Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1190776
the sand until it is "fluidized," and then they sink, demonstrating how liquefaction of soil occurs during earthquakes. • An acoustic levitator with sound waves projected from different angles. When the sound waves intersect, the high and low pres- sures suspend small pieces of plastic foam in the air. • A life-size game of Operation. "It's so exciting to see how hands-on learning has transformed science instruction," says Josh Phillips, 18. "When we come up with a bright idea, one of the Mr. Gibbs will just say, 'Build it.'" The Gibbs brothers have created more than 40 original NGSS science lessons so far for IVDZ, and are proud of the way it's changed science instruction within the district. The program has bridged elementary, middle and high school science lessons and increased teacher collaboration districtwide. It has also shown students possibilities that exist beyond Imperial Valley, where agriculture and prisons are the primary source of employment. "We started doing this six years ago," says Dennis. "And now we're starting to see a tsunami of critical thinkers along with increasing STEM literacy in our district. It's wonderful to see students excited about science." "We're starting to see a tsunami of critical thinkers along with increasing STEM literacy in our district. It's wonderful to see students excited about science." —Dennis Gibbs "It's important for students to see NASA present on campus so they can envision themselves there in the future. [It gives] them confidence in themselves." arm of NASA's National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, supporting scholarships, fellowships and traineeships for aerospace- related education, plus faculty training. It nominated COD, which has a Hispanic enrollment of nearly 70 percent, to participate in NASA On Campus. Creating an oasis of scientific excellence at COD did not happen overnight. Since 2015, staff have been mentoring students to pro- gram microcontrollers. Students presented their projects at Arm- strong Flight Research Center and USC School of Engineering. "Every year students did better, developing more complex projects, ranging from low-cost incubators to 3-D printers and satellite prototypes," says Perez. "They even created a car that could be moved literally with thoughts. I know this sounds crazy, but it worked. Our students' achieve- ments led to a recommendation for the NASA pilot project. It's an amaz- ing success story." Perez, a COD professor since 2011, is a success story himself. Born in Mexico, he moved to America at 12 without being able to speak a word of English. He received his associate degree in math and philosophy from COD and transferred to UC Riverside, where he received his bachelor's and mas- ter's in pure mathematics. His high school science teacher cooked breakfast for him on a Bunsen burner and paid for his AP chemistry exam because his parents couldn't afford it. Her kindness moti- vated him to become a teacher so he could help others. Perez's students are grateful for the opportunity to reach for the stars. "It's one of the greatest experi- ences I've ever had in my life," one student wrote on a survey after the project. "This program gives you all the information you need to succeed in a STEM career." Jorge Perez, center, with students, faculty and NASA representatives. 23 D E C E M B E R 2 019 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0