Educators across the U.S. are being offered a unique opportunity
to explore how technology can be used as a tool to transform
learning. NASA's Mobile Aeronautics Education Laboratory (MAEL)
eases students and teachers into the "classroom of tomorrow"
by bringing a technology-assisted classroom to their hometown.
In one convenient location, visitors are able to explore different
technologies through a curriculum that builds on NASA's success
in aeronautics. The MAEL program applies these educational tools
to several aspects of aeronautical flight. MAEL's inaugural
curriculum, entitled "Exploring Aeronautics: Cross Country Flight"
offers visitors cooperative, "hands-on/minds-on" activities
that culminates in the completion of a flight plan and an adventure
in Virtual Reality. Future curriculum will be developed to highlight
additional facets of aeronautics or other areas of NASA expertise.
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The MAEL program was developed through a partnership between
two pioneers in educational reform, NASA Glenn Research Center
and Cuyahoga Community College (TRI-C) with the support of three
other NASA Aeronautic Centers, Ames Research Center, Hugh L.
Dryden Flight Research Facility, and Langley Research Center.
The MAEL curriculum was developed by a team of NASA Glenn engineers,
Cleveland-area teachers, educators form Tri-C's Science, Engineering,
Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) program, and from
the Center for Applied Research in Education at Cleveland State
University.
