A Busy Second Week

I have had a very busy week! I cannot believe it is already Friday! On Wednesday, I finished the online Constructivism Workshop I have been working on.  Yesterday I got my picture taken in a flight suit! It was super windy outside so my hair is probably either covering my face or sticking straight up in the picture, but it was a fun experience anyway.  Yesterday I also went to a lunch with some of the other interns and I got to hear about the types of things they have been doing for the past two weeks.  It was really interesting because everyone is doing something unique and different.  I had an appointment at the badge office, where I got my official badge for the summer.  The woman collecting my information and fingerprints bonded with me about country music.  She then told me that there are six different people working for NASA with my last name... kind of strange since my last name is not common.  Lastly, yesterday I watched another module being presented from Glenn Research Center in Ohio about asteroids! I definitely learned a lot.

After emailing one of the fabulous math teachers at my high school, Catherine (I am told I am supposed to call her by her first name now... feels weird!), she gave me more ideas for possible math modules.  I really enjoyed her ideas because she knows first-hand which particular topics students find least interesting in math classes she has taught.  One of her ideas is to relate different functions to real situations because students have a hard time applying math content.  So, I have been researching for a module concerning different functions and how those specific types of functions relate to NASA.  Soon, I will pick one of the modules I have been working on to develop further.

One of my favorite things about this internship is that as I research, I am not only learning about better ways to present information and connect math concepts to aerospace topics, but I am also gaining massive amounts of information about the universe and NASA missions.  It is incredibly interesting! At this rate I will be a walking encyclopedia of space knowledge by the end of the summer.

I am currently learning how to present one of the modules, Our Magnificent Sun.  Damon, an educator at Kennedy Space Center, kindly sent me a recording of himself presenting the same module, and he is generously giving me the opportunity join him in presenting it in July.  I am very excited for this experience! I have decided I will become a master of the Sun before I present in July, so last night I watched documentaries about the Sun on Netflix (nerd alert).

Fun fact I learned this week: The total weight of humans on Earth is the same as the total weight of ants on Earth!!!

The Sun!