NASA astronaut teaches kids technology and engineering through Clemson program

Published: November 6, 2012

By Beth Anne Lamar

CLEMSON — The students squeal delightfully, clapping their hands at their success, as their Styrofoam sailboat with its construction paper sail traverses the white gutter in less than the required 15 seconds. With guidance from NASA astronaut Col. Patrick Forrester, the Clemson Elementary second-grade class participates in the Integrative STEM Education program.

Clemson University is promoting the Integrative STEM Education program to improve science, technology, engineering and math learning in South Carolina.

Forrester is an adjunct faculty member in Clemson’s College of Health, Education and Human Development. He brings a different perspective to the world of education. In his NASA career he made four spacewalks and coordinated five spacewalks for other astronauts. He is retired from the Army. 

“What I bring to the table is a unique background and experience,” Forrester said.

“Forrester is bringing NASA education programs, such as classroom teaching materials to area school districts," said Bill Havice, associate dean and professor in Clemson's College of Health, Education and Human Development. "Since beginning in July, Forrester has made numerous presentations to various audiences, including K-16 students, administrators, parents, business and industry leaders. He is spending his time on and off campus interacting with people interested in scientific and technological literacy for all children.” 

Forrester makes frequent visits to many area schools, including Clemson Elementary. After educating the children about the general purposes of the different parts of sailboats, the children create one using the technical terms they learned. They have a budget to buy materials with fake dimes and nickels.

“The importance of the program is to encourage the children to ask, ‘why?’ or ‘why does it matter?'“ Forrester said.

In other words, Forrester wants the children to understand the importance of what they are learning and how this knowledge will serve them in the future.

The goals of the program are to teach children problem-solving. After all, the lesson is about trial and error.   

“When the children try something that doesn’t work they have to fill out their journal. It asks, ‘what went wrong?’ and ‘how will you fix it?’” he said. “That way, it incorporates writing into their learning as well.”

The program includes projects in the fifth- and eighth-grade sciences.

For more information on the Integrative STEM Education program visit http://www.clemson.edu/hehd/stem/.

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