The Space Lab: A Collaborative Project between Houston Community College (HCC), NASA, and the University of Houston on Creating Space-Related Learning Experiences in STEM Education and Building Connections between HCC STEM Curriculum and NASA Space Exploration Programs The Space Lab is a multidisciplinary lab proposed in order to:
⢠Build and foster HCCâs partnerships with NASA and universitiesâ space-related programs, bringing experiences in space exploration to HCC STEM classrooms and generating student interest in academic pathways and careers in STEM;
⢠Provide HCCâs STEM curriculum with NASA-related educational materials and activities developed by HCCâs science faculty in collaboration with NASA and the University of Houston (the UH);
⢠Educate HCC students about career opportunities in space exploration in Houston and in the surrounding areas.
The Space Labâs first project supported by this NASA TSGCâs grant includes the following components:
⢠Establishment of HCCâs partnerships with NASAâs Johnson Space Center and the University of Houston;
⢠Development of a set of inquiry-based learning activities connecting introductory astronomy curriculum with NASAâs Journey to Mars, with emphasis made on the resources provided by NASA and the University of Houston;
⢠Organization of HCCâs Seminar on Space Exploration for HCC and UH students and faculty;
⢠Development of online training materials for faculty members who teach HCCâs Astronomy courses and wish to incorporate learning activities developed in this project in the courses they teach;
⢠Integration of the developed set of the learning activities into HCCâs Introductory Astronomy Courses;
⢠Assessment of the developed set of learning activities and dissemination via the Online Space Lab among colleges and universities that offer similar introductory astronomy courses.
The inquiry-based learning activities developed through this project engage students in learning about Mars and the exploration of Mars by incorporating materials from past, present and future NASA missions to Mars.

The learning activities about NASAâs Journey to Mars also engage students in the exploration of various interdisciplinary links. They educate students about the role of physics and engineering in planning space flight to Mars; the role of astronomy and physics in the studies of space radiation and its effects on the design of NASAâs space missions; the role of astronomy, physics, geology, and biology in the scientific exploration of Mars; the role of physics, engineering, biology and life sciences in human exploration of Mars.

Presentations made at HCCâs Seminar on Space Exploration organized as part of this project further re-enforce what students learn about NASAâs space missions from these learning activities. The Seminarâs speakers from NASAâs JSC, Rice University and the University of Houston also tell HCC students about space-related careers they can pursue after earning STEM academic degrees.

The results of the project are further used to verify the feasibility of the Space Lab and to promote the development of new space exploration-related educational projects that involve HCC, the University of Houston and other higher education institutions, NASA and space industry.