Recently, CAP's STEM Kit Program released a new STEM Kit, 30 Days Lost in Space (pictured). The new addition is an electronics kit that teaches all the basics of programming, wiring and more. Find out more in this newsletter.
This new kit was one of the many topics covered in the first virtual National AEO School, streamed live June 4-5. Over 400 CAP members registered for the event, and the attendee feedback has been outstanding. The attendees learned how to increase their skills as AEOs in their squadrons.
Beginning July 1, AEOs who were not registered for the virtual conference will have access to the recordings. (The course is available to AEOs only). Find out how to view and receive credit for the 2021 National AEO School with step-by-step instructions in this letter.
Our member stories this month highlight members from New Jersey and Tennessee Wings. If you know of other inspiring member stories, we hope you will reach out to us at ae@capnhq.gov.
THIS MONTH: Member stories - Program updates - Events - AE Safety Check - Curriculum - Important things to know
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PROGRAM UPDATES
STEM Kit Program offers new cyber kit
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The newest addition to the CAP STEM Kit program is the 30 Days Lost in Space STEM Kit -- an electronics kit that teaches all the basics of programming, wiring and more using the Arduino IDE software and the components inside the kit. The story takes place on a foreign planet, where your spaceship has crash-landed at the bottom of the ocean. Your goal is to fix your spaceship and make it home successfully by learning the necessary programming/wiring skills you need to do so. NOTE: Not included, but needed for this kit, is a laptop or computer to program the HERO board and an internet connection to access the challenge. Read more at the link below.
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2021 NATIONAL AEROSPACE EDUCATION OFFICER SCHOOL
The 18th annual National AEO School, the first virtual National AEO School, was livestreamed June 4 and 5. On July 1, the AEO School 2021 course will also be available for those not registered for the live event. You must enroll in this course through AXIS/LMS to have access. Here are the enrollment and credit instructions:
2) This will take you to our Learning Management System Page (LMS). You can also access this page by logging into your account in eServices, then click Menu > Online Learning > Learning Management System.
3) Click the "Go To AXIS" button at the top of the page. This will take you to our new AXIS/LMS portal. If you have not logged in before, there may be some prompts to complete.
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4) Once in the new AXIS/LMS portal, you should have tiles or "courses" to choose from. If you are not already enrolled in the "AEO School 2021" Online Training, you will need to add/register for it:
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5) Click on "Start" under "AEO School 2021." Please note that this button will change to "Continue" after you have logged in at least one time to the course.
6) This will open a new page like the one below:
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7) Click each tab to find the resources related to that specific topic: |
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8) You now have access to all the resources related to National AEO School.
HOW TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE COURSE
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In order to receive credit for the school, complete the AEO School Evaluation and Course of Completion Acknowledgement under the Evaluation Tab in the AEO School 2021 Course in AXIS/LMS.
- Be sure to select “Close” at the bottom of the screen after submitting your evaluation for AXIS/LMS to recognize you have completed the evaluation.
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Once the AEO School Evaluation and Course of Completion Acknowledgement have been submitted, you will automatically receive credit under training in eServices for completing the course.
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Completing the AEO School Evaluation and Course of Completion Acknowledgement will log the course as complete causing it to be removed from your main course list.
- The course and all resources can still be accessed and will be shown in your Completed Courses.
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(Welcome to AE Safety Check! These safety nuggets are things to think about as you lead or participate in an Aerospace Education activity. The writer of this monthly feature is Lt. Col. Karen Cooper, who works in safety and risk management on the AE National Headquarters Staff and is also the Northeast Region Assistant DCS/Aerospace Education.)
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ALWAYS TAKE A SECOND LOOK
"But that’s the way we have always done it!" How often have you heard that said? With respect to safety, this is not a good thing to say. Just because you did it that way before is no reason to think that it is a perfect fit this time. Take the time – give it a second look. Is it really safe? Has anything changed since the last time? Are you using something in a different way (it may react differently if you use it differently)? Were there any problems last time that you address now to make it safer?
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If you have a safety topic you would like to be included in this space, please email kcooper@ner.cap.gov.
