OSGC Educational Resources Blog

The MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program is recruiting new Fellows for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 academic years. A cadre of about 30 Fellows will be selected to conduct teacher training workshops nationally for pre-K-12 educators. These workshops will introduce educators to educational materials related to the MESSENGER mission to Mercury.

Fellows will attend an all-expense-paid, five-day workshop in Washington, D.C. Fellows will also receive materials needed to conduct workshops and an annual allowance to cover workshop expenses.

Applications are due April 18, 2008.

For more information about the MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program and how to apply, visit http://btc.montana.edu/messenger/teachers/ao.php

Teachers with successful strategies for increasing student achievement are encouraged to apply for Teaching Ambassador Fellowship positions with the U.S. Department of Education for the 2008-2009 school year. Teachers will be chosen based upon their record of leadership, impact on student achievement, and potential for contribution to the field. All Fellows will complete a collaborative project to contribute to the field of education at the national level. They will be encouraged to work with their principals and with government liaisons throughout the year.

The program offers two tracks: Classroom and Washington Fellows

Classroom Fellows will serve their regular teaching contracts with their districts and will be paid to perform additional Fellowship duties for the Department of Education. As practicing classroom teachers, these Fellows will share an important perspective for — and will gain more knowledge about — education policy and program development. They will share their experiences with other Fellows and with the Department of Education at designated times throughout the year.

Washington Fellows will serve as full-time federal employees in Washington, D.C., from the summer of 2008 through June 2009. They will be placed in appropriate positions within the Department of Education to work on education program development and implementation. They will focus on using their previous classroom experience to contribute knowledge and insight to various Department of Education projects. They will spend the majority of their time working in Program Offices and collaborating with other Fellows. They will spend some time contributing their perspectives to policy discussions.

Applications for this program are due April 7, 2008.

For more information about this fellowship opportunity, visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/teacherfellowship/index.html

INSPIRE Summer Academy July 27 – August 1, 2008

Are you interested in learning how to develop innovative methods for integrating engineering thinking into your classroom?

The 2008 INSPIRE Summer Academy is a week long program for 2nd - 5th grade educator teams. The educator teams must comprise a minimum of six educators from as many as three buildings in the same school district/corporation. The teams can be created from across disciplines (e.g. math, science, technology, and language arts), and can include administrators as well as teachers.

At the end of the Summer Academy, teachers will be able to:
· Convey a broad perspective of the nature and practice of engineering
· Communicate the difference and similarities between engineering and science thinking
· Discuss what engineers do and how they solve problems with students
· Use engineering problem-solving process such as design and model development to engage students in realistic open-ended problem solving

In addition, each participating educator will receive a $750.00 stipend and the opportunity to obtain 3 graduate credit hours. Summer Academy participants traveling outside a 50 mile radius from Purdue University’s West Lafayette, Indiana campus will receive an on-campus housing/food allowance and a travel stipend of up to $400.00.

Download the application at: https://engineering.purdue.edu/INSPIRE
Application deadline is due May 1st, 2008
For more information contact Dan Somerville, dsomervi@purdue.edu

Join NASA and NSTA for three free Web seminars developed in collaboration with Arizona State University. The seminars will focus on NASA’s Mars Exploration program and will target educators of grades 5-12. All Web seminars will include information and resources for educators available at NASA websites. With diverse backgrounds and experience, the presenters are space scientists, engineers and education specialists from NASA and ASU. During the live Web seminar, presenters will share their expertise and answer questions live from the participants.

The Mars Student Imaging Project

Join Paige Graff from Arizona State University’s Mars Education Program as she presents a free Web seminar about the Mars Student Imaging Project. MSIP gives teams of students in grades 5-12 through college sophomore level the opportunity to work with scientists, mission planners, and educators on the THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) team at ASU’s Mars Space Flight Facility. Designed for educators of grades 5-12, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2008.

http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/JPL2/webseminar8.aspx

Exploring Mars with CRISM and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Join Dr. Scott Murchie as he presents a free Web seminar about the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars instrument that is currently aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft in orbit around planet Mars. The CRISM is one of NASA’s high-tech “detectives” seeking traces of past and present water on the Martian surface. Designed for educators of grades 5-12, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. on March 6, 2008.

http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/JPL2/webseminar9.aspx

Using Earth to Explore Mars

Join Dr. Josh Bandfield and Brian Grigsby from Arizona State University as they present a free Web seminar that will compare and contrast Earth and Mars. Topics will include comparing features common to both planets and how to help students become familiar with planetary processes and landforms by integrating non-Earth examples. A Mars mission update will also be included. Designed for educators of grades 5-12, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. on April 3, 2008.

http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/JPL2/webseminar10.aspx

Visit with NASA representatives at NAA’s 2008 annual conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., March 12-14, 2008. Afterschool educators can attend a variety of NASA sessions with hands-on activities designed for all grade levels. Plan to visit the NASA booth to obtain education materials and information on how NASA resources can be used in out-of-school-time programs.

