Dr. Michael Barnes
High School Reform Fellow
Year Honored: 1997
Rhode Island Department of EducationProvidence, RI
At the time of the Award, Dr. Michael Barnes was:
TeacherPonaganset High School
North Scituate, RI
Subject(s) taught:
Biographical Information
Because one of his strengths is systemic school reform, Dr. Michael Barnes is now working with the Rhode Island Department of Education as a High School Reform Fellow. Previously, Dr. Barnes served as the education department chairperson at Ponaganset High School in North Scituate, using science fiction to teach science fact. Students in his aerospace engineering classes worked collaboratively to develop a self-sustaining hypothetical Martian colony, using multimedia software to present their findings on such topics as life support, Mars Base construction methods and planetary geology. He also taught students how to build robots as well as how to use computers for drafting and design. Dr. Barnes's travels include a journey to Japan as a Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program scholar. There he saw firsthand how the Japanese combine business, governmental and educational practices to prepare their students for the next century.