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Kerbal Space Program - Weekly Space Flight Simulator Challenges To Better Understand Rocket Science 10-14yo (Prerequisite Required)

Friends meet to brainstorm and prepare to tackle KSP challenges! Rocket Science * Astronaut * Orbit * Orbital Mechanics * Astrodynamics * Aliens * SpaceX * NASA * Gaming * Social * Spaceship * Flight Simulator * Mars * Moon * Planets * Elon #builder #academic
Teacher Tom Bickmore
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(241)
Star Educator
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Class
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What's included

1 live meeting
1 in-class hours per week
Homework
2-4 hours per week. During the week, tackle the challenge that we came up with and brainstormed together!

Class Experience

US Grade 5 - 8
Teacher Tom was featured as a top educator on Outschool's EPIC Spotlight for Passion-Driven Learning in 2021!

PREREQUISITE FOR THIS CLASS: Your learner must have Kerbal Space Program 1 or 2 (Discount link available for KSP 1 below), know how to play Kerbal Space Program, be able to achieve a steady orbit using maneuver nodes, & understand what this means. If your learner does not have the prerequisite for this class please contact the teacher before enrolling and you will be provided with helpful tutorial links. 

Parents or the Learner must message the teacher confirming that they meet the prerequisites (above) as soon as they enroll to avoid being removed from the class. Learners should not enroll without easily meeting these prerequisites. 

Note: This class does not "teach" Kerbal Space Program, but instead, familiarizes Rocket Science principles using Kerbal Space Program. The teaching is informal and the learners will have so much fun that they may not realize how much they are actually learning! Learners who take my Kerbal Space Program class and my Current Events in Space Technology and Rocket Launches class at the same time tend to progess faster than the average student. 

Come Explore the Wonders of Space, and the Joy of Rocket Science as you discuss Kerbal Space Program together with your friends! New learners are welcome anytime! This class runs year-round. 

***REQUIRED MATERIAL WILL TAKE TIME TO INSTALL/BECOME ORIENTED WITH. PLEASE SEE LEARNER SUPPLY LIST***

In this weekly class, we will challenge each other to exercise our creativity, research, and construction skills, while we learn together about the science behind how Rockets, Orbital Mechanics/Astrodynamics all work together. (Both inside the game, and in real life!) Learners should be able to read independently.

Structure:

1- Learners can share what they have been working on in KSP throughout the week.
2 - As a class, we will decide on a challenge to work on during the upcoming week between classes, and begin discussing possible ways to achieve it.
3 - We will then discuss challenges that may be faced in the game while working on this challenge.
4 - We will also discuss possible real-world applications for this challenge, some of the challenges that might be faced, and the science behind it all.

Each week's challenge will be chosen by the learners together in class. Challenges can be anything from landing on certain planets, building space stations, or creating a specific kind of rocket in your own way. Learners will have varying experiences with KSP so they can add or adjust their own personal mission to suit their abilities. We often collaborate on a project together with learners completing their assignments outside of class and uploading the files to the classroom for the teacher to combine into one big project.

This class is a "meeting of the minds" discussion group, where just like real rocket scientists and their supporting teams, we meet often to plan out our next project/challenge and proactively plan, re-plan, troubleshoot, brainstorm, support, and collaborate.

If there is time left over at the end of our brainstorming sessions, learners are welcome to start on their challenges.

About Kerbal Space Program (KSP):
KSP is a rocket simulation program used by rocket scientists and gamers alike. Not only is it loads of fun, but it teaches many things about rocketry & space that are hard to learn outside of a real-time simulation like this.

It started as just a video game, but parts of it were built by NASA & the ESA, and many very successful rocket & space professionals still play it, while designing and flying real rockets. 

"In KSP, you must build space-worthy craft, capable of flying your crew out into space, without killing them. At your disposal is a collection of parts, which must be assembled to create a functional ship. Each part has its own function and will affect the way a ship flies (or doesn't). So strap yourself in, and get ready to try some Rocket Science! The game has different game modes, you can play the Career Mode if you want to expand and manage your own Space Center, taking on missions and researching new technologies. Or you can play Sandbox mode if you're only interested in flying and discovering the Kerbal universe without restrictions. There is even a mid point between these two, Science mode."

Here are some examples of people who regularly play KSP:
-Elon Musk [Founder & Chief Engineer of SpaceX, Tesla, & more] -Claims it is his favorite game, by far.
-Tory Bruno [CEO of United Launch Alliance] -Regularly mentions it on Twitter, and sometimes shares pictures of his creations.
-Peter Beck [CEO & Chief Engineer of Rocket Lab]
-Scott Kelly [NASA Astronaut who spent 520 days in space] -Used KSP to teach people about Orbital Mechanics.

