Panther Education Center, Panther Racing, John Barnes, Jane Barnes, Municipal School District of Decatur Township, Don Stinson
thing.’ Not everyone is Tiger Woods or Michael
Jordan. They think everyone with the driver is
part of his entourage. It’s not that way. It’s a
family and everybody depends on everybody
else. We wanted to show this and build an
education program that is relevant to
education today.”
A three-hour field trip will immerse groups
in the excitement of the IndyCar Series
through an interactive educational and
entertainment experience that models how a
race team utilizes principles of science, math,
language arts and technology. Students will
become race engineers, mechanics, logistic
and financial planners and media and
communication specialists. Collaboration,
teamwork, communication and critical thinking
are essential in the performance of the teams.
“We want to make sure it has the sizzle,
because that’s what’s going to draw the kids
in,” says Jane Barnes, CEO of the Panther
Education Center. “There’s a big push in
education to do it differently than it’s been
done in the last 40 years in the industrial age
of education. There is a lot of hands-on,
interactive, inquiry-based, project-based
learning, and this falls right into it.”
Students enter an orientation room to
review the program and receive an overview of
how to interact with the computer software
before forming two teams that comprise
disciplines of:
“We want to
make sure
it has the
sizzle”
Jane Barnes
ENGINEERING
Students will use mathematics and physics
principles to test wing angles on computer
simulators. They will determine the best tire
settings using their understanding of
centripetal force and friction to create the car’s
setup. They also will collaborate with
mechanics to determine pit stop strategies,
calculate and monitor fuel needs, and track
weather conditions during the virtual race.
MECHANICS
After learning principles of aerodynamics,
Screen shots of
the Panther
Education Center
software show
what students
will be working
with
students use measuring devices and tools to
complete their assignment. They also
collaborate with engineers as they develop a
“build sheet” and serve as the pit crew during
the virtual race.
LOGISTICS AND FINANCIAL PLANNING
Students work within a budget to complete
tasks such as selecting a driver to designing the
race car. The travel coordinator will research
airline, hotel and rental car prices and
determine the most cost-effective travel plan
and budget. The team manager will map out
the best travel plan for the transporter and
budget equipment for the race.
COMMUNICATIONS
Students share information about the team,
driver and sponsors by creating multi-media
publications. They also conduct a live press
conference to introduce the driver and
provide interviews and commentary during
the virtual race.
Preparation culminates in the race room,
where students will watch a race simulation on
a large screen. Each team will have two pit
stops during which students will utilize what
they learned in their departments to improve
the car’s performance. Engineers will calculate
fuel mileage and mechanics will make frontwing
adjustments.
At the conclusion, everyone enters Victory
Circle for a commemorative photo.
“When a student can get involved and have
the experience with other students, good
things happen,” Stinson said. “If we truly
believe every child can learn and every child can
be successful in our school system, we have to
do business differently. (The Panther Education
Center) provides an information-age approach
to learning where students can be successful.”
The curriculum was developed by
decorated educators Sue Keene and Jon
Temple, who, for the past 15 months, have
been integrated into Panther Racing’s IndyCar
“When a
student
can get
involved,
good things
happen”
Don Stinson
Series and Indy Pro Series operations.
“They are the ones who give the merit and
value to it when it’s being examined as a viable
place to bring students,” says Jane Barnes.
“They have matched the curriculum with state
and national standards in science, technology,
engineering and math. They know what
makes it click.
“If it’s going to be successful, it has to be
something that is shown to have value. That
superintendents and teachers see the value
and are willing to spend what tiny budget
dollars there are now for field trips to the
Panther Education Center. This is something
that’s more engaging and, ‘Oh, I just learned
something, too.’
“I think we’ve all been at school at some
point in our lives and have just gotten through
a class thinking, ‘I just want to get this over
with. I will never use this again and not apply
it.’ I think being exposed to a program such as
the PEC will allow kids to think differently
about math and science and technology skills
that they may be learning now, but see little
relevant use for in real-life skills.”
MORE INFO Panther EC @
Forward thinking
IndyCarSeries 2007 winterspecial 37
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