@conference {3713, title = {3713. Inspiring Future Mass Properties Engineers: NASA{\textquoteright}s Orion Ascent Abort-2 Flight Test and the Office of Stem Engagement}, booktitle = {78th Annual Conference, Norfolk, VA}, year = {2019}, month = {05/2019}, pages = {32}, publisher = {Society of Allied Weight Engineers, Inc.}, organization = {Society of Allied Weight Engineers, Inc.}, address = {Norfolk, Virginia}, abstract = {

In response to the National Academy of Engineering{\textquoteright}s 2004 report, Educating the Engineer of 2020, and two subsequent National Science Foundation research studies examining effective strategies for educating the next generation of engineers, U.S. K-12 general education and undergraduate engineering programs have undergone numerous reforms. Instead of concentrating solely on technical knowledge (e.g., statics, mechanics, fluid dynamics, etc.), \ formal and informal teachers should now also enhance their instructional practices through interdisciplinary, interactive and immersive experiences that meet students where they are and equip them with 21st-century workforce skills such as collaboration, ability to consider societal and global contexts, and technical writing and public speaking. To support educators{\textquoteright} efforts and NASA{\textquoteright}s Orion Ascent Abort-2 flight test, education specialists in the Langley Research Center{\textquoteright}s Office of STEM Engagement partnered with the Flight Test Management and Public Affairs Offices to create a line of instructional products that help teachers and students to make connections between NASA-unique assets, STEM content, and careers in mass properties engineering. Using a mixed-methods research design, this paper documents initial results of that unique, highly collaborative interdisciplinary process: an educator professional development digital badge and a flipped classroom unit with standalone video interview. Although full-scale assessment has yet to occur, preliminary data indicates that responses from students, educators and the public to these resources have been overwhelmingly positive. Future ideas include webinars targeting K-12 teachers as well as virtual-reality technology {\textquotedblleft}field trips{\textquotedblright} for students {\textendash} additional tools for achieving the goal of inspiring tomorrow{\textquoteright}s mass properties engineers.

}, keywords = {30. Miscellaneous}, url = {https://www.sawe.org/papers/3713/buy}, author = {Weiss, Anne and Smith, Rosemary L.} }