AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2018 - 37

YOU CAN FLY |

initiatives
recognize the importance of
building the pilot community
through programs that include
high school learning curriculum, flying clubs, Rusty Pilots
seminars, and other pilot-support mechanisms that make
flying safe, fun, and affordable.
AOPA'S YOU CAN FLY

Helping schools teach aviation
Engaging STEM program rolled out for ninth-graders
B Y D AV I D T U L I S

SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTRY have been
invited to apply to use AOPA's free, innovative,
aviation-based, ninth-grade science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM) curriculum to
engage students and help build the future of aviation. The ninth-grade courses are the first of a
four-year program that includes three career and
technical education pathways-pilot, aerospace
engineering, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Each fall, a new grade level of courses will be
rolled out and available to schools for implementation until all four grade levels are complete.
Schools can decide to select individual courses
to use as standalone electives or implement one
or more complete pathways. The ninth-grade
courses were tested in nearly 30 schools with
more than 700 students over the past school year
and include everything a teacher might need-and
more. Thorough lesson plans, appealing presentations, assessments, fun student activities, and
other learning opportunities are all included. The
innovative program has proven to be an enlightening learning experience.
Students learn about aerodynamics and
wind tunnels by making airfoils out of foam,

aluminum, and glue; explore case studies to
understand the adverse effects of weather, pilot
fatigue, and lack of training; and debate who was
first to attain powered flight-the Wright brothers or Gustave Albin Whitehead.
"This is a major step in our work to help
young people learn more about the engaging
and well-paying careers in aviation, and it gives
schools the tools they need to teach our children skills that will last for a lifetime," said Mark
Baker, AOPA president.
The curriculum is aligned to Next Generation
Science Standards and Common Core State
Standards for Mathematics. Teachers who want
to implement the program will be introduced
to the concepts through a professional development workshop that supports them with
either an on-site learning experience at AOPA
headquarters in Frederick, Maryland, June 26
to 28, or by connecting online during that time.
EMAIL david.tulis@aopa.org

WEB

https://youcanfly.aopa.org

Flight Training
Experience Awards
make a difference
New survey opens April 9

The "Best" CFI in AOPA's
annual Flight Training Experience Awards reports a 35 to
40-percent increase in her
business. "These are good
times to be a pilot and I am
happy to be a positive part
of our industry's success,"
said Zoan Harclerode, the
national best flight instructor
in AOPA's 2017 Flight Training
Experience Awards. "After
the article in Flight Training
magazine, we are getting
calls from pilots in the Midwest requesting to fly with
me personally," she said.
The 2018 Flight Training
Experience Survey opens
April 9 and AOPA will be
looking for the next great
instructors and schools. Go
online to participate (www.
aopa.org/ftsurvey).

www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 37

http://www.aopa.org/ftsurvey https://youcanfly.aopa.org http://www.aopa.org/ftsurvey http://www.aopa.org/pilot

AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2018

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