Teachers Take Flight To Inspire STEM Learning

When Carrie E. Marcum arrived at school last week, she was dressed in a navy-blue flight suit adorned with an American flag on her left sleeve. This was quite unexpected for her 8th grade science students at Spring Mills Middle School in Martinsburg, W.Va., but not surprising. The day before, their teacher had the opportunity to experience weightlessness on a specially modified Boeing 727 aircraft, similar to what astronauts go through during space mission training. Ms. Marcum, who had always dreamed of becoming an astronaut, was thrilled to share her experiences with her students. She couldn’t wait to show them videos and pictures from her adventure.

Ms. Marcum was one of 28 middle school teachers, along with two college students pursuing teaching degrees, who participated in the Weightless Flights of Discovery program. This program, initiated in 2006 by the Northrop Grumman Foundation, is now in its final year and has allowed nearly 1,200 educators to experience weightlessness. While the main objective of the program is to get students interested in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), it also provides an otherworldly thrill for the teachers.

During a 2½-hour flight, the modified airplane underwent parabolic arcs to simulate the experience of different levels of gravity: first, the gravity of Mars (about one-third of normal body weight), then the gravity of the moon (one-sixth of body weight), and finally near-zero gravity. The teachers floated, flipped, and bounced off the walls and ceiling of the cabin. They even posed for photos, embracing their inner Superman. They attempted simple experiments, such as observing the reactions of various liquids and a gyroscope to the changing environment of the plane. However, the weightlessness proved disorienting, and each period of weightlessness lasted only about 25 seconds.

"After the flight, I realized I had no control over my own movements," remarked Ms. Marcum. "Every time I tried to do something, I ended up floating upside down on the ceiling."

The Northrop Grumman Foundation, founded and supported by the aerospace and defense company based in Falls Church, Va., is one of many organizations in the United States striving to cultivate student interest in STEM fields. These efforts are seen as vital to ensure economic competitiveness. In a 2010 report, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology expressed concern not only about the average performance of U.S. students in STEM fields but also about their lack of interest in these subjects.

The Northrop Grumman program, in partnership with Zero Gravity Corp., has offered 45 flights since 2006, allowing STEM teachers from all 50 states to experience weightlessness. However, in its final year, the program has scaled back, offering only two flights. Sandra J. Evers-Manly, the president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation, explained the purpose behind the weightless-flights program at a briefing before the September 12 flight.

"This is an opportunity for us to inspire young people and get them excited about math and science," she said. "We hope that some of these innovators will one day join Northrop Grumman."

This year, the foundation is allocating approximately $750,000 to cover travel expenses for participants and provide a teacher workshop. The foundation also supports other STEM education activities, including funding for teachers and students to attend Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. A survey of 206 participants in the weightless flights found that 92 percent of them noticed an increase in their students’ interest in science.

Having an extraordinary and unique experience like participating in a weightless flight can have a significant and long-lasting impact on both teachers and students. According to one educator, when corporations provide teachers with such experiences, it becomes a force multiplier in terms of reaching and influencing students. The teachers who had recently taken the weightless flight were fully aware of how this experience could enrich their teaching. One teacher mentioned that he plans to incorporate this experience into his lessons on gravity, the force of Earth, and satellites. Another teacher, who teaches math, expressed excitement about incorporating the concept of parabolas into her teaching.

Teachers also see the value in being role models for their students. They want to demonstrate the importance of being lifelong learners and to instill in their students a sense of excitement about the possibilities in science. One teacher mentioned that videos from the weightless flight would be invaluable for her students, as it helps them visualize and understand concepts better.

In preparation for the flight, one teacher asked her students to create patches for her flight suit. These patches showcased their school mascot, along with images of the international space station and an orbiting asteroid. Upon her return to school, this teacher shared video footage from the trip with her students, including moments of weightlessness and a viscosity experiment conducted in different gravity environments. She described it as a dream come true to be able to share such an extraordinary experience with her students and witness their genuine inspiration and excitement.