Rocket science for high school students. This may sound like a strange, if not unbelievable type of program that is offered to high schools around the United States including local Waco schools like A.J. Moore Academy, McGregor High School and Waco High School, but it exists. It is called IGNITE.
IGNITE is a non-profit organization that trains teachers to educate high school students based on a curriculum that IGNITE develops. This curriculum is called SystemsGo Aero science.
IGNITE has a board of directors that consists of educators, retired military men and other professionals in the technology industry.
The mission statement of SystemsGo Aero science is “to enhance education for better workforce development and to ignite tomorrow’s innovators.” After all, the next generations after the leaders of today are the future leaders of tomorrow.
The SystemsGo program began in 1996 in Fredericksburg High School of Fredericksburg, Texas. Brett Williams, who began the program there, also helped develop IGNITE’S SystemsGo method of instruction.
This method of instruction for both participating students and their teachers, as indicated on the Web site, is:
“..Uses problem-solving and project-based learning to stimulate skills in design, development, testing, analysis, and innovation. IGNITE’S training prepares teachers to guide students in developing critical thinking, problem solving, testing, and analysis of skills necessary to complete year-long projects,”
Basically, the students conduct rocket-building projects based on the method of instruction with the aid of their teachers for fields of study such as aero science.
Students who have participated in the program (80% to be exact) have gone on to study Engineering in college and have taken jobs at places like NASA and United Space Alliance.
The program offers junior and senior students to participate. Schools interested in participating in the program must download an application on the Web site.
For more information, visit the Web site for IGNITE, http://www.igniteeducation.org.
