June 22, 2005

Dryden Flight Research Center

P.O. Box 273
Edwards, California 93523
Phone 661/276-3449
FAX 661/276-3566

Beth Hagenauer
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
Phone: 661/276-7960
beth.hagenauer@dfrc.nasa.gov

RELEASE: 05-44

TEACHERS ATTEND NASA 'EXPLORER SCHOOL' MATH/SCIENCE WORKSHOP

Sixteen teachers from 10 states are participating this week in a

workshop at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards designed
to aid educators in incorporating NASA-based material into their
science and math curriculum.

Focused around the theme of "Transportation Systems: From Earth, to

the Moon and on to Mars," the NASA Explorer Schools professional
development workshop finds the teachers interacting with aerospace
engineers, research pilots and former astronaut C. Gordon Fullerton
during briefings and tours highlighting Dryden's aeronautical
research and Space Shuttle support roles.

The teachers are being given the opportunity to "fly" a test mission
on a flight simulator and sit in the cockpit of an NASA F/A-18
mission support aircraft. The educators are also learning about the
unique issues involved in life support for the flight crews of
high-altitude research aircraft during the sessions, which began June
19 and will conclude on Friday, June 24.

The 16 represent schools competitively selected as participants in the

2004 NASA Explorer School (NES) program, the second year of the
program.

"The second year NES development workshop focuses on using

NASA-specific content to integrate into the school's science and
mathematics programs," said Linda Tomczuk, NASA Dryden's NES program
coordinator.

NES workshops provide an opportunity for middle school educators to

enhance their background and skills in mathematics, science and
technology. They observe state-of-the-art research, conduct hands-on
experiments and investigations, learn more about instructional
technology, and collect information and resources for use in their
classrooms and during community events.

Since its inauguration in 2003, the NES program has established

three-year partnerships annually with 50 new middle schools teams.
The partnerships include teachers and educational administrators
serving grades four through nine in schools from diverse communities
across the country. Schools in the program are eligible to receive
grants up to $17,500 over the three-year period to support science
and mathematics curriculum.

For a list of NASA Explorer Schools on the Internet, visit:

http://explorerschools.nasa.gov

For information about NASA Education programs, visit:

http://education.nasa.gov

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