of the aurora. The
conditions at altitude will be
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Taken from the International Space Station
Taken from the Space Shuttle
Taken from the International Space Station
10 Torr (near vacuum)
Low temperature (-80 C)
Radiation from aurora and cosmic rays
Taken from the ground, Alaska
Measured Auroral activity, Fall 2010
Launch and Recovery: Fairbanks, Alaska
Zone of typical
Aurora activity
Arctic Circle
Magnetic North Pole
Fairbanks, Alaska
We have identified Fairbanks, Alaska as the ideal
launch point due latitude, weather, travel costs
and logistics, launch locations, and recovery
locations
Launch and Recovery Geography
Landing and Recovery Area
Tanana Valley
Stage launches
from these road
locations
(dashed line)
Recovery Methods
Recovery zone is largely snow covered arctic tundra
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Few trees, Can be deep powder snow
Method 1: Snow machine
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15 mph, 50 mi range
Plan to use for payloads that
land within 20 miles of roads
Method 2: Dogsled
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5 mph, 15 to 30 mi range
Plan to use for payloads that land within 15 miles of roads.
Method 3: Helicopter
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115 mph, 200 mi range
4 hr flight time
Plan to use for cameras that land in remote or difficult to
reach areas
Offers impressive views during recovery efforts
Has to be warmer than -20 F for flying, engine is left running
for safety during recovery operations
Method 4: Cross country ski and snowshoe
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1-5 mph, 5 mi range
Schedule
• Trip length was two weeks, Mar 30 – Apr 15, 2012
• The Aurora in the northern hemisphere exist at some intensity all year round.
However, you can only see them during the night.
• The Aurora are also at their peak intensity during the winter/spring months
• Weather is a competing factor
Can’t be too cold (must be warmer than -20 F for helicopters)
Can’t be too windy (causes difficulty for ground ops)
Map of Auroral activity, Fall 2010
Education
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4 teachers blogged daily from Fairbanks
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Daily contact with students via Skype / Google+
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Curriculum Development for Grades K-12
Interdisciplinary units aligned to content standards
 STEM, Art, Social Studies
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Collaboration of teachers involved with the Progressive Science Initiative
 Multi-state and International (Japan, Argentina)
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Project Aether: Education website development (http://education.projectaether.org)
Student developed science experiments to be launched on payload platforms
Prototype testing for Space Weather Balloon module
Project Aether: Aurora Summary
What:
Send 10+ HD HERO2 cameras into the Aurora Borealis on 10-30 high altitude balloon
flights into the upper stratosphere.
Where:
Fairbanks Alaska and 100 mile surrounding radius.
When:
March 31 – April 15, 2012.
Who:
Principal Investigator, Benjamin Longmier, Ph.D. (UH); Edgar Bering, Ph.D. (UH); 8
undergraduate and 2 graduate researchers from Texas A&M; 2 high school teachers; 1
NASA astronaut on International Space Station. Support provided by GoPro.
Why:
Auroral science, technology development, and exploration-based student
outreach.
Contact: Benjamin Longmier, Ph.D., blongmier@uh.edu, 608-225-3173.
www.ProjectAether.org
Starting an Educator Academy Program in Your Section
• Miniworkshop
 Section Council plus enough others to make 20
 Introduce one module in detail
• Full Academy Visit
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6 hour Teacher Training Workshop
Train the Trainers Workshop (leave a legacy behind)
Train the Capstone Organizers Workshop
This visit is mostly the Institute’s responsibility
Starting an Educator Academy Program in Your Section
• Capstone Regional Competition
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Provides incentive for teachers to use the whole curriculum
Provides increased opportunity for Section-Teacher contact
The Section’s job
How to Webinar on July 11, 2013
• Mentoring
 TC and Engineers as Educators members provide content
and teaching support
• Follow Up Evaluations
Curriculum Materials
• Educator Academy Web Page
https://www.aiaa.org/AIAAEducatorAcademy/
• Each Module has a Curriculum Materials
publication and a Supply List
• Links to Additional Resources are Provided
How to Start
• Contact Lisa Bacon (lisab@aiaa.org) and me,
Edgar Bering (eabering@uh.edu)
• Tell us you want to schedule a miniworkshop
visit
• Tell us which modules you are most interested in
 prioritize
• Give us a range of dates
Special Thanks
• Curriculum modules developed in conjunction with our AIAA
partners:
 The AIAA Mid-Atlantic Section
 The AIAA Houston Section
 The University of Houston
 The AdAstra Rocket Company
• Special Thanks to our STEM K-12 Development Team:
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Ben Longmier
Elizabeth Henriquez
Tom Milnes
Paul Wiedorn
 Edgar Bering
 Lisa Bacon
 Elana Slagle