Bangalore : Four Indian teachers from India participated in a unique learning program – Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy (HE@SA) – held from June 14 to 28, 2013, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) in Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
Created in partnership with USSRC and Honeywell Hometown Solutions (HHS), HE@SA is a scholarship program where middle-school teachers participate in simulated astronaut training and professional development. The training provides them with new innovative teaching skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in fun and exciting ways.
Rashmi Gupta, Monika Mishra and Savita Sharma from Pune, and Veena Naik from Bangalore, were part of 210 middle-school teachers from 27 countries around the world who were selected for the program.
“Inspiring students begins with inspiring teachers,” said Tom Buckmaster, president of Honeywell Hometown Solutions. “HE@SA gives teachers an engaging and unforgettable learning experience that heightens their ability to become even more effective educators.”
As a leading technology and manufacturing corporation, Honeywell understands the importance of STEM education and its impact on the global economy.
“Honeywell is a world-class leader when it comes to educating teachers in STEM education and they’re proving it again. This is the tenth year Honeywell has sent teachers to USSRC,” noted Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and executive director of USSRC. “These teachers, in turn, inspire tens of thousands of students around the world.”
Participants trained like astronauts, learning skills and techniques to pique student interest in science and exploration. The teachers participated in 45 hours of professional development with laboratory and field activities aligned with global math and science teaching standards, including:
• A high-performance jet simulation
• Scenario-based space mission
• Land and water survival training
• Interactive flight dynamics programs
“Teaching math and science requires special skill sets to ensure students absorb, process and retain what is taught in the classroom,” said Monica Mishra, one of the participants from India. “This program has helped me imbibe global math and science teaching standards,” she added.
To attend HE@SA, candidates must complete a thorough application process to ensure the most qualified teachers are selected. Once chosen, teachers are awarded scholarships, roundtrip airfare, tuition, meals and accommodations sponsored by Honeywell and its employees.
Since the program’s inception in 2004, Honeywell has awarded HE@SA scholarships to 1,756 teachers from more than 45 countries. So far, 38 teachers from India have attended this program.
Source : Shiva Kumar