Mobile Flight Lab: National Afterschool Expansion
Abstract
Orlando Science Center (OSC) and TEQGames will collaborate to implement Navy/Marine Corp aviation-themed program activities at afterschool programs both locally and throughout the country over a two-year period. The project will promote STEM literacy, awareness of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps objectives, and encourage students to pursue careers in STEM and related industries. OSC will work closely with existing afterschool partners to find locations with the greatest need for programming. Current outreach partners include Boys & Girls Club, After School All Stars, and the City of Orlando. Students attending each of these afterschool programs are historically underrepresented and underserved in STEM education and careers, such as inner-city communities and low- to moderate-incomecommunities. Our partners will also assist in connecting us to after-school programs in their national networks that offer the potential for broad, nationwide impact. TEQGames will provide 10 Mobile Flight Lab stations consisting of laptops equipped with the necessary software installed for the mission programs as well as oculus headsets, joysticks, travel cases, and other necessary items for the portable stations. OSC and TEQGames will work with the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) on the analysis and evaluation of the learning effectiveness of the program in a remote setting. OSC anticipates approximately 2,000 touchpoints throughout the two-year period of performance. In Year 1, TEQGames and NAWCTSD will develop and test three new missions utilizinggame-based learning. OSC#s Education department will be assisted by NAWCTSD Aerospace/Flight Simulation Engineers and/or ONR will connect Marine Corps personnel to develop new aviation-focused education module content with an emphasis on Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS). OSC staff will deliver this program to students at participating local afterschool site locations. In 2024, OSC will also begin program implementation at 1-2 national afterschool sites. OSC will provide professional development training and support virtually and through instructional materials. An OSC educator will begin each workshop by virtually meeting with the students and staff to explain their mission. Then, students will work on their mission using the Mobile Flight Lab equipment shipped to their location, while the OSC educator remains available to answer any questions via chat throughout the session. In Year 2, both local implementation and national program delivery will continue, expanding to 3-5 national delivery locations. OSC will develop a training manual guide and coordinate professional development program training for outreach partners on how to operate the mobile flight lab equipment and implement the mission-based scenarios. Throughout the performance period, the partners will collaborate to refine existingassessments and to document the lessons learned in summary reports. The focus on science and technology is designed to attract, inspire and develop exceptional STEM talent across the education continuum to enrich current and future service members and the civilian workforce to meet the technological challenges of today#s world. This program concept uses inspirational real-world mission scenarios to teach STEM concepts and to develop critical communication, decision-making, team building, and collaborative skills. Using advanced technologies and changeable scenarios, this program will achieve educational effectiveness via its connection to academic benchmarks, its unique experiential design, engagement with real aviation knowledge and skills, immersion in realistic scenarios and motivation toward career-oriented educational opportunities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 29, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312523
Entities
People
- Emily Duguid
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Orlando Science Center
- United States Navy