STRATOSTAR BLOG
STEM Education vs. Traditional Models
In a previous post, we talked about how STEM education fits the mold of today’s student and how, because of this, STEM education is often more effective than traditional teaching models for engaging students with the course material. Students today engage and interact...
StratoStar Weather Balloon Project – Noblesville Schools
StratoStar is excited to be working with Noblesville teacher, Andrew Wilkins to bring a STEM learning project to his aerospace engineering class. We had a blast working with Mr. Wilkins and appreciate the opportunity to be a part of both missions. Mr. Wilkins...
Cool Technology: Looking at Liquid Robotics’ Wave Glider
All over, people are exploring the ins and outs of the world, studying and learning everything they can about our world and how it works. Today, that study and exploration has extended to include the entire universe. As technology advances, our studies advance and, as...
How 3D Printers Will Impact Our World
At StratoStar, we are in awe of some of the amazing things science and technology discovers and innovates. Some really cool things are happening right now, and we can’t help ourselves: we’re just too interested. The latest thing that has really caught our attention is...
Minnesota Twins Weather Balloon Launch – Part 3
In our last two blog posts, we wrote about a launch during a Minnesota Twins game, honoring Bob Cabana, Director of the Kennedy Space Center, and kicking off Minnesota Aerospace and Aviation Week, and even took it a little behind the scenes. We love the exposure to...
Minnesota Twins Weather Balloon Launch – Part 2
In our last post, we talked about the preparation work behind a special balloon launch conducted by students and Dr. James Flaten at a Minnesota Twins game, kicking off the Minnesota Aerospace and Aviation Week and honoring Bob Cabana, Director of Kennedy Space...
Minnesota Twins Weather Balloon Launch – Part 1
It’s no secret that we love high-altitude balloons and the science that can be explored with them. So when we see places around the country exposing high altitude balloon technology to large crowds at really popular events, we get pretty excited about it. One of...
Secret STEM Lives of the Founding Fathers – Benjamin Franklin
This is the third part in the blog series “The Secret Stem Lives Of The Founding Fathers” focusing on the incredible hands-on STEM projects that led to some pretty widely used inventions today. (Part 1: George Washington & Part 2: Thomas Jefferson) Part 3:...
Secret STEM Lives of the Founding Fathers: Thomas Jefferson
This is the second part in the blog series “The Secret Stem Lives Of The Founding Fathers” focusing on the incredible hands-on STEM projects that led to some widely used inventions today. (Part 1: George Washington) Part 2: Thomas Jefferson Inventions Washington,...
Secret STEM Lives of the Founding Father George Washington
Washington, Jefferson, Franklin. All of these men are known as some of greatest contributors towards the birth of the United States of America. But, these men are more the just founding fathers; they are also innovators in other fields aside from politics and...
Red Bull Stratos for Students
The year was 1960, and Col. Joseph Kittinger sprang forth from his capsule at 102,800 feet, creating a record distance freefall. Joe fell through earth's atmosphere at incredible speeds during a time when people had no idea whether or not a person could survive a fall...
Indiana Space Complex Launch
StratoStar was invited to help Students and Teachers honor Astronaut Gus Grissom by launching a Scientific High-Altitude Balloon to the edge of space at the kick off of the Indiana Space Complex. We will be sharing more about this event and the adventure later this...
Water Bears at the Edge of Space
Tardigrades, otherwise known as water bears or moss piglets, have long been a part of all kinds of experiments at the edge of space and beyond. Why? Because time and time again, they are sent unprotected to the vacuum of space and return perfectly healthy! On Earth,...
Food Students Launch to the Edge of Space
I loved a lot of things about being a student. Getting to meet new teachers and learn from them was always great, and I loved it when I was put into a class with one of my friends. The best part of school, however, was always lunchtime. It seems that no matter what...
Alien Bacteria Discovered Above
Scientists have recently discovered what may be strands of alien bacteria in the upper atmosphere. The alien bacteria found have absolutely no resemblance to anything on this planet, making the discovery one of great importance. While it is not certain exactly where...
Five Reasons AGAINST the Flipped Classroom
In our last post "Five Reasons FOR the Flipped Classroom", we talked about the advantages of this teaching method and in this post we will now share the disadvantages. Teachers are finding ups and downs for this new, upside-down, model. StratoStar works with...
Five Reasons FOR the “Flipped” Classroom
Over the years StratoStar has developed materials for Educators to engage students with hands-on project based STEM activities utilizing high-altitude ballooning missions. We have try to keep up with the latest trends used by teachers to engage students in learning. ...
Adding “A” to STEM
At StratoStar, we do a lot of work with STEM classes. In case you don't know, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Lately, there's been a lot of discussion about adding Art to STEM curriculum (effectively making the acronym STEAM). There's a lot...
Tablets Aren’t Teachers – The Problem With a Touch-Screen Education
As we've observed recently, a major trend for schools and educators is to embrace the rapidly developing tablet environment and educational applications for these interactive platforms in lieu of hands-on project based learning. Apple and other manufacturers offer...
Cool Videos From Edge of Space – Part 1
High altitude balloons aren't just for education. Sending a balloon to the edge of space is a very powerful image by itself, and incorporating everyday items can create a sense of exploration that is very moving. Even with all of the advancements made by NASA, the...
A Daredevil, High Altitude Balloon, and NASA
There's real and useful science behind high altitude balloons. From weather research to the development of NASA's human space program, the technology that StratoStar makes available to Educators on the front lines of research methodology, education pedegogy and has...
School’s Journey to the Edge of Space: Part 3 – Flight Video
This is our last post in the series about the Indian Valley high-altitude weather balloon launch to the edge of space. You've already met the school, the teachers, and some of the students involved (Part 1) and you've read about what the students learned from the...
Indian Valley School Weather Balloon Launch Day
This is the second of three blog posts about the Indian Valley high altitude balloon launch. You can find the first one, where we introduced the school, here “School’s Journey to the Edge of Space : Part 1 – Meet the School” On weather balloon launch day, severe...
Indian Valley Weather Balloon Project – Meet the School
Indian Valley Middle School is in Enon, Ohio, just east of Dayton. We’re dedicating a short series of three blog posts to this weather balloon project, to document exactly how StratoStar helps educators Educate, Explore, and Engage students with project-based learning...