Schools and Businesses Strive to Inspire Future Scientists and Explorers

By George Berkheimer, STAFF WRITER



Demonstrating that the sky's not the limit, but in some cases just the starting point for students these days, 55 Maryland math and science teachers participated in the Northrop Grumman Foundation's Weightless Flights of Discovery program in September.

Carried aloft on parabolic flights originating from Northrop Grumman's flight test facility adjacent to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, the teachers experienced a simulation of the zero gravity conditions astronauts encounter on space flights. Back in the classroom, they talked with students about experiments they conducted during the flights.

The program was designed to "enable our teachers to excite, motivate and inspire their students, encouraging many of them to become scientists of the future," said Nancy Grasmick, Maryland state superintendent of schools.

The public school systems in both Anne Arundel and Howard counties have been working toward that end for a number of years through a combination of focused curricula and strategic partnerships with the business community. Some of the programs already available in both counties include robotics, health and medical services, engineering and biotechnology.

With the state now placing a greater emphasis on career-oriented education, more courses - and more changes - are on the way.



Teaching to BRAC

The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) consolidation at Fort Meade is a strong motivator. Thousands of high tech jobs will move to the region within the next few years, with thousands more expected to emerge from growth tied to BRAC-related support agencies and businesses. Students and teachers alike are well aware of the range of high tech opportunities coming to their backyard.

"It's the perfect storm," said Maureen McMahon, director of Advanced Programs and Studies for the Anne Arundel County Public School System (AACPSS). "We're also fortunate to have a superintendent with a vision for the future in terms of high

technology education."

Howard County school administrators are also viewing BRAC as a catalyst for improving course offerings in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly referred to as STEM fields.

And not a minute too soon, said Ron Nicodemus, who serves the Howard County Economic Development Authority as a liaison between the county's public school system (HCPSS) and the business community. He contends that the United States is in a crisis situation.

"It's a challenge that has been recognized by NASA [the National Aeronautics and Space Administration] and some other federal agencies," he explained. "They no longer have the same reservoir of good candidates that they need to fill the necessary inventor, explorer and scientist roles," partly due to a lack of inspiration aimed at children in the lower grades.

Earlier exposure to high technology education could motivate more of them to consider high technology career paths, Nicodemus surmised, although the results may not be seen for another 10 to 15 years.



Real World Applications

One way in which the HCPSS works to deliver real-world science applications to the classroom is through its partnerships with the business community.

"This is done through internships, mentoring programs and support for science fair projects," noted Nicodemus.

According to HCPPS Secondary Science Coordinator John Quinn, much of the support comes from small businesses with a scientific bent, but schools also receive support from Northrop Grumman, The Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory, Honeywell, Howard County General Hospital and highly visible entrepreneurs such as Shirley Collier, CEO of Columbia-based Optemax LLC.

Increasingly, Quinn said, teachers are looking for real world examples to incorporate in their lesson plans and are making use of their outside contacts.

"We're moving slowly toward a project-based focus to teach the concepts and away from traditional textbook teaching," he observed. "We've found this idea is more engaging and it teaches [students] more about what goes on in the real world of research."

In some cases, mentors share research techniques with students who often get to work on the projects and even assist with actual research.



Signature Programs

"We recently received a state MSTE [math, science and technology education] grant that will allow us to create a Science Resource Center at our Applied Research Lab," Quinn continued. It will provide a setting where students can interact with visiting scientists and engineers and use some equipment not normally available at the high schools.

Moreover, the school system is looking to expand its extracurricular STEM Club program and make it available to all schools at all levels.

In September, the Anne Arundel County Board of Education approved a plan to implement a timeline for magnet and signature programs in the county's high schools and middle schools.

According to McMahon, the plan calls for North County High School to become a STEM Magnet High School next fall, drawing from the North County, Glen Burnie, Northeast, Chesapeake, Arundel Old Mill and Meade clusters. The program is expected to enroll its first 100 freshmen in September 2008, she said.

South River High School will become Anne Arundel County's second STEM Magnet High School in the fall of 2009, and Meade High School will begin a Homeland Security Signature Program the same year, McMahon added.

Each AACPS high school will eventually have its own signature program. County students already have the opportunity to pursue co-curricular studies outside of school hours through higher education partners such as St. John's College in Annapolis and the Anne Arundel Community College.



Fanning the Flame

While it may receive the most attention at the moment, BRAC is hardly the only reason administrators have for emphasizing STEM in their schools. Many other industries rely on candidates with strong backgrounds in these fields, including the Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. (BGE).

In August, BGE invited 31 teachers from nine states and Canada, including nine from Maryland, to tour its Concord Street Substation in Baltimore.

"Utility companies such as BGE typically hire a lot of engineers, which means we have an interest in promoting the areas of math and science in our schools," said BGE Spokesperson Linda Foy.

The state of Maryland and its individual school systems continue to make important changes relating to the effectiveness of teaching STEM curricula.

Nevertheless, noted Sandra Evers-Manly, president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation, it's in the best interest of businesses such as BGE and Northrop Grumman to find unique ways to help stimulate as much student interest in these programs as possible.

"[It's] all about giving teachers the tools and experiences they need to show their students that math and science are not only entertaining, but can also be the basis for a fascinating career," she said.