For a list of scheduled NASA-related workshops and sessions, visit http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/natl-afterschool-assoc-08.html  .

NSTA Web Seminars are 90-minute, live professional development experiences that use online learning technologies to allow participants to interact with nationally acclaimed experts, NSTA Press authors, and scientists, engineers, and education specialists from NSTA government partners.

Educators use online tools that allow them to mark-up and annotate presenter’s slides or share desktop applications in addition to engaging in chat with others online and answering quizzes and poll questions. Seminars may be archived and available for viewing after the live event has occurred.

These seminars are free and open to the public. Please visit the NSTA website for semiar and registration details: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/webseminars.aspx

Current 2008 Web Seminar Schedule:

(2/28/0 NASA JPL: Inquire, Engage, and Explore: The Mars Student Imaging Project
(3/06/0 NASA JPL: Exploring Mars with CRISM and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
(3/11/0 NSDL: Under the Microscope: Using Images to Enhance Inquiry—the Exploratorium
(3/12/0 How to Maximize Your NSTA Conference Experience Tomorrow’s Explorer
(4/01/0 NSDL: It’s Alive: Using Online Life Science Resources in Middle School Classrooms
(4/03/0 NASA JPL: Using Earth to Explore Mars
(4/09/0 FDA: Teach Science Concepts and Inquiry with Food
(4/10/0 NOAA: Coral Ecosystems
(4/22/0 NASA: Mapping the Moon: Simulating LOLA in the Classroom
(4/24/0 NASA: 21st Century Explorer – Today’s Knowledge for Tomorrow’s Explorer
(4/30/0 SRS: From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students’ Interests in Science Careers
(5/01/0 IPY: Polar Science, Global Discoveries: IPY Research Update for Teachers
(5/06/0 FDA: Teach Science Concepts and Inquiry with Food
(5/08/0 NOAA: Coral Ecosystems
(5/13/0 NASA: Mapping the Moon: Simulating LOLA in the Classroom
(5/15/0 NASA: 21st Century Explorer – Today’s Knowledge for Tomorrow’s Explorer
(5/20/0 SRS: From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students’ Interests in Science Careers
(5/22/0 IPY: Polar Science, Global Discoveries: IPY Research Update for Teachers
(5/27/0 NSDL: Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears Series: Integrating Science and Literacy for the K-5 Classroom, Seminar 1: Polar Geography
(6/12/0 NSDL: Enlightening Experiences with Energy

The educational video clips listed below have been added to the Videos section of the NASA Educational Materials site. Click on the link below each list of video clips to access the videos online.

From the Living and Working in Space series, astronauts on the space shuttle compare living on Earth to living in space in these videos targeting students in grades K-4. Titles in this series:

– Gravity on Earth Versus Gravity in Space: What’s the Difference?
– Living Aboard a Space Shuttle, a Home Away From Home
– A Day Aboard the Space Shuttle

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Gravity_on_Earth_Versus.html

Designed for students in grades 5-8, the Assignment Spacelab series shows how the unique microgravity environment of Earth orbit is used for scientific experiments and how the rules of scientific experimentation and safety that apply to research on Earth also apply to astronauts in space. Titles in this series:

– Why Controlled Experiments Are Important on Earth and in Space
– The Process of Forming a Hypothesis
– Using the General Purpose Work Station in Space
– Identifying, Labeling, and Measuring for Experiment Safety

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Why_Controlled_Experiments.html

Targeting students in grades 9-12, the Flight Testing Newton’s Laws NASA Education Series shows how Newton’s three laws of motion and advanced mathematics apply to the real world of flight testing an aircraft. Titles in this series:

– Introduction to Newton’s Three Laws, Lesson 1
– The Law of Inertia: Newton’s First Law
– Force Equals Mass Times Acceleration: Newton’s Second Law
– The Law of Action and Reaction: Newton’s Third Law
– Weight and Balance, Lesson 2
– Lift and Rate of Change of Momentum, Lesson 3
– Drag, Lesson 4
– Thrust, Lesson 5
– Take Off, Lesson 6
– Climb and Descent, Lesson 7
– Cruise, Lesson 8
– Landing, Lesson 9
– The Landing: Approach
– The Landing: Flare
– The Landing: Rollout
– The Landing: Summary

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Introduction_to_Newtons_Laws.html

