- Kyrene Aprende Middle School teacher Samantha Vancel and other participants in Honeywell’s annual space academy at U.S. Space Center in Huntsville, Ala., donned astronaut gear as part of their training. — Photo courtesy Samantha Vancel
Throughout her career at Aprende Middle School, Samantha Vancel admits she’s had plenty of uplifting experiences. But none to top those she experienced at Honeywell’s high-tech, high-energy space academy this summer.
Vancel was among 220 teachers from around the world who were awarded scholarships to the nearly week-long session at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.
The event is part of Honeywell’s education initiative, designed to help teachers move beyond conventional math and science curriculum with supplemental teaching techniques developed through real-life astronaut training.
Since it started in 2004, the program has trained more than 1,100 science and math teachers to become more engaging and inspiring educators, according to Thomas Buckmaster, president of Honeywell Hometown Solutions.
“This hands-on learning experience reinvigorates science, technology, engineering and math education in classrooms around the globe,” he said.
Participating educators take part in 45 hours of professional development, as well as an intensive curriculum focused on space science and exploration.
Activities include classroom, laboratory and field training exercises, which are linked to U.S. science and math teaching standards.
Each teacher also undergoes real-life astronaut training, including a high-performance jet simulation, scenario-based space missions, land and water survival training, and a state-of-the-art flight dynamics programs.
“It was fantastic,” said Vancel—”probably the best professional development I’ve ever done.”
Vancel said she applied to the program in October, submitting a detailed essay describing how she would use her experience in the classroom after she returned. Her entry was one of the elite few accepted, and Vancel left for Huntsville in late June.
Although she wasn’t entirely sure how she’d spend her idle hours while in the camp, the program left little time for boredom.
“You got the classic space-camp experience, and you worked with other teachers on projects to develop lessons for your classroom,” she said.
Of the workshops she attended, focused on enabling participants to hit the ground running when they return to their classrooms, Vancel said a couple of the sessions stood out. “In one of them, the kids first build a model rocket to see how they work; then they design their own rockets and launch them off.”
Now, although the start of school is still a couple of weeks off, she can “hardly wait” to try some the engineering modules with her students. It seems that the students are sharing the same anticipation.
“Some of them knew I was going to the program, and they were really excited for me,” said Vancel.
Each Honeywell educator receives a full scholarship following a rigorous application and selection process involving competing teachers from around the world. Scholarships include tuition for the six-day program, roundtrip airfare, meals, accommodation and program materials, all underwritten by Honeywell and contributions from Honeywell employees.
“Once again, Honeywell is sending a stellar group of teachers to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and we are honored to have had the opportunity to provide them with relevant professional development in science, technology, and mathematics,” said Larry Capps, the center’s chief executive officer.
“Teachers who have participated in previous sessions are now making a difference in classrooms around the world as they inspire the next generation of explorers. We look forward to working with the Honeywell Educator Class of 2010 as we continue our mission.”
Nor is the inspiration left behind when the teachers head home.
“I got to meet a lot of amazing teachers who were passionate about what they do,” she said.
“Now I have connections all over the United States and the rest of the world.”
