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NASA Lewis IITA K-12 Program
Objectives
The NASA Lewis Research Center's Information Infrastructure Technology and
Applications for Kindergarten to 12th Grade (IITA K-12) Program is designed to introduce into
school systems computing and communications technology that benefits math and science
studies. By incorporating this technology into K-12 curriculums, we hope to increase the
proficiency and interest in math and science subjects by K-12 students so that they continue to
study technical subjects after their high school careers are over.
Approach
To accomplish this, we give K-12 teachers hands-on instruction on Macintosh software
applications and Internet navigation. We offer formal 2-week training during the summer and
other workshops throughout the school year.
Lewis' IITA K-12 Program includes research on the most cost-effective means to connect
schools to the Internet. Radio frequency datalink and integrated services digital network (ISDN)
technologies have been deployed in area schools as prototypes. Data such as reliability, capacity,
and scalability of the technologies are being collected to determine the overall efficiency of the
connections.
Thirteen schools have been identified as partner schools with Lewis' IITA K-12 Program. These
schools have received Macintosh workstations, software, and network connections. In return, the
teachers from these schools are developing instructional materials that use computer technology.
This material will be disseminated to other K-12 schools.
Lewis' IITA K-12 Program.
Fiscal 1995 Accomplishments
- A Classroom of Excellence equipped with eight Macintosh workstations was built at the
NASA Lewis Visitors Center, the location for all the teacher training.
- Sixty people attended the K-12 Technology Forum. Speakers from Government agencies,
educational institutions, and industry gave presentations on their technical K-12
programs.
- The IITA K-12 Summer Teacher Training was held from July 24 to August 4. Thirteen
teachers from ten different schools were trained on Macintosh software applications and
Internet access and navigation. In the summer, the K-12 program ran its first Student
Summer Camp where students attended workshops on various computer-related topics
and completed a project using the skills they had learned.
- Three schools were connected to the Internet via a radiofrequency datalink and three via
an ISDN line.
- The Lewis IITA K-12 Program sponsors a wind tunnel project, where with teacher
guidance, students construct a small-scale wind tunnel. Two schools are currently
participating in this program--Barberton High School and General Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
Aviation High School.
Lewis' IITA K-12 Program was a catalyst for many of the teachers who were in the program to
implement technology into their schools and classrooms in various ways. Barberton High School
now has a supercomputing class that was developed and implemented by the Barberton teacher
in our program. Two schools have established local area networks within their schools; these
were set up by teachers in our programs and paid for by matching funds. General Benjamin O.
Davis Jr. Aviation High School is using the wind tunnel project to help them develop a new
technology curriculum.
Future Plans
The Classroom of Excellence will be opened in the Winter of 1996. There, teachers will be able
to attend various computer-related workshops, preview new software and technologies, and
develop classroom projects during open lab time.
Five area schools will participate in a networking collaboration. These schools will be identified
as Internet hubs, and a teacher from each school will be trained as a system administrator.
This year, the wind tunnel project will focus on developing classroom projects and experiments
that use the wind tunnel to demonstrate aerodynamic principles.
Find out more about Lewis' IITA K-12 Program.
Lewis contact: Beth Lewandowski, (216) 433-8873
Headquarters program office: OA (HPCCO)
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Last updated April 16, 1996
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