Presentations Made In A Virtual Environment In Online
Space
The top six teams competing in the first "RealWorld-InWorld NASA
Engineering Design Challenge" showcased their creative ideas for a
panel of expert judges, fellow teams and others on April 14, 2011.
The forum, held in a virtual online space, was the culmination for
this year's "RealWorld-InWorld NASA Engineering Design
Challenge."
Virtual Students In Online Space
The challenge gives high school students a unique opportunity to
work with university students to solve authentic NASA-inspired,
design-based engineering problems using 21st century technology
tools and skills.
The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, and NASA's Langley Research Center
in Hampton, VA, collaborated with USA TODAY Education in McLean,
VA, and LearniT-TeachiT in Washington, D.C., to create and hold the
RealWorld-InWorld Challenge.
During the RealWorld phase of the challenge, more than 150 high
school students from around the United States used the engineering
design process to develop possible solutions for problems related
to the James Webb Space Telescope. Twenty teams from across the
U.S. were selected to move to the InWorld phase which took place in
a 3D multi-user virtual universe, developed by NIA. Each RealWorld
team consisted of high school students led by engineering and
information technology university students.
InWorld teams met, shared information about ways to improve
components of the Webb telescope, and designed new sunshields and
mirror assemblies all through online collaboration within their
virtual team worlds. Teams also interacted with Webb telescope
scientists and engineers during InWorld guest presentations.
Webb Telescope Artist's Concept
"We wanted to do an engineering design challenge for the Webb
telescope and Sharon Bowers, Educator in Residence with NIA came to
us with RealWorld-InWorld," said Maggie Masetti, webmaster and
social media lead for the Webb telescope at NASA Goddard. The Webb
project was able to provide Ms. Bowers with support and access to
our scientists and engineers, some of whom were guest speakers
InWorld. The ability to use technology to connect students and
professionals who are miles apart is fantastic."
An expert panel comprised of graduate engineering students,
educators, and Webb researchers, judged the results and selected
the winning teams. First place was awarded to high school students
Jill Freise, Matthew Roth, and Adrianna Cooke from Lutheran South
Academy high school in Houston, Texas, and their college team
leader, Nam Troung, from the University of South Florida.
"This was an excellent opportunity for us, engineering students,
to work on a real life engineering design challenge," said Nam
Troung. "Being a part of the 'RealWorld-InWorld Challenge' gave us
knowledge from working with the new technologies and other team
members, a boost in self confidence, winning prizes, and the
experience of being part of something big and important such as the
Webb telescope."
Other finalists include students from a physics class at Troy
High School in Troy, MI, a team from Richland Senior High School in
Johnstown, PA, and three teams of students from the NASA INSPIRE
Online Learning Communities. INSPIRE is a NASA initiative that
provides educational activities, resources, and collaborative tools
for high school students interested in pursuing STEM careers. Team
leaders for these teams were from Georgia Tech, University of
Alabama at Huntsville, University of Virginia, Washington State
University, and Ripon College.
Each student on the winning team was awarded $1000 and an iPad
2. The second place team members received a $100 gift
certificate. All participants received a certificate of
participation and a letter praising their successes in the
Challenge.