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AEO STORY
Numerous outreach efforts of New Jersey Wing
Director of Aerospace Education make big impact
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Meet Lt. Col. Michael Castania, the New Jersey Wing Director of Aerospace Education (DAE). In 1996, he became interested in CAP when he read an article about CAP's assistance with the National Transportation Safety Board following a local plane crash. At the time, he was a high school teacher as well as a pilot. He is a licensed FAA private pilot (single engine land and gliders) and holds an sUAS Remote Pilot certification. In 2004, he created the first New Jersey Wing Glider Program. Why does he encourage youth in aerospace/STEM? "I see the look on their faces when I announce 'your aircraft' during orientation flights," he says, "and then seeing the look of pride and accomplishment on their faces as they receive their solo wings following our powered and glider academies." He also serves as AE external programs coordinator for the National Headquarters staff. His work with a number of New Jersey educational groups illustrates the benefits of CAP outreach. A retired high school theater teacher with a passion for aerospace education, he enjoys inspiring youth to have an enthusiasm for aerospace topics. Click below to read the full story. |
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"Seems to me that CAP is the perfect pathway to developing leadership skills and opening their eyes to career opportunities not yet dreamed."
-- Lt. Col. Michael Castania, New Jersey Wing DAE
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AEM STORY
Tennessee teacher, a former archaeologist, now
loves teaching in a different science field -- STEM
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Meet Amanda Callahan-Mims. The next school year will mark her fifth year as a teacher. Before becoming an educator, Ms. Mims (as her students call her) worked as a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA). She has worked as an archaeologist for the National Park Service, the William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research and at three former president’s homes (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe). As an archaeologist, she worked with elementary through college-aged students and found she enjoyed helping students understand new concepts and guiding them to "a-ha" moments. Now, she teaches at a Title I school in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she transformed the computer lab into a fully functioning STEM Lab complete with an Outdoor Classroom. "My students come from many diverse backgrounds, which are often underrepresented in STEM; therefore, I have made it my personal goal to single-handedly increase the number of racial and ethnic minorities, as well as women and children from low-income families who later pursue a career in STEM." Click the link below to read her full story. |
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"Spending all that time working on character and learning to work cooperatively truly fostered change and empathy in my students."
-- Amanda Callahan-Mims, Tennessee AEM, on using CAP's ACE Program
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CURRICULUM
Air-mazing Experiment
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In this lesson, students will illustrate the movement of air molecules and explain Bernoulli's principle. In the early 1700s, Daniel Bernoulli determined that faster moving air has a lower pressure than slower moving air. Students will learn how the differences in air pressure help an airplane's wings lift into the air. Then they will conduct a windbag experiment. The lesson is found as Academic Lesson #1 in the Grade 6 Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) Guide. Or click the link below to view the lesson. Click the Aerospace at Your Pace logo or the link below to view a video of the lesson. (Pictured: students at Carden Arbor View (California) School) |
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Each month, this space features important highlights or answers to frequently asked questions. Here are three things you need to know now as an AEM or AEO.
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You can update your eServices profile information. Here's how: |
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Sign into eServices and click on your name in the top right hand corner. Update your email address, mailing address, contact numbers, etc. This ensures you receive timely and pertinent information from CAP. If you are a teacher, ensure your primary email address is your home and your secondary email address is your school so that your annual renewal email and any other important information will not end up as spam in your school email account.
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AEMs: Is it time to renew your membership? |
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All Aerospace Education Members (AEMs) are offered an annual FREE “in-kind renewal." The online renewal email is sent 60 days prior to the membership expiration date. A renewal banner appears at the top of the eServices sign-in page 90 days prior to expiring. (You can’t renew earlier than 90 days.) Find additional information at the link below. Thinking that due to the pandemic you cannot participate in CAP’s AE programs? That may be partly true, but when we get back to “normal,” you will wish you kept your membership current, so do not let it expire!
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AEOs: Reach out to AEMs whose memberships expire soon |
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AEOs, this is the perfect time to reach out to your AEMs whose memberships expire within 60 days or whose memberships have expired. For more guidance, see Recruiting and Retention of AEMs on the AEO Resources page link below.
Please note: CAP has several categories of membership, but each member can only be assigned one category of membership. Any adult uniformed member, who is an educator, may access all the resources available to an AEM. And, we wish to encourage our AEMs to “hang on” until the end of the pandemic and continue renewing their membership. Once things are back to “normal,” they will be glad they did!
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Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education
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