Linda Allison studies flight, space
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff reporter
Linda Allison, fourth grade teacher at Marion Elementary School, recently returned from a two-week study course at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. It is located at Edwards Air Force Base in California about 70-80 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
Ten workshops were offered. Allison was selected to attend the workshop for K-5 elementary school teachers. She applied through the National Science Teachers' Association, and her expenses were paid by NASA. Two other teachers from Kansas were in her group of 25.
During the first week, Allison attended classes on the dynamics of flight and went on numerous field trips to view various experimental planes and demonstrations.
She spent one day at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Pasadena. This is where hardware for a Mars exploration project is being developed.
Allison said she learned that the patch that was used to repair the Hubbell space telescope was developed at the lab and was about the size of a quarter.
During the second week, Allison learned about living and working in the international space station, which is currently under construction.
The group heard from three astronauts. Gordon Fullerton pilots the Boeing 747 which transports the space shuttle across the country. Rick Searfoss and Vance Brand are working as test pilots at the present time.
Allison said her group was privileged to be able to communicate directly with astronauts because they are not always available.
She was able to view the Helius, a solar-powered unmanned spacecraft that looks like a long wing. She said it weighs less than 1,500 pounds and went as high as 96,863 feet (more than 18 miles high) on its first test flight.
She learned that scientists are trying to find a way to store more energy on the Helius so it can stay in flight for longer periods of time.
She also learned that scientists are working on developing a plane with a flexible wing.
One day, the group observed as a pilot was being trained how to eject from a plane in flight.
"I learned a tremendous amount of things," Allison said. "The people we talked to were wonderful."
During her time at Dryden, Allison had to develop a plan on how she will use the information she acquired. Her plan includes classroom instruction as well as sharing with other teachers during in-service programs. She periodically will report on the progress being made toward reaching her goal.
What is the goal? "To improve the teaching of math, science, and geography and to develop students who are good in those areas," she said. "In other words, to develop future scientists."
Allison, who will begin her 29th year of teaching this fall, believes her experiences will make her a better teacher.
"I would encourage all teachers to try to participate," she said.
