TEACHERS LEARN TO USE SPACE LAB

Area teachers can bring the stars to their classroom this year since they can't yet take their students into space.

With help from StarLab, a portable planetarium, area teachers will be able to present lessons on astronomy, constellations, biology and even mythology.

More than 100 teachers in Southeast Missouri attended the Stars and Beyond Project training sessions this summer at Southeast Missouri State University. The planetarium project is part of the Linda Godwin Center for Science and Mathematics Education at the university.

The final training program began Monday, with representatives from NASA joining the teachers. John C. Lowerison, an aerospace education specialist from NASA, often visits classrooms to coordinate presentations like StarLab.

Because of its expense and technical components only trained teachers can rent the StarLab from the university.

Deborah Jones jumped at the chance to learn about the lab after she saw it at Franklin Elementary School, where she is a special education aide.

"I saw how excited the kids were over it," she said.

Michelle Campbell of Belleville realizes that teachers have to take advantage of teaching tools like StarLab.

"You have to use something to grab the kids attention and keep it, and then make the lesson interesting so they'll remember it," she said.

As part of the training program, each teacher had to complete a lesson plan using the lab. Some of the lessons will be available at the SkyLab Web site, which can be accessed through the Godwin Centers address.

Teachers can use the lab to study everything from stars to seasons. Interchangeable projection cylinders are used inside the inflatable dome. The cylinders present images of a night sky, constellations, deep space objects, celestial coordinates, cell biology and African and American Indian, African and Chinese mythology. Sounds are projected through microphones.

The university plans to add more cylinders, which range from $400 to $600 each.

Because the inflatable dome and its technical components require special training, it is sometimes cumbersome to use. But Laura Meyer, a junior at the university, has enough training that she can take the lab to a school and help set it up for classroom use.

"The main problem right now is transportation," she said. The unit is heavy and bulky to move frequently.

But that hasn't stopped any teachers from learning how to use it.

"Everyone seems very excited about this project," said Dr. Ernest L. Kern, director of the Godwin Center.