Making STEM Connections

The National STEM Academy Educator Resource Center (ERC), formally the NASA RERC, features STEM resources and materials and the STEM Educator Workshop Series at no cost, and hosts the Annual GA STEM Conference.  The ERC offers professional development opportunities for Pre K – 12 in-service, pre-service, homeschool and informal educators, Altitudes Internships for college students, the Georgia STEM Teachers of the Year Award, and STEM Resource and classroom kits are available for check-out.

Professional Development Options

Educator Workshop Series

Professional Development Workshops for All Educators

Free hands-on, workshops for Pre K – 12 in-service, pre-service, homeschool and informal educators making STEM connections.

Please use the form below to register for workshops.  Check back often as workshops will be added throughout the year.

Professional Development at Your Location

Can be scheduled for schools and organizations.

The Educator Resource Center staff can make arrangements to conduct in-service and pre-service professional development opportunities on-site at your school or location. Virtual professional development opportunities are also available.

To schedule a program at your location or virtually, fees, and/or more information please complete the contact form below.

Artifacts, Collections, and Curation Virtual Program (College Students)

This live virtual field trip takes adults and college students on a behind the scenes trip through our collections and curation process.  Students studying for museum and curator degrees will get a live look at how the Museum of Aviation chooses, acquires, stores, and exhibits its artifacts and aircraft.  Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and, if time permits, will receive a tour of an area of the museum.
Click To Learn More

Lending Library

The Educator Resource Center’s Lending Library offers resources and items to use and/or check out.  Items are available to all pre K – 12 in-service, pre-service, homeschool and informal educators free of charge.

Items available for check out are:

  • Reference Books
  • Educator Guides & Lesson Plans
  • STEM Activity Kits
  • Classroom Sets of Novels, Thesaurus’, etc.
  • Equipment & Supplies
  • Study Guides for High School and College Exams
  • DVD’s
  • CD-ROMS
  • and more…

Curriculum areas covered include Aviation, Aeronautics, Astronomy, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Geography, Life Sciences, Meteorology, Physical Science, Physics, and more. These materials are available to educators free of charge.

Items for use inside the Library:

  • Computers for Research
  • Di-Cut Machine with many templates
  • Notebook Binding Machine
  • Disc Duplicator
  • Quiet Workspaces
  • Conference Areas
  • and more…

Materials Available

  • NASA Fact Sheets & Educational Briefs
  • Activity Books & Pamphlets
  • Colorful Posters & Lithographs
View Inventory

Due to COVID-19, hours are varied.  Please use the contact form below to contact us and schedule a time to use the library or check out materials!

Digital Resources and Content

Click the button below to visit our Education Resources page.  The page is full of lesson plans, videos, websites to visit, resource guides, and more!  All content is free and open for use.

Digital Resources

Internships & Volunteers

Internships and volunteer opportunities are available at the National STEM Academy in different disciplines and subjects, not just teaching.

If you or someone you know is interested, contact us using the form below for open opportunities!

Cool Careers

This program highlights cool career opportunities to raise awareness for workforce development.

Each program will include a live presentation from a National STEM Academy instructor and a live STEM demonstration.

The Cool Careers program is available to students in grades 6-12 and can be scheduled at the Museum of Aviation, “On the Go” at your location, or virtually.

Fee: FREE

Minimum: 50 students to schedule.  Please group multiple classes in one large group.  Program is not available for multiple 30 minute sessions per day.

Maximum:  There is no maximum number of students.  For large groups, an auditorium or cafeteria with microphone and speakers available is recommended.

Time: Lasts approx. 30 minutes

Please use the contact form below to schedule or learn more.

GA STEM Conference

The GA STEM Conference is an annual conference For PreK-12 In-Service, Pre-Service, Home School & Informal Educators.

  • Infuse STEM Education into your classroom!
  • Inspire and engage your students with new resources & challenges!
  • Receive STEM resources!
  • Network with Educators!
Click Here to Learn More

STEM Teachers of the Year

Since 2012, the National STEM Academy at the Museum of Aviation has been proud to recognize Georgia STEM Teachers of the Year with the Jane Shirley McGee Award.

  • Designed to honor teachers who are actively engaging students in authentic hands-on activities in all areas of STEM Education
  • Open to all K – 12th Grade Certified Teachers and Teaching Teams throughout Georgia
Click Here to Learn More

Archived Virtual Workshops

Virtual ERC Professional Development Workshops can be found on our Education Resources and YouTube pages!

Click Here for Education Resources
Click Here for the YouTube Page

“Explore and discover. Learn and teach. Build and share. It’s what NASA and teachers and parents do.”

BARBARA MORGAN, EDUCATOR ASTRONAUT, MISSIONS SPECIALIST ON STS-118

See what teachers and educators have to say about the Educator Resource Center!

“I have been very pleased with all of the instructors and the workshops. I have learned a lot that I have been able to immediately take back to the classroom.” -Dawn Hardy, Houston County Teacher

“The classes are awesome!” -Kimberly Barkmeyer, Teacher

“I loved the ways to break the concepts down in the classroom.” -Johnny Moore, Bibb County Teacher