AF helps state university educate teachers

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  the 40th Flight Test Squadron, along with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and STEM-ED, an education collaboration non-profit, recently supported a Florida State University initiative to make state classrooms come alive through virtual technology.

The squadron hosted a video team from CPALMS, Florida's teachers' platform and the state's official source for K-12 standards and course descriptions. CPALMS was created by the Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (FCR-STEM) at FSU. Through the Perspectives video series filmed here and across Florida, CPALMS is providing educators with resources to help them effectively implement STEM teaching standards.

The team spent two days interviewing Eglin Airmen about their jobs to highlight real-world examples of applied science and mathematics.

Maj. Tucker Hamilton, a pilot with the 40th, and Master Sgt. Justin Suddeth, the squadron's superintendent, got involved early, setting up interviews with Airmen from life support, radar approach control and the weather squadron, to name a few. The major said he supported the project, which seeks to educate teachers and students by bringing STEM knowledge, ideas, and experiences into the classroom. He believes the video approach is a positive way to go.

"I think this tool has a lot of potential to educate teachers and make them more comfortable talking about STEM," Hamilton said. "Students want to learn about it, but it can be intimidating because some of the subject matter can be difficult."

Dr. Adam Santone, a science specialist with CPALMS, said the video series will help teachers expand their content knowledge, generate new classroom ideas, and gain exposure to real-world examples from both professionals and enthusiasts.

Another interview dealt with kinetic energy when Dr. Betta Jerome, the technical advisor for the AF Test Center, Armament and Weapons Test and Evaluation, explained how a sled track works.

"It's important for students to understand the content and skills contained in the education standards, and these videos put that knowledge in context, such as with forces, motion, and energy conversion with the sled track," Santone said.

Hamilton takes a personal interest in reaching out to students, especially females, because "there's a misconception on their part that women can't do STEM subjects." He recounted a time when his daughter was 6 years old and told him she wanted to be a man.

"'I want to be an astronaut and only men can do that,' she said, Hamilton remembered. "I have no idea where she got that notion, but I had to convince her that was a misconception, she could do something very science intensive."

Educating teachers to educate students is part of the CPALMS program.

"It brings the outside world into the classroom," Santone said. "Teachers can choose what resources they want in the classroom. The Perspectives video series serves to introduce career paths in many fields, including those with the Air Force."

That's another plus for Hamilton. "We need to try to bring women STEM professionals into the fold to have an influence on students and young women."

CPALMS is funded through the Florida Department of Education, National Science Foundation, Florida Legislature, and FCR-STEM.