The Los Angeles Post

Boeing and Discovery Education Launch New FUTURE U. Program to Inspire Student Careers in Aerospace Technology

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Innovative Aerospace Technology Program Encourages Students to Innovate in STEM and Aerospace, Offers Immersive Exploration of 21st Century Space Travel
SILVER SPRING, Md., April 2, 2019 – Boeing and Discovery Education, the leading provider of standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms, today launched FUTURE U., a new innovative initiative to train the next generation of STEM professionals in aerospace exploration. The program will provide students with digitally immersive curriculum resources and experiences, including hands-on STEM activities, to help 6-12th grade students embrace their potential to make an impact on the future of aerospace.

The FUTURE U. program’s inaugural activation, Innovating the Future Virtual Field Trip, will premiere on April 9, 2019 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT and will transport students from inside the walls of their classrooms to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas where they will virtually engage with Boeing professionals who are writing the next chapter of human history in space. During the Virtual Field Trip, students will discover how these innovators employ various technologies like Extended Reality (XR) to prepare for the launch of the Starliner/CST-100 spacecraft and deployment of the Space Launch System (SLS). Educators, parents and students are welcomed to register for the virtual event here. Participants are encouraged to join @DiscoveryEd, @Boeing and other experts for a live Twitter chat during the premiere by submitting questions and sending pictures using #BoeingFUTUREU and #BoeingInspires.

“Boeing is committed to helping children and youth achieve their potential through educational enrichment, and we are proud to launch FUTURE U. in partnership with Discovery Education to inspire the next generation of leaders in aerospace,” said Vice President of Boeing Global Engagement John Blazey. “We believe in the power of problem-solving to help shape the world and this effort is central to equipping today’s students with tomorrow’s skills for advancing innovation.”

FUTURE U. resources are available at no-cost at boeingfutureu.com and within Discovery Education Streaming Plus, an award-winning comprehensive digital service supplementing instruction across all K-12 curricular areas. Discovery Education Streaming Plus empowers educators to create dynamic learning environments that mirror students’ use of technology outside the classroom.

This initiative also helps students explore aerospace technology through Virtual Field Trips, 360° videos, engagement of youth by Boeing employees, and hands-on standards-aligned STEM lessons guided by Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS: Math), and Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (CCSS: ELA).

Boeing and Discovery Education share the belief that early exposure to STEM is essential to providing all students with the equity and access needed to power their futures,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Discovery Education Lori McFarling. “FUTURE U. delivers classroom-to-career digital curriculum experiences that ignite young imaginations and inspire today’s students to explore their world through the wonders of STEM.”

FUTURE U. provides educators with the tools they need to inspire their students to use Discovery Education’s four C’s – Communication, Collaboration, Creativity and Critical Thinking – to embrace their potential and innovate for the future. FUTURE U. will connect young learners to digitally immersive STEM experiences that are designed to spark their curiosity and give them the confidence to seek out solutions that have the potential to positively impact the world.

“FUTURE U. will give educators and students the ability to experience a unique opportunity to navigate through the dynamics of aerospace from the classroom,” said Tiffany Mumm, artistic technology educator from Don Estridge High Tech Middle School in Boca Raton, Fla. “I look forward to connecting my students with real engineers through a transformative virtual experience that reinforces how STEM is an integral part of their future in the workforce.”

FUTURE U. resources are accessible for free at boeingfutureu.com and will be integrated into Discovery Education Streaming. For more information about Discovery Education’s digital content and professional development services, visit discoveryeducation.com. Stay connected with Discovery Education through social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest @DiscoveryEd.