National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration 

NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL STEM ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE 

NextGen STEM Update 

BEV GIRTEN AND DIANE DETROYE Dec. 4, 2018 
 

 

 

 

 

NEXTGEN STEM CHANGES INITIATED IN FY2018 

• Revamped approach for Informal Solicitation 

• Focus on two Agency themes 

• Required involvement of affiliate networks of partners to expand reach 

• Initiated proof-of-concept pilot activities 

• Focus on two themes above plus an additional Agency theme 

• Aligned to evidence-based education strategies 

• Work assigned based on Center skills and capabilities 

• Sunsetting SEAP activities no longer in alignment with new approach to 

STEM Engagement 

• Insuring systematic process to capture performance, key 

accomplishments, and findings 

THEMES 

• Small Steps to Giant Leaps: 

Looking to the Future of NASA 

Aeronautics Innovation 

• Moon to Mars: Human 

Exploration Beyond Low Earth 

Orbit 

• Development of Commercial 

Crew Program Capabilities 
 

NEXTGEN STEM PILOT ACTIVITIES 

• Suite of evidence-based pilot activities to engage middle school 

students in mission content 

• Sustained Engagement experiences with Authentic Content 

(Citizen Science, Design Challenges) 

• Hand’s on Inquiry Based Experiences 

• Interaction with Digital Resources and Social Media 

• Educator Support Materials 

• Partner Driven Collaborations for Implementation 

• Leverage existing Agency STEM Engagement resources 

Design Approach 

Identify Components Work closely Audience Beta 

Agency Development with subject- Testing 

Content Based on matter-experts 

Priorities Research 

Review Results 

and Refine 

Approach 
 

 

 

NEXTGEN STEM PILOT ACTIVITY 1 

Small Steps to

Giant Leaps:

A focus on the Future of NASA 

Aeronautics Innovation 

Quiet Supersonic Flight– X-59 

QueSST 

Lead Center: Armstrong 

Teaming Centers: Glenn, Langley 

Sustained

STEM

Engagement

Experiences 

Supporting STEM

Engagement

Activities 

Professional

Development Modules 

Digital Media

Development 

Culminating Events 

•Citizen Science 

Challenge 

•Student Activities 

•Virtual Connections 

•Student Digital Badges 

•F2F EPD 

•SME SATERN 

Course 

•EPDC Webinars 

•Digital Badging 

•Social Media Posts 

•Educational Videos 

•Galveston, TX 

“Booming”

•Citizen Science 

Showcase 
 

 

 

NEXTGEN STEM PILOT ACTIVITY 2 

Sustained

STEM

Engagement

Experiences 

•Engineering Design 

Challenges

•Coding Opportunity 

Supporting STEM

Engagement

Activities 

•New and refreshed 

STEM content for K12 

•Incorporates reading 

and writing

•Student Digital 

Badges 

Professional

Development Modules 

•Teachers guides

•Virtual and 

experiential

opportunities

•EPDC Webinars 

•Digital Badging 

Digital Media

Development 

•CCP App

•New VR content 

•Virtual field trips with 

access to NASA and 

partner facilities 

Culminating Events •2019 Crew Launches 

Developing 

Commercial Crew 

Program Capabilities 

A Focus on Human Spaceflight to 

Space Station with our Commercial 

Partners 

Lead Center: Kennedy 

Teaming Centers: Johnson, Langley 
 

 

 

NEXTGEN STEM PILOT ACTIVITY 3 

Sustained

STEM

Engagement

Experiences 

•Mobile App 

Visualization 

Challenge

•Student Launch 

Supporting STEM

Engagement

Activities 

•Student Activities 

•Student Digital 

Badges 

Professional

Development Modules 

•EPDC Webinars 

•Digital Badging 

Digital Media

Development 

•Social Media 

•Educational Videos 

Culminating Events 

•SLS-4 & AA2 Tests 

•Student Challenge 

Showcases 

Moon to Mars: 

A Focus on Transportation 

Systems for Moon to Mars 

Missions 

Lead Center: Johnson 

Teaming Centers: Marshall, Stennis, Langley