NASA and the California Space Grant Consortium are working with California Community College partners to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) preparation and provide a bridge opportunity for community college students to study STEM fields at the university level.
Key Components of Project:
- Distance Learning STEM Course for Community College Faculty on how to program low-cost microcomputers (specifically Arduinos) and use them as part of a larger student STEM project
- Hands-On STEM Team Projects where students will work in teams of four on STEM based projects enhancing STEM retention and improving the bridge to four-year universities. Project examples include near-space ballooning, small satellites, UAV auto-pilots, autonomous ground robots, and wearable sensor vests for sports and health monitoring.
- NASA Field Trip for Community College Faculty to meet with NASA researchers and the Office of Education to learn how to bring NASA content to their campus programs and their STEM projects.
- NASA Field Trip for Community College Students (with Faculty) to learn about current Center research challenges, attend a research seminar, and meet with NASA scientists and engineers to discuss their research and get inspirational career counseling advice. Students will present posters of their Team Projects to the NASA scientists and engineers.
- NASA Webinars to the Community Colleges where each of the three California NASA Centers will prepare webinars on research topics that highlight the unique work of each center and are of interest to the community college faculty and students.
NASA Center Project Partners:
- NASA Ames Research Center, Danielle Carmichael
- NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, David Berger
- NASA Jet Propulsion Center, Roslyn Soto
Curriculum Development & Support Partner: ThoughtSTEM, in conjunction with UCSD Extension, which will provide continuing education credit to the participating faculty.
Program Abstract: Please click here.
NASA Press Release: This California Space Grant Consortium Community College project is one of 35 projects awarded by the NASA Office of Education for 2014 through 2016. For the August 13, 2014 NASA announcement, please click here.
For More Information:
Please contact Dr. John Kosmatka, CaSGC Director, or Leah Valmidiano, CaSGC Assistant Director