The STEM Teacher Leadership Video Showcase features 3-minute videos submitted by teacher leaders and those engaged in creating teacher leadership programs. View their inspiring stories and make sure to leave a comment! Share on social media and "like" your favorites!STEM Education Through the Lens of Aviation
The Greene School Aeronautics Academy is reminiscent of an actual flight training center equipped with five flight simulator stations and separate classroom for weekly ground school and hands-on aeronautical engineering challenges. Students beginning at 4th grade through Middle school can choose aeronautics as an after school app or an elective. Elementary students complete a series of aviation challenges. The middle school students take a formal ground school course offered online through Virginia Teach titled, “IMFLY-M.” In addition, there is a self-paced series of flight skills they practice on the flight simulators.
Aeronautics academy instructor and founder of this program, Kaye Ebelt approaches STEM education through an aviation lens. Students begin by building a Cessna 172 Styrofoam model, learn basic aerodynamics, study weather, make weight and balance and fuel consumption calculations and in-flight decisions while utilizing the latest navigation technologies both on iPad and in the cockpit. In addition, students can be introduced to so many STEM fields through aeronautics from mechanics to commercial airline pilot to aerospace engineering. The sky is the limit!
Comments
Hi! My name is Kaye Ebelt…
Welcome to The Greene School Aeronautics Academy where our students are taking flight whether it's on the ground or in the air! Get ready to experience a glimpse of how you can implement an aeronautics program into your school. Please leave me a message if you have any questions about taking flight in your STEM programs.
In reply to Hi! My name is Kaye Ebelt… by Kaye Ebelt
Flying high with ideas!
How did you get started with this idea? I am wondering how to bring this to middle schools in my district. We have an Aviation Future Ready Institute in one of my district's high schools. One student has graduated high school with a pilot's license. Any resources or ideas for getting started?
In reply to Flying high with ideas! by Jessica Holloway
Hi Jessica! Sorry for the…
Hi Jessica!
Sorry for the delay....I live in Florida and we were in the middle of a hurricane!
I got the idea soon after joining the Civil Air Patrol. I've been involved in aviation and aerospace for years. One of the CAP FREE STEM kits is a flight simulator. I started with one simulator to generate interest while earning my own private pilot license in power and gliders. Then started to create a more formal aeronautics course using CAP, NASA, AOPA and my own experiences.
That is fantastic about your student who was able to achieve his rating so young!
I recommend joining CAP as an Aerospace Education Member to start. Then apply for one of the STEM kits. There are over 40 to choose from. I would also recommend going out and just taking a few flight lessons yourself. I am in the process of writing a teachers guide for those who are not pilots. Also, most of the flight software has lessons with a "flight instructor" voice to guide the students through the simulated flight lessons.
Let me know if I can help you further!
Kaye
So incredibly exciting!
Thanks for this video. Wow! What city/state are you locate in? Who funds this tremendous program? Are you working with particular school systems? Are teacher's getting involved? Would love to hear more about how kids are recruited, how long they typically stay involved, if it is individual students or full classrooms? Are you doing any follow up research on the impact of the students as they move through high school and beyond?
In reply to So incredibly exciting! by Joni Falk
Joni, I live in West Palm…
Joni,
I live in West Palm Beach, Florida. I work in a private school and we just added a high school this year. So we are relatively new.
This program began with the free STEM kits from the Civil Air Patrol. As a aerospace education member you can apply to get free STEM kits. One of which are flight controls.
I've been running this program for decades and many students have gone on to earn their pilots certificate or ended up in a STEM field.
Kaye
Take Flight With STEM
Wow! What an amazing experience and theme for a school. You have inspired me to think of ways we can implement a flight school in my district. Thank you for sharing how you build a STEM culture around aviation.
In reply to Take Flight With STEM by Jennifer Donais
Jennifer, Look into…
Jennifer,
Look into becoming a Civil Air Patrol aerospace education member. You can apply for over 40 FREE STEM kits. One of which is the flight simulator. That's how it all started for me.
Kaye
These students are so lucky…
These students are so lucky to have this opportunity. I wish I had this when I was in school. I enjoyed seeing the excitement on the students faces.
In reply to These students are so lucky… by GLORIA KREISCHER GAJEWICZ
Thank you, Gloria! They do…
Thank you, Gloria! They do love it! I'm currently writing an activity book for educators that will go along with this program.
It has definitely been a labor of love!
Equity and access
This is an amazing way to inspire students into STEM fields with such a practical aviation experience. I would have loved a program like this growing up.
I work predominantly with low-income students and I worry about the equity and access issues behind a program like this. I have so many questions. How do you recruit students? Do they span socioeconomic brackets? Is the program scaleable? How do teachers involved?
Thank you, Dieuwertje! …
Thank you, Dieuwertje! Great questions! We have after school apps that students sign up for. I offer aeronautics twice a week. Each class is filled to capacity. Last year we started offering this to middle school students. I offer 7th and 8th graders the opportunity to take aeronautics as an elective. I have 10 students who are working towards their glider rating.
