Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, AZ

Shuttle simulation hooks students on math and science

December 2005
A land rover tumbles over the mountains of a faraway planet. Progress is measured on a television monitor, and computer technology allows the vehicle to be remotely guided across rough terrain.

This Mission Control scenario is several states away from Houston in Mesa Public Schools, where fifth- and sixth-grade students are exploring space in a shuttle mission simulation. The rover can fit into a child's palm and navigates alien territory inside a playpen in the next classroom.

"We give students a place to apply the skills they have learned. The theme of space is highly motivational. It gets kids' attention," said Colleen Howard, the flight instructor and curriculum specialist. "We are building the pipeline for tomorrow's engineers and scientists."

A longtime partnership with The Boeing Company in Mesa has helped Mesa Public Schools educators develop the space shuttle mission, create two flight centers with airplane and helicopter simulators, and offer an after-school math academy. The company also donated a state-of-the-art space shuttle mock-up to the district last year along with a trailer that made it portable and able to be used at all the schools.

The creative curriculum fuels students' interest in math and science. The cooperation between district and business helps educators connect classroom learning to the workplace.

"It will really pay off in the long run. There is a shortage of engineers and those who pursue math and science degrees," said Mary Baldwin, community relations manager for The Boeing Company. "We'd like to see more students in those fields. They are our future work force."

Creators of the space shuttle simulation call it a curriculum delivery vehicle because the lesson covers many topics with space as the backdrop. The instruction begins in the classroom weeks before the simulation. All activities are aligned with Arizona Academic Standards for fifth and sixth grades.

Students see the mission as fun and embrace the science and technology that their parents may once have feared.

"Kids don't know they are learning physics. Then, when they go into high school, they take physics and think, 'Oh, it's fun,' " said Don McMahon, the school district's educational technology specialist.

The children are also building skills they will use someday in the workplace. "A foundation in academics is crucial," McMahon said. "But children will also need important critical-thinking skills to be successful on the job. Project-driven activities like the shuttle mission introduce young people to concepts such as teamwork, problem solving and communication.

"When our kids graduate from high school, the No. 1 thing they will take with them will be teamwork skills and the ability to solve problems together," McMahon said. "The second important skill our graduates will have is the ability to communicate ideas and solutions."

These high-level skills are built into the shuttle simulation and give students an opportunity to practice.

"We throw all kinds of problem scenarios at them. It is a true exercise in problem solving and teamwork," McMahon said. "If you run out of oxygen, you pack up early and go back to class. So they put aside all their differences, and they are all part of the same team."

No group has yet emptied the oxygen tank. The young astronauts are able to add oxygen by completing activities. Children stay on task to help the team because they are focused on the goal.

Like projects in the workplace, each student has a role in the mission. From commander to medical specialist and chief engineer to payload specialist, the children receive assignments according to their interests and skills. Many children complete a "job application," another task that meets a curriculum standard.

"Every moment is a teachable moment," McMahon said.

Each child must contribute to the mission. This opens the doors for success, even among students who may struggle in the classroom. These sometimes surprising results have helped young people earn new respect for themselves and from their teachers and classmates.

"We were doing this for years before we knew how important it was," McMahon said of the shuttle missions.

Education is a focus of Boeing's community outreach, and the company has recently targeted projects to enhance teacher effectiveness.

Last year, The Boeing Company funded a grant for teacher training and curriculum connection in reading, writing, math, science, social studies and English-language-learner strategies.

Professional development plays an important role in the space shuttle and flight center curriculum. "When a teacher's skills improve through training," Baldwin said, "the students benefit." An enthusiastic teacher will get students excited about math and science and introduce the children to many career options in those fields.

The Boeing Company also sponsors the Boeing/MPS Math Academy, where teachers receive professional development to improve math teaching skills, teaching tools and a specialized curriculum for students experiencing math-achievement challenges. Boeing employees volunteer to mentor students in math under the guidance of the certified teachers. Children who participate in the after-school program have shown measurable gains in student achievement.

"When it came around to standardized test scores, the kids did amazing things," McMahon said.

The 12-week program is now available at eight schools. A curriculum has been created for the academy and further individualized for the children. The program has been strengthened as many teachers continue the after-school curriculum in their classrooms and share it with co-workers.

The partnership with The Boeing Company affects children beyond classroom experience. Students encounter role models by working with the employees. They explore career opportunities in math, science and technology, and they open new possibilities for the future. We want to expand their vision and broaden their world.

Dr. Debra Duvall, superintendent, Mesa Public Schools

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