NASA space shuttle becomes floating classroom: long-distant learning unlocks career opportunities for Alaskans.

• Author: LLoyd, Pam

As NASA Pilot William Oefelein became the first Alaskan in space last December, Alaskans were the only students in the world who were able to speak directly to the entire crew of STS-116 while they were in space. Through a live GCI video downlink from the shuttle on Dec. 21, more than 300 students from all over Alaska, including students at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, asked questions such as "How does microgravity affect the growth of plants on the space station?" and "What has been the most exciting and most difficult parts of your mission so far?" With an Alaska flag as a backdrop, Oefelein and the entire crew of astronauts sat before a video camera and spoke into a microphone as they answered the students' questions. Students in different regions of the state were able to join this linkup using GCI videoconferencing technology. It's too early to tell how many budding astronauts or aspiring NASA scientists were created through this activity, but there's no doubt that distance-learning technology is changing the career opportunity landscape in Alaska for good.

SKILLS NEEDED

A recent survey by the Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for Human Resource Management, found that the incoming American work force lacks both the basic academic and more advanced "applied" skills necessary to compete. It is clear that there needs to be greater collaboration between the business and education sectors to meet this challenge in an increasingly global economy. Alaska is already achieving this, in large part, by using distance-learning technology to provide the 21st century skills to the workers of today and tomorrow.

A PARTNERSHIP

The shuttle downlink to students is a perfect example. This event was the culmination of a five-year education partnership between NASA and GCI to bring multiple educational videoconferences with astronauts, mission control specialists, astronaut trainers and other NASA employees so that Alaskan students could learn more about careers in NASA. Prior to the shuttle's launch, students from Kotzebue, Dillingham, Unalakleet, Kenai and elsewhere participated in two educational videoconferences from NASA's Johnson Space Center: one with Pilot Oefelein and the other with his mission trainer and fellow Alaskan from Palmer, Adam Flagan. Ultimately, these videoconferences gave students insight into two very distinct career opportunities in NASA...