In the Spotlight

An Example from the MIT/John D. O’Bryant School Partnership from MIT’s Website

Reaching for the Stars is a comprehensive educational program for inner-city high school students, made possible by funding from the NASA Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) program. The program is designed to reach out to students who are stars in our eyes - students with the potential to become the next generation of scientists and engineers. Through collaboration between the MIT Space Systems Laboratory (SSL), the John D. O'Bryant School for Mathematics and Science (JDOB), and the MIT Edgerton Center, we have established a prototype of hands-on science education whose success has led to the development of a Boston Community Science Workshop.

The core component of Reaching for the Stars is a series of interactive, hands-on science and engineering activities designed to increase student knowledge and interest in these areas, while meeting guidelines set in the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework. Workshops taught at the JDOB and the Edgerton Center have exposed JDOB students and faculty to new methods of learning and teaching, increasing the school's level of academic achievement. In May 2004, a state-of-the-art solar energy system and weather station were installed at the school to provide a long-term educational tool that incorporates applications of science and technology. In addition, tours of SSL laboratories have allowed JDOB students and faculty to observe scientists and engineers in a professional setting and meet role models in those fields.

We invite you to read more about our program, its achievements, and its contributors at this website. Although funding for Reaching for the Stars will end in March 2005, a proposal is underway to extend our E/PO funding. With further development of this educational initiative, we can continue to create resources and opportunities for our stars of today and the future.