Although designed for informal educational structures and non-formal providers, the AeroEducate initiative offers youth in a variety of settings an initial exposure to the world of aviation and aeronautics. Real-world and context-based experiences spark learners' interests and may help them discover a personal and/or professional passion for the…

Meteorology is an important branch of science that offers exciting career opportunities and yet is not usually included in school curricula. The availability of multi-rotor model aircraft (drones) offers an exciting opportunity to bring meteorology into school science.

The time has come for drones. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles played an integral and indispensable part in the United States' military operations during the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Since then, drones have taken new forms, found their way into hobbyists' hands, and recently have played a role in postmodern transportation. Current…

Sense-making has been described as working on and with ideas--both students' ideas and authoritative ideas in texts--to build coherent storylines, models, and/or explanations. This article describes the process for developing storyline units to support students' making sense of and explaining a rocket launch. The storyline approach, which aligns…

The HK-1 "Hercules" airplane made its maiden flight over 60 years ago, and it still holds the record as the airplane with the largest wingspan that ever flew. Powered by eight massive 28-cylinder engines, it was piloted by Howard Hughes during its one brief flight in California. A large portion of the airplane was made of wood, which…

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is one of the biggest employers of engineers in the world--about 90,000 among its own employees and its corporate partners. So it's not surprising that NASA wants kids to learn more about engineering, become interested in the things engineers do, and experience the world of engineering…

The people at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are passionate about their work. NASA's missions are exciting to learners of all ages. Since its creation in 1958, NASA's people have been passionate about sharing their inspiring discoveries, research and exploration with students and educators. When retired Marine Corps General…

For the past 15 years, the number of American college students earning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees has continued to decrease. By 2010, it is projected the national demand for STEM employees will rise by 10 percent. The Education Communication Strategy identifies the steps National Aeronautics and Space…

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center along with their partners at other NASA centers, and in private industry, are designing and beginning to develop the next generation of spacecraft to transport cargo, equipment, and human explorers to space. These vehicles are part of the Constellation…

Science education is an integral part of scientific endeavors. When the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was created by an act of Congress in 1958, its charter required the agency to "...provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof." Part of that…