BlackboardFlorida High Event Opens Windows For Students Around The World
On February 22, 2007, Ninth-graders at Florida High on Thursday learned about space exploration from a real astronaut and got to share their experience with other students around the globe.
They took part in the fourth annual Megaconference Jr., 2007 version, an international videoconferencing event put together by teachers Cathy McQuone and Linda Jones with Susan Borland of the Challenger Learning Center in downtown Tallahassee.
The highlight of the Megaconference was a personal visit by Norman Thagard, who flew on five space missions in his career as a medical doctor, pilot, engineer and astronaut.
Thagard, who's retired as an astronaut but serves as associate dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and executive director of the Challenger Learning Center, told about life as an astronaut.
"Probably one of you kids sitting in this classroom right now will be the first human on Mars," Thagard said. "It is absolutely clear that if you don't set goals for yourself and do what it takes to attain them, you will never be able to do what you want."
~Marci Elliott (Education Reporter), Tallahassee Democrat, February 23th, 2007
Contact Marci Elliott: (850) 599-2382 or melliott@tallahassee.com
Full Story (Tallahassee Democrat)
"A World of Education"
The students were participating in Megaconference Jr., a daylong event Feb. 22nd that allowed elementary, middle and high school students from around the world to make presentations and interact in real time on the Internet.
"My students are thrilled," said Cathy McQuone, a ninth-grade science teacher in Tallahassee, Fla., whose class presented "Students Journey Into Space With Astronaut Norm Thagard."
To prepare their presentation, Mrs. McQuone's ninth-graders from Florida State University High School visited the nearby Challenger Learning Center, a nonprofit organization aimed at fostering interest in math, science and technology.
~Amy Fagan, The Washington Times, March 2nd, 2007
