SEDS ACADEMY
From SEDSWiki
SEDS ACADEMY
SEDS Academy will continue the ideas of the International Space University by providing education on the past, present and future of space exploration and development. It will reach out to encourage the imaginations of children and teens, to provide further education for undergraduate students, and to foster understanding and support among the general public.
Details
The concept of SEDS Academy is to promote space, science, and technological literacy via the use of short-course programs aimed at those without a solid background in space related topics. The program is modeled after a combination of ISU: The International Space University, and the short course programs in aerospace engineering topics currently offered by the AIAA: American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics. SEDS Academy differs from these two programs in a few key ways. First, while the ISU program is aimed at graduate level studies, for those who hold presently hold an undergraduate degree, the SEDS Academy program is aimed at a more general audience - from the youngest students willing to learn the material - to the most experienced adults who simply have been away from or never experienced the space arena, but have a true desire to learn about it. Also, keystone courses in general math, science, technical writing, and current events would be offered to provide a foundation for those interested in building upon their own knowledge or refreshing knowledge lost to years of work not requiring these principle topics for the space (arena ??). Unlike the AIAA short courses, SEDS Academy aims to make this knowledge available to the public at a low cost - perhaps sometimes free of charge for the most basic of courses - by making use of the SEDS student and Alumni network to help in teaching the courses. In attracting a very large audience to the field of space and space exploration, our main goal must be to educate the public in a manner that does not infringe upon their daily lives - through low costs and fast-paced programs - with the target program time running from a few days (over a weekend) to a few weeks (during the summer, for students) so as to allow those with busy schedules to attend the program without losing productivity within their everyday lives. Instead they will be able to come home with a new or renewed knowledge of topics such as space science, engineering, or business as well as replenished toolbox of basic math, science, and communication skils with which to further pursue these topics or simply to assist them in improving their current lives - benefiting not only those interested in space - but the world in general.
Project Notes/Goals...
1. To create a curriculum for short-course programs on space related topics
2. To create refresher/intro courses on math, science, communications, history, etc etc for use in short course intro programs
3. To create an "ISU Jr." educational enviroment, for those who do not have undergraduate degrees or are currently pursuing them - to help in educating future space-farring citizens on the above topics
4. To make the program very mobile, such that any SEDS chapter could run a SEDS Academy themselves on demand
5. To educate a public that is part of a technologically advanced society
6. [LONG TERM GOAL] To expand the program beyond the USA, and be able to extend the short-courses, or an expanded version, to developing nations - in holding the program in high schools or other institution abroad that might lack the knowledge that our program can provide them with, by providing teachers on a short term basis and providing the resources to continue learning once the teachers have gone
7. [LONG TERM GOAL - THE ISU Jr. CONCEPT] To create a permanent school for pre-graduate schools students to develop as Universal Citizens.
Course Topics
Let's list what we're going to teach about here...
1. Space Science (Astronomy, Planetary Sciences....)
even basics like Chemistry and Physics...experiments demos...it all relates
2. Space Engineering (Basic Mechanics, Materials Properties, Propulsion Elements....)
3. Math (Pre-Calc, Trig Basics, Algebra Refresher)
4. (Technical) Writing (How to write a proposal)
proposals, resumes, journal articles (publicity too)
5. Space History (Something specifically about Russian program as well.)
from the beginging till 'now'...and make a 'space archive'
6. Policy (Space and governments)
what limitations are there on space 'now' due to 'red tape'
how can we get past these limitations (who do we talk to/what do we highlight)
what is already available (---- Space Grant Consortium)
7. Business (How to turn a proposal into a business plan)
what is business, how does it relate to engineering
how to use business as a backdoor into the aerospace field
8. Fundraising (How to fund that plan!!)
9. Other side of the Coin (for the engineering-challenged space enthusiest)
what are some space related jobs that people don't think of
how can you get these jobs
10. From Imagination to Reality (How to design and DO a space project)
brainstorm, draw, cost analysis/design requirements/hypothesis, build, test
11. What else....????
What a SEDS ACADEMY Program Could Look Like
This SEDS ACADEMY schedule assumes a Fri-Sunday program. In it, the event takes place at a local planetarium/space science museum with facilities for an acceptable classroom setting.
Friday
4pm-7pm: Registration and Museum Tours
7:30pm-8pm: Program Overview/Layout - Opening Ceremony
8pm-10pm: Space Movie or Planetarium Show (Narrated)
Saturday
8am-9am: Breakfast
9:15am – 10:00am: Session 1 - ??????
