Program Overview

S.T.E.P. - Near-Space Balloon Project

The Science Technology Engineering Program (STEP) Space Balloon Pilot Project introduces students and teachers to the STEP Near Space Balloon Pilot Project with training, workshops, seminars, mentoring, professional development, and technical support for the teachers and skills, concepts, networking, fundraising, team building, and hands-on exercises for the students. This project infuses the NASA mission at the K-12, parents, community, and business in Canton, Mississippi, to partake of this educational opportunity.

Description

The Mississippi State University CAVS Extension partnered with Canton Public Schools to launch a space balloon project. This project is designed to help teachers and students see the potential of scientific careers related to space exploration. Students will begin to learn and recognize the importance of advanced theories, formulas, and ideas that are embedded in engineering careers. This project was centered on teachers/students engaging in scientific exploration, technology-driven, computational analysis of data collected, and captivating the interest level of disadvantaged students in the 9th - 12th grades that are enrolled in Canton Public school district.

Objective

This project objective initiates workshops, consulting with educational and industry experts provided clear, easy-to-implement instructions to help teachers/students examine and demonstrate procedures necessary in completing this project. Launch a near-space balloon to 90K - 95K feet to collect data and track progress.

• Create a team of teachers from technical career & academic to teach concepts with university support
  • Introduces students to the atmospheric exploration of earth sciences
  • Engaging students in STEM education with a focus toward engineering, technical, and scientific exploration

Increase literacy for science and technology with students, parents, educators, and the general population about the hands-on/interactive activities that support earth and space exploration.

Program Details

• The project provides professional development for instructors, including mentoring from university professors, industry experts, and governmental/educational professionals.
• Monthly professional development workshops for teachers will include conference calls, webinars, and brainstorming sessions.
• Support partners will provide collaboration partnerships, team building (technology, science, mathematics & physics teachers), designed to help meet short & long-term milestones for the project.
• The district-wide project provided guidance and direction to help elementary, middle, and high school teachers/students examine, demonstrate, and produce an experiment that was on the launch vehicle.