Supercomputing academy provides new skills for teachers

Sponsored by the Mississippi State\National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Computational Field Simulation, the academy was launched with a two-week intensive seminar during the summer.

That training is being followed during the school year with in-school projects designed to introduce students to the capabilities of supercomputing, according to Dr. Jerry Rogers, electrical engineering professor and education director for the ERC.

"Teachers in the program this year can take a new understanding of computers into the classroom," he said. "And in subsequent academies, they will serve as resources for other teachers who participate."

The academy's goal, he said, is to introduce teachers to resources that can stimulate math and science education in schools.

Following their summer training, teachers are working with students in their home schools to develop a potential SuperQuest project. "This is a science competition sponsored by the National Science Foundation through Cornell University," Rogers explained.

Mississippi State is providing a mentor to work with student groups on their projects.

The first academy was conducted by Dr. John Zeibarth at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. Future academies will move to the Mississippi State campus, Rogers said.