10:00am – 10:15am: Coffee Break
10:15am to 12:00pm: Session 2 - ??????
12:00pm to 1:00pm: Lunch (In House)
1:15pm to 3:00pm: Session 3 - ??????
3:00pm to 3:15pm: Coffee Break
3:15pm to 5:00pm: Session 4 - ??????
5:00pm to 7:00pm: Mission Applications
7:00pm to 9:00pm: Dinner @ ??????
Sunday
11:00am to 11:30am: Speaker (Short – Drinks served before start)
11:30am to 12:30pm: Lunch (Buffet/Box Lunches?)
12:30pm to 1:00pm: Certificate Presentation and Closing (Graduation!)
2:00pm – Finish: Personal Tours of Museum with the museum staff (optional)
Description of the Schedule and Further Ideas
Basically this SEDS Academy event would focus on a particular existing space mission and the science behind it. For example, if the mission was the Hubble Space Telescope, the lesson plan would be astronomy based - teaching the participants about astronomy, telescopes, etc - going deeper into the topic than a traditional museum exhibit might - and then would follow up by showing how what the participants learned applies directly to the mission. Or perhaps the mission's results would be used to teach the course material. Think of it as a crash course in [insert topic here]. The program could be expanded to include an entire week or even more - depending on the audience your reaching out to and when you hold it. A few more examples might be...
1. SEDS ACADEMY AND THE XPRIZE CUP: This event would bring representatives from each of the X-Prize teams in to teach a lesson on how sub-orbital space tourism works. One speaker (or a panel of) could talk about how their propulsion system functions. The next could speak about writing the business plan that made their team's formation possible. Another could speak about fundraising techniques for a high risk project such as a sub-orbital manned spacecraft. Another could talk about safety aspects - the list goes on and on. The ACADEMY could continue throughout the CUP itself by including personal visits to see the CUP's participants, or a closed door presentation by Diamandis or Rutan...once again - the list goes on!
2. SEDS ACADEMY and BASIC SPACE EDUCATION: When I say BASIC space education, what I really mean is giving a refresher or introduction course to a wide age group on the topics that form a foundation for space related studies - particularly math, science, writing, or even art. A math session could include a refresher on basic calculus, trigonometry, and algebra. A science course could go over basic physics concepts and equations, as simple as Force = mass*acceleration, yet so fundamentally important to understand. A writing course could go over the aspects of writing a technical paper or go over how to make a proper technical presentation. An art course could teach people how to do anything from drawing their ideas (visual communications) or how to create a model in CAD for either artistic or technical purposes. So many places this could go!!!
3. SEDS FIELD ACADEMY: Once we've developed a working SEDS ACADEMY framework, we could extend our program into developing nations - hosting a SEDS ACADEMY program in Nigeria or Chile that goes over multiple SEDS ACADEMY Sessions for days/weeks at a time. At this point, we become a traveling program and can really create a world-wide impact.
Estimated Costs and Cost Comments
Copyrights for materials ($???.??)
- We can attempt to use public domain information, or lesson plans published by NASA to assist in cutting down the cost of using other people's work. As for copywriting our own work - sure, but we have to create it first
Instructor Time for initial sessions ($???.??)
- If we can secure SEDS alumni, perhaps taking them out to dinner would be payment enough. As well as giving them the opportunity to pass their own knowledge down to the next generation.
Building Use Fees ($???.??)
- Definitely going to be the bulk of the cost. If you goto the SLSC.org, you can see the fees asscoiated with museum space rentals, including classroom space. Of course we will try to get an 'introductory' rate via SEDS. More on this via the mailing list.
Supplies ($??.??)
- Texts ($??.??)
- Notebooks ($??.??)
- Pens ($??.??)
- Polos? ($??.??)
- Name Badges ($??.??)
- Light Food / Catering ($??.??)
Travel for initial setup (?) ($???.??)
- Personal travel of volunteers will have to be covered by the volunteers themselves. The only travel costs we cover is that of the speaker - if we have to!
Possible Business Plan
- We can approach several different types of sponsors.
- Corporations (Boeing, Lockheed, Motorola, GE, etc.)
- Space Grant
- Museums or Schools
- SEDS Alum
- How to approach:
- Corporations
- We want to have this program, will you sponsor us and we will include your name in our program and distribute any pamphlets you like
- We want to have this program, we will be focusing on your technologies
- We want your employees to participate in this program
- Museums or schools
- We would like to have you host this program, will you let us run it for free or a reduced price?
- We would like your members to attend our event, will you send our flier to them?
- SEDS Alum
- Please give us money to do this
- Please teach at this event
- Corporations
