Teacher completes space class

Monday, July 23, 2001 | 8:53 a.m.

Mary Shane of Eldorado High School recently completed the space-discovery graduate course, "Astronomy Principles for the Classroom and Lifelong Learners," held July 16-20 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Space Discovery courses conducted by the Space Foundation are designed to help kindergarten through 12th grade educators prepare students for the global workforce.

During "Astronomy Principles for the Classroom and Lifelong Learners," educators focused on NASA's Enterprise for Space Science. The course included historical and future astronomical studies and theories -- such as black holes, wormholes, and time-travel -- star hopping, identifying objects of the night sky, hands-on experiences with telescopes, and the physics of space.

The lead instructor for the course was Dr. Greg Vogt. Other course presenters included Col. Dan Yinger, USAFA; Shelley Bonus, Mt. Wilson Observatory; Thomas Bisque, Software Bisque; Dr. Gary Coulter, Colorado State University; Dr. Delores Knipp, USAFA Physics Department; Linder Winter, Education Consultant; Lt. Col. M. Geoff McHarg, USAFA Physics Department; Dr. Richard Cook, USAFA Physics Department; and Kyndra Hill, Space Foundation Director of Education Programs.

Space Discovery courses are open to all elementary and secondary educators, and all participants are eligible for a $150 NASA fellowship. Register online (/www.spacefoundation.org) or by calling the Space Foundation at (800) 691-4000.