Trade.Information

Company Name: pcsinspace

Company Type: pcsinspace project

Company Profile

Jackson and Tulls PCs In Space ™ combines amazing up-to-date NASA technologies and discoveries with standard subject matter of required school curriculum to produce an innovative, educational software series. This software was designed so that it can be used by persons who have minimal computer skills. Children can easily direct their own learning by running the modules themselves. PCs In Space is a simple tool which uses a multi-disciplinary approach to education. Jackson and Tull's PCs In Space is a community outreach service that was initiated in 1994 to encourage student interest in the fascinating world of space exploration. It is offered and distributed to students and science teachers at no cost. This project has gained widespread praise and generous support from the NASA community and various local and national science education organizations.

About Company

Using data from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), NASA contractor Jackson and Tull has developed a series of interactive computer packages to teach elementary school children about space. The same company that integrated and tested the HST First Servicing Mission hardware at Goddard Space Flight Center, Jackson and Tull used its expertise to develop this educational project, called PCs In Space. PCs In Space is currently a series of eight software modules: Exploring the Earth (grades 3 to 9): Exploring the Sun (grades 6 to 12): Exploring the Solar System (grades 3 to 9): Exploring the Universe (grades 6 to 12): Exploring the States (grades 3 to 9): Exploring North & South America (grades 3 to 9): STOCC (Space Telescope Operations Control Center): and the Hubble Space Telescope First Servicing Mission (grades 6 to 9). There are separate software packages for an IBM or clone or Apple PowerPC computer. The company's goal is to distribute these modules to elementary schools across the country free of charge. Conceived over two years ago, this series has already been tested in more than 50 schools across the District of Columbia and Maryland. Presently, over 50,000 sets of programs have been distributed to schools and universities nationwide. The response has been heartening. "It's great to see the smiles on these kids' faces, to know they're really having fun," said Tom Devlin, developer of PCs In Space and Director of Commercial Manufacturing for Jackson and Tull. "We're now getting inquiries from as far away as Israel," Devlin said. This simple educational tool, which combines core science curriculum with pictures from NASA, National Solar Observatory (NSO) and other sources, can be easily used by students and teachers. One goal of this educational software, in response to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Outreach program, is to help both children and adults become less intimidated by and more knowledgeable about NASA's space programs. The "Exploring the Sun" module has been reviewed by Dr. Richard Fisher and the Solar Physics Branch at Goddard Space Flight Center. "I know of nothing else like this in Solar Physics", said Dr. Fisher. "It's a breakthrough and stands alone as an educational tool for children to learn about the Sun." Children run the modules themselves and are reward by receiving points and learning about astronomy and science or math. In response to requests by students, scoring and timing capabilities have been added to the program. The software was developed and tested by Tom Devlin at the Space Camp at Bowie State University in Maryland in the summer of 1994. A minority-owned small business that played a crucial role in the First Servicing Mission, Jackson and Tull is especially interested in getting these modules into inner-city schools, where the need for space science education is greatest. "The response has been great," said Dr. John Wood, NASA Science Outreach Manager for HST. "The kids always have a lot of fun with it. It captivates the children's attention and leads them to learn the core science already in their curriculum. The visual images from HST make the learning much more interesting."