Abstract:

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium has been offering Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS), a free immersive experiential learning program for high school juniors and seniors statewide, since 2008 in collaboration with NASA Langley Research Center. The program provides an online course that uses space exploration and the exciting work of NASA to teach key STEM concept. Students who perform well in the course are provided with a seven-day, residential, immersive learning experience at NASA Langley Research Center through a summer academy mentored by practicing professionals at which scholars design and defend a human mission to Mars to a panel of experts. Scholars receive five, dual-enrollment college credits for the full program through Virginia Peninsula Community College in Hampton. The course is offered as Introduction to Aerospace Engineering (3 credits) and the Summer Academy is offered as Experiences in Mechanical Engineering Technology (2 credits). Dual-enrolled college credit is also offered at no cost to the student.
Approximately 450 students statewide take the online course each year, with 180 selected based on course performance to participate in one of three summer academies at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. There are approximately 60 students in each academy session. They are divided into five teams: Mission Integration, Science and Surface Operations, Mission Transit, Human Factors and Strategic Communications. Students take on the roles of professionals in a typical NASA mission team such as project manager, project engineer, project scientist, budget analyst, communications specialist and more to undertake their mission planning and to develop their mission concept of operations.
More than 6000 students have participated in the course since inception and about 2400 have participated in summer academy sessions. The program has been successful in reaching areas of the state with high numbers of underrepresented and underserved students in STEM, including rural areas, with life-changing impacts.
Funding for the program is provided by the Commonwealth of Virginia, NASA, and industry sponsorships.
VASTS has won a Programs That Work Award from the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition which recognizes outstanding best practice programs in mathematics and science as well as a NASA Achievement Award.
The program has been externally evaluated since 2008. This paper draws on external evaluation data, longitudinal tracking data, and author observations and analysis to present best practice elements and impact data for this highly impactful experiential learning program.

Keywords:

Experiential learning, NASA, aerospace, STEM education, dual enrollment, best practices, precollege STEM, secondary education.