Terri Sindelar
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                             
September 3, 1993
(Phone:  202/358-1977)

Charles Redmond
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
(Phone:  202/358-1757)


RELEASE:  93-158

NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES LAUNCHED

   Today NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin, U.S. Senator Robert 
C. Byrd and U.S. Representative Alan B. Mollohan participated in a 
ceremonial ground-breaking for two NASA projects with national 
potential at the Wheeling Jesuit College, Wheeling, W.Va.  The two 
programs are the Classroom of the Future and the National 
Technology Transfer Center (NTTC).

Classroom of the Future

   The Classroom of the Future is a leading-edge, educational 
technology initiative to improve the quality of science, 
mathematics and technology education nationwide. It is a 
'laboratory' to develop stimulating, interactive multimedia 
curriculum materials and model pre-service and in-service teacher 
education programs. 

   Today's students - the MTV generation - are technologically 
sophisticated and accustomed to dynamic, interactive recreation, 
entertainment and learning.  These new curricula will actively 
engage students and teachers in real world applications using NASA 
research data and technology tools while offering new ways to 
study mathematics, science and technology.  

   The research, development and evaluation of these multimedia 
materials support the National Education Goals and apply 
challenging standards in science, mathematics and technology 
subjects.  These curricula will be available to teachers 
nationwide at a nominal fee.



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   The Classroom of the Future will include computer interaction 
facilities, a Challenger Center flight simulator, video and 
software development and testing facilities, a "hands-on" 
discovery center, state-of-the-art science laboratories, a NASA 
Teacher Resource Center and satellite uplink and downlink 
capabilities that will transmit interactive distance-learning 
programs throughout the nation.  

   The new 48,000 square-foot Classroom of the Future is scheduled 
to be completed in the Fall of 1994.  Project employees currently 
are working in a temporary location, developing pilot educational 
technology products for NASA.  

   The Classroom of the Future initiative is a hallmark for NASA 
and expands the agency's numerous programs to help promote 
excellence in America's education system.  

National Technology Transfer Center

   The National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) operates a 
national gateway service that assists U.S. firms in rapidly 
locating federal laboratory technology and provides the associated 
technology transfer assistance.

   The NTTC gateway service, which began in October 1992, 
currently handles between 200 to 300 technical inquiries from 
industry per month.  Other key NTTC activities include technology 
transfer training and education services, outreach to industry to 
promote federal technology transfer and initiatives to stimulate 
private/public technology partnerships with federal labs and to 
further develop the national network.

   Other participants in the ground breaking ceremony included 
Rev. Thomas S. Aker, S.J., President of Wheeling Jesuit College; 
Dr. Donald Hofreuter, Chairman of the Wheeling Jesuit College 
Board of Directors; Lee W. Rivers, Executive Director of the 
National Technology Transfer Center; Dr. Dan Miller, Director of 
the Classroom of the Future; and Frank Owens, Director of NASA's 
Education Division.  
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