NASA's 'best-kept secret' out as training center under way

NASA knows teachers have one of the world's most important jobs, said Dr. Adena Loston, the space agency's associate administrator for education. It is teachers who will inspire the next generations of explorers to return to the moon, visit Mars and reach far beyond.

That's why Loston was happy to travel from Washington, D.C., to be part of Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony for the Marshall Space Flight Center Education Training Facility at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

"I would not have missed this for the world," Loston said. She was joined by U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, Marshall Director David King, Space Center officials and some of the world's top teachers who are attending the 15th annual International Space Camp this week.

When the 24,000-square-foot building opens next June, it will give NASA more conference and training space, when needed, and will house Marshall's Educator Resource Center, which for years has operated out of cramped quarters at the Space Center. In this new space the resource center will gain specialized labs to give teachers hands-on experience with robotics, hydroponics and crystal growth; the latest audiovisual tools; lots of high-speed Internet access; and a distance learning center.

"We're excited just knowing what the future holds," said Alease Sims, resource center coordinator.

She's most excited about the distance-learning technology. As part of a physics lesson, for example, teachers in Iowa will be able to have their students talk live with Dr. Martin Weiskopf in Huntsville about his work with the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

The Educator Resource Center is already invaluable to many educators.

"I love it. I make time to come," said Debbie Crable, a math teacher at Cornersville (Tenn.) High School. "I think it's the best-kept secret of NASA."

Kids always ask, "Why do I need this?," she said. Tying her algebra lessons to real space missions - navigating a shuttle rendezvous with the International Space Station, or figuring how much thrust a rocket needs to put a 5,000-pound satellite in orbit - makes her students much more enthusiastic.

"I think if we don't get the word out, we're not getting back to the moon," Crable said.

With the increasing national emphasis on improving science, technology, engineering and math education, more and more teachers are taking advantage of the professional development available at the Space Center, said chief executive Larry Capps. For 12 years Boeing has sent about 30 teachers a year to Space Camp; Honeywell sent 96 teachers this year and plans to send more; and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education sponsored 145 educators.

"Last year, we had over 1,200 teachers attending workshops," Sims said. They take what they learn and share it with other teachers, who put it to work on students, who put it to work making better lives and a better world.

"It's sort of a ripple effect," said King of Marshall. "And it starts right here."