AirSpace Minnesota and The Museum of Flight Announce Plans to Bring Aviation Learning Center (ALC) to Minnesota
The first duplication of the ALC will provide model for national replication
SEATTLE, June 4, 2013--AirSpace Minnesota and The Museum of Flight in Seattle have joined forces to create the first Museum of Flight Aviation Learning Center (ALC) outside of the museum. Doug King, Museum of Flight President and Dale Klapmeier, Co-founder and CEO of Cirrus Aircraft and Board Chair of AirSpace Minnesota, made the announcement of the new initiative.
"The art and science of flight hold a unique power to spark imaginations," said Klapmeier. "Young people need dreams that inspire confidence to master new skills and opportunities to see what's possible for their futures. The Airspace Minnesota ALC provides a unique, proven mechanism to address that need. We are actively exploring potential sites in the Twin Cities and hope to be serving students throughout the region within the next two years."
The Museum of Flight invested several years developing and testing the ALC, which opened in 2004. Using the highly successful Challenger Learning Center as a model, a team of 55 educators and subject-area experts created dynamic, hands-on investigations in science, math, technology and reading that ask students to think critically, test hypotheses and solve problems. The ALC includes a learning lab with computer-based workstations that present key concepts; a Hangar where students develop a flight plan, chart a short flight and perform a pre-flight safety inspection of an actual Cirrus SR20 aircraft; and a simulation bay in which they use advanced software to virtually navigate their pre-planned route.
"We are completing an ALC technology upgrade, making this the perfect time to demonstrate its impact in a new environment," said King. "From the beginning, our plan was to design an educational asset that could bring value to other communities. We believe it is ideal to do this for the first time in the home state of Cirrus, our educators' aircraft of choice, with a new organization like AirSpace Minnesota which has a fresh outlook."
The Museum of Flight serves more than 150,000 students each year with rigorously tested programs. In the case of the ALC, outside science and curriculum experts evaluated each component and designed the workstations to serve the academic and developmental needs of upper elementary, middle school and high school students. Educators receive pre- and post-visit learning materials that tie the "day of" experience to state and national learning standards and the technology system provides a detailed assessment of how each student performed.
In addition to launching the new partnership, Klapmeier also announced that Cirrus would donate an SR22 airplane for the AirSpace Minnesota Aviation Learning Center. "We are delighted to help bring more STEM education and career resources to the region where our company is based."
About AirSpace Minnesota
AirSpace Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2012 to chronicle Minnesota's great aviation and aerospace legacy, showcase today's innovators and equip new generations with the dreams and skills needed to navigate the future. Our work will educate learners of all ages about the value of skills and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. www.airspacemn.org
Access this and all other Museum of Flight news releases online at:
museumofflight.org/press/archives
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The independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, attracting more than 500,000 visitors annually. The Museum's collection includes more than 160 historically significant air- and spacecraft, the original manufacturing facility of The Boeing Co., and the world's only full-scale NASA Space Shuttle Trainer. The Museum's aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 100,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum's on-site and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Association of Museums, and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors 65 and older, $15 for active military, $10 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. McCormick & Schmick's Wings Café is on site. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org
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