0 Teacher Workshop Brings New Math and Science Programs

Over 50 local area teachers from Charlotte, Campbell and Appomattox counties will attend a hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workshop sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC). The workshop will be held at the Eureka Elementary School in Keysville at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26.

The workshop will give educators additional tools that will help students apply math and science to real life applications using computer technology.

“More than 50 percent of the current science and engineering workforce is approaching retirement and yet fewer and fewer students have a desire to enter these fields.” said Diane Crean, Deputy Regional Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, Eastern Region, “ We need to incorporate new styles of teaching into the classroom that shows the relevance of science, math, and engineering. We have found that when these free technological programs are incorporated into the school curriculums, students find out just how much fun math and science can be. This is the spark we want to ignite.”

The STEM workshop will feature two main programs: “Smart Skies” geared for grades 5-9. Smart Skies offers two free web-based programs “Fly by Math” and “Line Up with

Math”. Both of these programs give the students distance-rate-time math problems to solve using a typical scenario that an air traffic controller would use to safely separate two airplanes. These math problems are at the pre-algebra and algebra levels. For more information on Smart Skies, please go to the website: http://www.smartskies.nasa.gov/.

The second program featured at the workshop is Real World Design Challenge (RWDC). This program is geared toward grades 9-12. In this program, a design challenge is given to students in which they must utilize their skills in real world applications. The challenges are based on the subject areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics which are the basis of the STEM program. Each participating school is provided with professional engineering software valued a nearly $1 million. The software is donated by various industries focused in these areas. For more information on Real World Design Challenge please go the website: http://www.realworlddesignchallenge.org./

These programs are free to the school and are compatible with current curriculum.

In addition to the teacher workshop, local schools will also get the benefit of mentors provided by Liberty University’s School of Aeronautics, the largest flight training organization in Virginia.

Members of the press are welcome to attend the workshop. For more information, please contact: John Dudley Barksdale 434-942-2323.