Abstract
The purpose of this project was to determine if students would have an increased awareness and a more positive attitude toward the United States Space Program, if they were informed of the technologies and numerous spinoff products presently in use in our society. The students being tested were the members of the eighth grade class of Fulda High School, a rural school in southwestern Minnesota. The class of 2001 and the class of 2002 were studied. The students were surveyed prior to the teaching unit on NASA spinoffs, and then surveyed again using the same survey after the unit was presented. T-test analysis of results showed the increase in awareness between pre and post surveys was significant. However, t-test results showed a more positive attitude toward the program was significant only in the class of 2002. The slight increase in those with more positive attitudes was not significant in the class of 2001. Publicity of events such as the flooding in Minnesota at the time the unit was taught may have impacted students attitudes in the class of 2001.
