"T-minus-five
minutes. You are go for APU start."....."Roger Control. APU start.
Procedure check.""T-minus-five
minutes. You are go for APU start."....."Roger Control. APU start.
Procedure check."
Is this a conversation between Mission Control and the Space Shuttle? Yes, but not the one you might think. This is a sixth grade classroom, and three students in a "SPACE EXPLORERS" Space Shuttle cockpit like this, are about to launch on a voyage to their future. They are working as a team with three fellow students sitting at a remote "SPACE EXPLORERS" Mission Control Center.
They are learning how the Space Shuttle works. They are using the "SPACE EXPLORERS" Learning Principles, an enhanced cooperative learning process that builds student skills in communication, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making. Mastering the "SPACE EXPLORERS" Learning Principles culminates in the student’s ability to use effective Teaming strategies.
But to these students, they are about to launch the Space Shuttle.
This hands-on experience puts the classroom skills of
tomorrow into schools and other learning venues today. This "SPACE
EXPLORERS" shuttle
cockpit is a three-quarter scale, high-fidelity shuttle simulator. Computer
screens show the ongoing mission, video monitors show the cockpit and it’s
operation to Team Members at Mission Control. All switches function, alarms
occur, problems are indicated, and solutions must be found.
"SPACE
EXPLORERS" experience
the excitement and challenges of the shuttle astronauts.
These students have learned about the Space Shuttle – how it works, what it does, and how to "fly" it. Now, sitting in the Space Shuttle cockpit and Mission Control Center, they are demonstrating their ability to "fly" the Space Shuttle. The Commander, the Pilot, and the Mission Specialist, working with the Flight Director, CAPCOM and Simulation Director at the Mission Control Center are using the"SPACE EXPLORERS" Learning Principles (Teaming) – working together to achieve more than they can as individuals, successfully completing their assigned mission.