It all started with one FREE flight simulator. As more students expressed interest, I was able to acquire two more FREE flight simulators. They all came from the Civil Air Patrol and through their Aerospace Educators Member program. Currently, I'm the only educator offering instruction however, I am finishing up a book I wrote to go with this program for educators.
If you are interested in starting something in your school, please let me know. I would be glad to help.
Thank You
Kaye: Thank you so much for sharing. Your video/work caused me to think about some options that would enhance my relatively new Aeronautical Engineering course. I especially like the idea of experimenting with flight simulation a bit. I just scoped out some free online sims, any that you might recommend or know of? Kids are lucky to have you and your program. Those kids sitting in the plane with the headphones on...they will never forget it!
In reply to Thank You by Doug Scott
Hi Doug! Yes! It would be…
Hi Doug!
Yes! It would be perfect for your Aeronautical Engineering course. For the powered aircraft I just use Microsoft Simulator. I do have an updated flight sim but have found working with STEAM is difficult. I use Condor for the gliders. Condor has basic, intermediate, advanced and aerobatic flight lessons built in. The newer Microsoft flight sim software is incredible. It also has flight lessons AND gives students a grade on how they did. I've ordered headphones for the flight sims to give them the feel of how pilots communicate with the tower or other pilots.
Let me know if I can help connect you with additional tools!
Kaye
Brava Ms Ebelt
You are a pace setter. I shared your awesome video with NASA & Space Council staff. Keep setting the bar higher and higher! Proud to be your pal.
In reply to Brava Ms Ebelt by Patti Curtis
Hi Patti! Thank you for…
Hi Patti!
Thank you for visiting this site and watching my video! That is so awesome you shared it with NASA and the Space Council staff! Your support is greatly appreciated!
Kaye
What a delightful program!
Hi Kaye,
This is such a high-interest way to build STEM skills! I have had students in Civil Air Patrol and they've loved it; this makes me think it would be cool to support more students in exploring air/aeronautics!!
Thanks for this cool insight into your program.
:) Kirstin, who also has a video in this showcase
In reply to What a delightful program! by Kirstin Milks
Hi Kirstin! Thank you for…
Hi Kirstin!
Thank you for watching my video! If you are interested in exploring aeronautics further I would encourage you to got through Civil Air Patrol. They have FREE stem kits and one of them is the yoke and rudder pedals. Then I just use Microsoft Flight Sim for the software and Condor for gliders.
Your video is pretty awesome too!
Kaye
Great Opportunity for your students!
I imagine your program really helps build the aviation pipeline, as well as, support strong STEM learning. Is this all elective or after school programming or integrated into the students school day?
Thanks for sharing!
In reply to Great Opportunity for your students! by Margo Murphy
Hi Margo! Thank you for…
Hi Margo!
Thank you for watching my video! It is a confidence booster for sure! The aeronautics program is both an elective and after school program. It's an elective for 7th and 8th graders and 4th - 6th graders can participate as an after-school app.
Kaye
This is amazing! What a…
This is amazing! What a great opportunity and way to apply the textbook content to the real world!
I am curious, how do you go about accommodating students with disabilities if they want to do your program? I'd love to connect if possible as I am always hoping to make STEM accessible for all.
Best,
Yujia
e: theresourcefulscientist@gmail.com
In reply to This is amazing! What a… by Yujia Ding
Hi Yujia, Thank you for…
Hi Yujia,
Thank you for watching my video! Aviation is truly my passion!
You asked a great question. The flight software has different settings. For students with physical disabilities can still participate by using some of the auto settings. For example, a student in a wheelchair can control everything with the joystick or yoke and set the rudder pedals to auto pilot mode. I have found students with other disabilities to be some of the best flight simulator pilots. They are very focused and even increases their focus.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Kaye
Thank you!
Wow! I never imagine STEM in flying. What a way to teach and learn at a young age about careers related to flying. Thank you for sharing your video! :) Diana
I loved seeing the young…
I loved seeing the young students using the Flight Simulation tools! This program is amazing and gave me some great ideas. How young do you think the students could be to do this?
Inspiring Flight
I loved how engaged the students were and the entire setup that you built. I signed up as a civil air patrol teacher and have not used the curriculum yet. This has inspired me to look into some grants to get a lab funded for our school district. Please email me NJSTOY2023@gmail.com so I can pick your brain about all the fabulous stuff you are doing with the students.
Agree, CAP for the win!
Kaye,
Incredible job building this program and aviation pipeline at your school! I wonder, how long did it take you to build this program?
As you have echoed, I highly recommend joining the Civil Air Patrol as an educator as well. It's only $35 for a lifetime membership (as long as one completes the annual renewal form) and you have access to so much aerospace/STEM educational opportunities ranging from curriculum materials to STEM Kits.
I'm excited about your book for teachers and will be interested in it when finished. Keep up the magnificent work, Kaye!
What an incredibly authentic…
What an incredibly authentic opportunity for students. I especially appreciate that you started small and grew it. Is this a magnet program?
The opportunities that this offers young students is invaluable. It is rare to see such an authentic program focusing on younger students (pre-high school) which is so essential because students start determining their norms for the future by 4th and 5th grade. CONGRATULATIONS on creating such a valuable opportunity!