GEAR UP Team Attends NASA Workshop
(Press Release 04-18-07)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Would you like to learn how to make industrial strength paper rockets, thermal protection systems, a linear planet model, model gliders, and complete a robot arm challenge?

More than twenty–five local teachers, EOSC staff, and GEAR UP staff members attended a two–day workshop at the Eastern Oklahoma State College Wanda Bass Higher Education Center presented by NASA Aerospace Education Specialist Angelo Casaburri recently in McAlester

The professional development workshop was sponsored by the Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow grant program.

Eastern Oklahoma State College received a $6.7 million federal GEAR UP grant and is in its first year of implementation. Eastern has partnered with 19 area schools to provide students with additional educational opportunities. The GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow grant application was one of 27 selected nation–wide to receive funding.

Attendees started the day studying aeronautics. They made a sled kite from paper, straws, and string to demonstrate the concept of “lift” in aircraft. Next, they created model gliders from Styrofoam to demonstrate the concept of “weight” and “balance” in airplanes.

“We won’t be too technical,” promised Casaburri. “You will get lots of hands–on activities to use in the classroom. However, you will learn some terms related to aircraft construction such as elevators, pitch, warping, and ailerons.”

The group then designed rockets—industrial strength paper rockets, rocket racers, and bottle rockets. The paper rockets were then launched with an air pump and pressure chamber to demonstrate Newton’s Second Law of Motion and rocket thrust. An altitude tracking device was used to measure the height of the rocket flight. The rocket racers were designed to measure the distance a balloon–powered rocket can travel with various modifications. The final rocket—a bottle rocket—was made using a two–liter pop bottle filled with water and launched from a pressure chamber to demonstrate “center of pressure” and “center of mass.”

Facing engineering design challenges, the group created a thermal protection system to demonstrate how excessive heat can affect rocket performance. They built a model thrust structure from craft sticks, glue, and cardboard to demonstrate challenges in constructing sturdy structures without excessive weight.

Attendees studied solar systems, created and learned how to use sky wheels. They used string and colored beads to create a linear planet model.

“My favorite was robotics,” said Eric Fassio, Haileyville.

Participants created a robot hand, robot fingers, and completed a robot arm challenge.

Jim Wasson of Clayton Public Schools said, “I would come back anytime to participate!”

Finally, participants learned how and why food is dehydrated for space travel, how to re–hydrate the food for use, and how to eat when in a weightless state.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for EOSC GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow partner schools to participate in an outstanding professional development event,” said Project Director Linda Morgan. “This was just the beginning. Professional development opportunities will continue throughout the six–year grant period.”

Attending were Marsha Hinchee, Buffalo Valley; Ken Matthews, Canadian; Jim Wasson, Clayton; Cindy Hollingshead, Crowder; Eric Fassio, Haileyville; Sharon Johnson, Hartshorne; Carol Aldridge, McCurtain; Sherry Morrow, Panola; Jacky Hankins, Talihina; Melissa Juarez, Wilburton; Dennis Meadows, EOSC Math Instructor; Carla Sanders, EOSC student; Twylia Sherrill, EOSC student; Margaret Sorrell, EOSC Math Department Chair; Lisa Patzack, EOSC student; Mike Nealon, EOSC Science Instructor and EOSC GEAR UP staff members LaDonna Baldwin, Ramona Buckner, Nicole Cook, George Larson, Fenessa Little, Linda Morgan, Cheryl Roberts, Lorrie Russ, Helen Scott, and Dara Ward.

Morgan said a special thanks should go to the following business for donations for the workshop: Rosanna’s Italian Food, McDonald’s, Coca Cola Bottling Company, Wal–Mart Supercenter, Country Mart, Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of McAlester, and Nixon Family Barbeque.

Eastern staff members and school representatives from Pittsburg county attending the NASA workshop in McAlester include from front left: Lorrie Russ, GEAR UP Professional Development Coordinator; Sharon Johnson, Hartshorne School and Cindy Hollingshead, Crowder school. Back Row: Ken Matthews, Canadian school; Jim Wasson, Clayton school and Eric Fassio, Haileyville school.

Eastern staff members and school representatives from Latimer county attending the NASA workshop in McAlester include from front left: Melissa Juarez, Wilburton school; Sherry Morrow, Panola school; Marsha Hinchee, Buffalo Valley school; Carol Aldridge, McCurtain school; Ramona Buckner, GEAR UP Professional Development Coordinator and Jacky Hankins, Talihina school.