spaceTEAMS
spaceTEAMS and spaceTEAMS Summer Camp 2006 is a local effort of collaboration
between Academia, Government and Industry to establish a k-12 Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) pipeline for our regional students.
It is the spaceTEAMS intent to show how the Spring 2006 middle school BotBall™
pilot/prototype effort is a positive step in the right direction. In terms of providing an
educational tool to our students at an early age, that may facilitate consideration by these
young minds to consider alternative career paths, they many not normally have considered or
even have access to consider the opportunity of a STEM-related career.
The principals of spaceTEAMS conceived of the idea; considering the following factors,
which are not all inclusive or exclusive:
 | San Antonio’s technological heritage and foundation | |
| NASA’s 2004 RFI for a “Virtual Space Academy” concept and model | |
| US’ declining global stature as a scientific, engineering and innovative powerhouse | |
| Augmentation of and supplemental to education system | |
| Hands-on application of STEM and Design (Art) techniques to facilitate learning- by- | |
| doing and constructiveness education | ||
| Provide an avenue of “opportunity” and discovery for LSES students related to STEM | |
| education and careers | ||
| Engage female students of all social strata interest in the sciences as an option | |
| Create a K-PhD pipeline of students to feed ALL of San Antonio’s high tech | |
| workforce clusters, such as Aerospace, bio-science/healthcare, manufacturing and information technology | ||
| Create a “pull-through” mechanism for all students to STEM-related careers | |
| Have working model in place when NASA requires assistance | |
| Bring NASA and space program back to San Antonio where those resident | |
| capabilities still exist | ||
| Build on and collaborate with existing High School level robotics programs currently | |
| underway in San Antonio | ||
| Completion of middle school pilot/prototype project (done; March 11, 2006) | |
| Bring in K-5 students via EARLY or similar program | |
| spaceTEAMS completes the K-12 STEM workforce education pipeline | |
| Connect/Bridge San Antonio’s 96 year technology, science and innovative history to | |
| the 21st century and beyond | ||
| Celebrate the “Entrepreneurial Spirit” that is San Antonio – Mavericks All | |
| spaceTEAMS is designed to comply with emerging grant opportunities from NASA, | |
| NSF, DOL, DOE, and industry | ||
| spaceTEAMS conceived to be leading, dynamic edge with foundation in our | |
| technological past and focus on our expanding future | ||
| spaceTEAMS conceived as evolving, dynamic, continuous extra-curricular program |
| spaceTEAMS conceived as career exploration vehicle for our next generation of | |
| learners. |
Finally, “spaceTEAMS can return San Antonio to the path of human development and space
exploration making it possible that the first person to walk on Mars will be from San Antonio,
Texas.”
spaceTEAMS Academy is conceived as a Science, Technology, Engineering &
Mathematics “summer or space camp” for students in 2006, with a heavy robotics foundation.
However, spaceTEAMS Academy as conceived is an umbrella STEM institute. The purpose
behind spaceTEAMS initially, is to serve as a Workforce Development effort focusing, on
Lower Socio-Economic Status (LSES) and female students, regardless of status, generating
interest among students in pursuing careers in San Antonio’s targeted high-technology cluster
industries; such as Aerospace, Information Technology, Bio-Science/Healthcare and
Manufacturing.
Authors:
Jim Brazell, Consulting Analyst, Northwest Vista College, spaceTEAMS co-
founder
Veronica Ordaz Collazo, Ph.D. Social Services Manager, City of San Antonio
Department of Community Initiatives
Sean W. Dooley, VP The Schriever Institute, Program Coordinator/Project
Director, spaceTEAMS co-founder
Andrew Schuetze, Science Teacher, Edgewood Independent School District
(EISD) and Robotics Subject Matter EXPERT
Gloria G. Valle, Director of Career& Technology Education and Business
Partnerships, EISD, Guerra Development Center
Colleen Arrey, Director of Alternative Programs, Northwest Vista College, co-
founder/organizing entity
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