Relive the first moon landing with Flight of Apollo 11 (The Eagle Has Landed) series of video clips. For students in grades 5-12, this series uses footage and photos from the 1969 adventure to give an overview of the historic event. Titles in this series:

– Historical Quotations About Space Exploration
– July 11, 1969: Apollo 11 Lifts Off
– Lunar Module in Space
– Astronauts Work Aboard the Lunar Module
– Destination: The Moon
– Astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin Arrive on the Moon
– Leaving the Moon, Eagle Heads for Columbia
– Mission Ends Safety, Astronauts Head for Debriefing
– Mission Complete: Review and Evaluation

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Historical_Quotations.html

The Center for Astronomy Education announces a series of educator workshops for astronomy educators. Advanced workshops are available for participants who have taken part in previous CAE workshops.

The Teaching Excellence Workshops focus on learning how to create productive learner-centered teaching environments for college-level introductory astronomy classes. Participants will achieve this through reviewing research on the nature of teaching and learning; setting course goals and objectives; and using interactive lectures, peer instruction, engaging demonstrations, collaborative groups, lecture-tutorials, ranking tasks, and online homework systems. These workshops culminate with participants learning how to implement these teaching strategies into effective learning sequences for the learner-centered classroom.

One-day Regional Teaching Exchanges are also available. The Regional Exchanges bring past workshop participants, as well as those local to a particular region who were not able to participate in a past workshop, the opportunity to network with their local community of instructors.

Jan. 6-7, 2008 — Austin, Texas
Improving the College Introductory Astronomy Survey Course for Non-Science Majors Through Active Learning: A Tier I (Introductory) Workshop

Mar. 1-2, 2008 — Orange, Calif.
Advanced Strategies for Creating a Learner-Centered Introductory College Astronomy Course: A Tier II (Advanced) Workshop

Mar. 14-15, 2008 — Berkeley, Calif.
Improving the College Introductory Astronomy Survey Course for Non-Science Majors Through Active Learning: A Tier I (Introductory) Workshop for Future Instructors

Apr. 12-13, 2008 — Jamestown, N.C.
Improving the College Introductory Astronomy Survey Course for Non-Science Majors Through Active Learning: A Tier I (Introductory) Workshop

Apr. 12, 2008 — Kalamazoo, Mich.
NASA CAE Great Lakes Regional Teaching Exchange

May 31-June 1, 2008 — St. Louis, Mo.
Improving the College Introductory Astronomy Survey Course for Non-Science Majors Through Active Learning: A Tier I (Introductory) Workshop

July/August/Sept. (Dates to be Determined) — Cleveland, Ohio
Improving the College Introductory Astronomy Survey Course for Non-Science Majors Through Active Learning: A Tier I (Introductory) Workshop

For more information and to register for workshops online, visit
http://astronomy101.jpl.nasa.gov/workshops/index.cfm

IPY/NSTA Web Seminars — The Role of Polar Regions in Earth’s Changing Climate System

Join NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association for two free Web seminars on the topic of the International Polar Year. The seminars are designed for educators of grades 5-8. The sessions will focus on the interaction of polar regions with Earth’s climate system, atmospheric gas changes over Earth’s history, what ice cores tell about past climate, and the implications of climate change in the polar regions. The presenters will share their expertise, answer questions from the participants and provide information regarding Web sites that students can use in the classroom.

The Web seminars are 90-minute, live professional development sessions that use online learning technologies to allow participants to interact with nationally acclaimed experts, scientists, engineers and education specialists from NASA, NOAA, and NSF. Each Web seminar is a unique, stand-alone program. Archives of the Web seminars and the presenters’ presentations will be available online.

The Web seminars in this series are scheduled for Nov. 27 and Dec. 13, 2007. Each seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

Online registration for each is now open.
http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall07/IPY_Denver/webseminar.aspx

NASA/NSTA Web Seminars — Inquiry in Science and Mathematics Education: Parents as Partners

Join NASA and NSTA for two, free Web seminars featuring scientists and education specialists from NASA. Designed for educators of grades K-6, the seminars will focus on how educators can better engage parents and enlist their support for inquiry-based science and mathematics education. The presenters will share their expertise, answer questions from the participants and provide information regarding Web sites that students can use in the classroom.

The Web seminars are 90-minute, live professional development sessions that use online learning technologies to allow participants to interact with nationally acclaimed experts, scientists, engineers and education specialists from NASA. Each Web seminar is a unique, stand-alone program. Archives of the Web seminars and the presenters’ PowerPoint presentations will be available online.

The Web seminars in this series are scheduled for Nov. 20 and Dec. 12, 2007. Each seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

Online registration for each is now open.
http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall07/NASA_Denver/webseminar.aspx