Four students in Wichita State University’s College of Education were selected to attend the NASA Pre-Service Teachers Institute (PSTI) at Johnson Space Center in Houston this summer.

Robert Briley, Lara Dodson and Krystal Spangler, elementary education majors, and Aubrey Lyman, early childhood education major, along with other teacher education students from around the country, will learn to incorporate NASA’s cutting-edge research into science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) enrichment activities and lesson plans for elementary students.

The pre-service teachers will meet NASA personnel, tour Johnson Space Center facilities and increase their skills, resources and confidence in teaching STEM concepts to young children.

The resources provided are aligned with national education standards and are designed around NASA’s projects, missions, research and discoveries. Participants collaborate online before, during and after the institute and develop an online portfolio they can use in the classroom.

PSTI provides a stipend, travel reimbursement and lodging for those students selected to attend the summer institute.