(See below under "learner supply list" for where to purchase KSP with a non-affiliated discounted link provided)

Here are some links to my other Space & Rocket classes:


Current Events in Space Technology & Rocket Launches - https://outschool.com/classes/current-events-in-space-technology-and-rocket-launches-as-they-happen-10-14yo-I3eftMte?usid=8VOYFMNV&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

I also offer these classes to 8-10 & 14-18 age groups as well as classes in 1:1 STEM tutoring, Ham Radio, Finish Carpentry, Tools, Antarctic Exploration, Book Clubs, Lego Challenges, & more! Please see my Teacher Profile for more classes and follow me to be notified when more classes are posted!
Learning Goals
Students will not only stretch their creativity, research, and construction skills, but we will together be learning the science behind how Rockets, Orbital Mechanics, and Astrodynamics all work together. (Both inside the game, and in real life!)
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
PREREQUISITE FOR THIS CLASS: Your learner must have Kerbal Space Program or 2, (Discount link available) know how to play Kerbal Space Program, be able to achieve a steady orbit using maneuver nodes, & understand what this means. If your learner does not have the prerequisite for this class please contact the teacher before enrolling and you will be provided with helpful tutorial links. Parents or the Learner must message the teacher confirming that they meet the prerequisites (above) as soon as they enroll to avoid being removed from the class. Learners should not enroll without easily meeting these prerequisites. Learners should be able to read independently.
Supply List
Must have "Kerbal Space Program" installed on a computer or game console capable of playing it.

(For Computer system requirements, see https://www.kerbalspaceprogram.com/product/kerbal-space-program-steam/)
(For discounted purchase of the game for download via Steam, check out https://www.g2a.com/kerbal-space-program-steam-key-global-i10000014989005 [Teacher not affiliated, it's just a good deal I found])
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
    Joined November, 2020
    5.0
    241reviews
    Star Educator
    Popular
    Profile
    Teacher expertise and credentials
    Teacher Tom is a designated STAR educator on Outschool. Star educators are top rated, experienced, and highly responsive, with classes that meet Outschool's quality learning standards. Tom is also an ACE Educator and was previously featured as a top educator on Outschool's EPIC Spotlight for being a Passion-Driven Educator.
    
    Tom's students have become analog astronauts, sent experiments to space, won NASA contests, and have named professional rocket launches. Being involved in the space industry starts now, not when you are an adult!
    
    Some of Tom's greatest passions are Rocket Science and Space and he would love to share these with your learners. Tom's popular Current Events in Space Technology and Rocket launches class keeps learners up to date on the Space Race and has been successfully and enthusiastically running on Outschool for over 2 years! Tom offers several great classes for your future Rocket Scientist & most ongoing classes run all year round!
    
    Tom has learned a great deal from being raised in a family of scientists, with his "ahead of her time" grandmother being a nuclear chemist who worked on several highly classified projects. Tom is also carrying on the legacy of his brilliant grandfather who trained servicemen to use radio and radar at various Navy training facilities when not overseas during WW2, as well as being a chief engineer for commercial radio stations, & having a 108 ft Ham Radio tower in his back yard. Tom has been a licensed Ham Radio operator for over a decade. Tom is an electronics whiz who has built his own functioning Ham Radio equipment and towers. Tom is excited to share his passion for Ham Radio with you through his knowledge and skills and prepare you to pass the ham radio test and obtain your very own ham radio license. (No age requirement for obtaining a ham radio license)
    
    Tom is also a career finish carpenter with meticulous attention to detail who specializes in high-end finish carpentry. Tom has supervised full home builds from the ground up to completion. Lately, Tom's projects include building several escape rooms as well as restoring historic museums. If you would like to learn the tips and tricks of the trade, tune in to Tom's carpentry classes!
    
    Tom has extensive experience teaching, leading, and mentoring youth and is anxious to inspire the young people who attend his classes. He is a "human Google" so bring all of your questions to class with you and don't be afraid to ask them!
    
    You will find Tom to be an engaging and intelligent teacher, armed with an abundance of dad jokes and witty comments.

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    Live Group Class
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    $25

    weekly
    1x per week
    60 min

    Completed by 188 learners
    Live video meetings
    Ages: 10-14
    4-9 learners per class

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