Space Foundation Summer Institute for teachers grows by 10 percent

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 8, 2006) — The Space Foundation announced today that attendance at its recently completed Summer Institute has increased by 10 percent, compared to attendance in 2005. A total of 169 teachers from across the United States and even Italy came to Colorado Springs to participate in the five, intensive, graduate-level courses that began June 19 and concluded July 29, 2006. Teachers from Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Italy attended. “It’s clear to us that teachers are eager to use the excitement of space as a learning tool in the classroom,” said Space Foundation Vice President of Education and Workforce Development Dr. Patricia Arnold. “The hands on lessons taught at the Summer Institute can be integrated into any subject area to improve student understanding.” Courses are one week long and are designed to help teachers use space themes in the classroom to enable improved student performance in literacy, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and other subject areas. The five courses offered each summer are “Astronomy Principles for the Classroom: Kinesthetic Astronomy,” “Space Technologies in the Classroom: Imagery and High-Tech Science,” “Earth Systems Science: Our Earth Revealed,” “Rocketry and the Biology of Living in Space: Living Aboard the International Space Station,” and “Biological and Physical Research: Long-Term Space Travel.” Among the attendees was Ms. Joyce Luka, who teaches third grade at Palolo Elementary School in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is the 2006 recipient of the Space Foundation’s Lucy Enos Memorial Scholarship for Teachers. The scholarship provided for her attendance at the Earth Systems Science course. The scholarship was formed in 2005 to create professional development opportunities for teachers of Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian ancestry, or teachers working with students of Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian ancestry. Elliot G. and Cynthia A. Pulham provide funding for the scholarship, which honors the memory of Elliot Pulham’s grandmother, Lucy Enos. Participating teachers may elect to receive continuing education or graduate academic credit for the course, and graduate credit may be applied toward one of several master’s degrees offered jointly through the Space Foundation and partner universities. Demonstrating its commitment to education, teachers, and future generations, The Boeing Company fully sponsored one of the Summer Institute courses. Boeing supported 38 teachers who participated June 26-30 in “Space Technologies in the Classroom,” in which they learned about the use and applications of satellites and the function of the Global Positioning System (GPS), built their own robots, and participated in behind the scene tours. The Space Foundation has trained more nearly 40,000 teachers since 1986 through Summer Institute graduate courses and national conferences. In addition, the Space Foundation fosters educational space endeavors by implementing its revolutionary Integrated Science Literacy Model; offering two distinct Master’s in Space Studies Degrees in conjunction with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Regis University; sponsoring a Teacher Liaison program; annually conducting the Space Career Fair; managing the onsite NASA Educational Resource Center; and offering a free online lesson bank for educators. About the Space Foundation Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that vigorously advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and educational excellence. The Space Foundation has offices in Washington, D.C., and Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Space Foundation’s signature event, the National Space Symposium, is scheduled for April 9-12, 2007, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. Along with partnering organizations, the Space Foundation also conducts Strategic Space and Defense, 10-12 Oct. 2006 in Omaha, Neb.; and Florida Space, Dec. 5-7, 2006, in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.