OSGC Educational Resources Blog

Join NASA and NSTA for a series of free Web seminars focusing on a wide range of topics. All Web seminars will include information and resources for educators available from NASA Web sites. During the live Web seminars, presenters will share their expertise and answer questions live from the participants.

Mapping the Moon: Simulating LOLA in the Classroom

Join NASA and NSTA for a Web seminar focusing on the topics of lunar exploration, mapping, remote sensing, and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. LRO will launch in late 2008 with these objectives: to find safe landing sites for future manned lunar missions, to locate potential resources, to characterize the radiation environment and to demonstrate new technology. Designed for educators of grades 4-12, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT on May 13, 2008.  http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/NASA-Mapping/webseminar.aspx

Robotic Exploration of the Red Planet

Join Greg Mehall, instrument manager, systems engineer and mission manager for multiple robotic missions to Mars, as he shares his expertise in systems engineering. Mehall will give participants a “behind-the-scenes” look at what it takes to build complex robots, like the twin rovers that are still driving across the surface of Mars. Designed for educators of grades 5-12, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT on May 14, 2008.  http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/JPL2/webseminar12.aspx

21st Century Explorer: Today’s Knowledge for Tomorrow’s Explorer

Join NASA and NSTA for a Web seminar focusing on the 21st Century Explorer project. Each of the 21st Century Explorer project activities promotes higher-order thinking skills and expands the space exploration knowledge base of the bilingual educator, learner and family. Designed for educators of grades 3-5, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT on May 15, 2008.  http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/NASA-Explorers/webseminar.aspx

From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students’ Interests in Science Careers

Join scientists and education specialists from Sally Ride Science for a free Web seminar focusing on the wide variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers available and the many paths to becoming a scientist. The presenters will share their science expertise, answer participant questions, and provide information regarding Web sites students can use in the classroom. Designed for educators of grades 6-9, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT on May 20, 2008.  http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/SRS/webseminar.aspx

Polar Science, Global Discoveries: IPY Research Update for Teachers

Join NASA, NSTA, the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for a Web seminar celebrating the International Polar Year. The seminar will focus on global climate change and the research findings from the first year of IPY. Topics will include living systems, plants, humans, animals, adaptation, carbon cycle, air, water, migration and weather. Designed for educators of grades 5-8, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT on May 22, 2008.  http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/boston08/IPY-Boston/webseminar.aspx

Mars Exploration Rovers: Where Are They Now?

Join Dr. Steve Ruff of Arizona State University as he presents an update on the Mars Exploration Rovers, including a description of an important new discovery by the Spirit rover in the Gusev crater concerning water and habitability on Mars. Dr. Ruff will also talk about initial results from the proposed May 25th landing of the Phoenix mission and describe future Mars exploration plans. Designed for educators of grades 5-12, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT on June 5, 2008.  http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/JPL2/webseminar13.aspx

LIGO Hanford Observatory in Richland, WA will offer another in a series of technical seminars at 4:00 PM on Thursday, May 8 in the LIGO auditorium. Vanessa Lauberg of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Maryland will speak on “Induced Mergers of Stellar-Mass Black Hole Binaries in Galactic Nuclei.” Stellar-mass black hole binaries represent a promising source of gravitational waves for the LIGO detectors. This talk will focus on the physics of black hole systems in galactic centers. LIGO Seminars are open to all scientists, engineers, educators and students who may wish to attend.

Abstract: http://www.ligo-wa.caltech.edu/seminars.html
Driving directions to LIGO: http://www.ligo-wa.caltech.edu/traveler.html
May 10 Astronomy Day event: http://www.ligo-wa.caltech.edu/astro_day_08.html

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

Join NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association for three, free Web seminars on the topic of the International Polar Year. Designed for educators of grades 5-8, the seminars will focus on land and marine adaptations to extreme conditions, species migration, and the role of humans in polar ecosystems. 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 funded by 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 Dec. 30, 2007, Jan. 17 and Jan. 24, 2008. 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_Birmingham/webseminar.aspx

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

Join NASA and NSTA for two free Web seminars featuring scientists and education specialists from NASA. Designed for educators of grades 4-9, the seminars will focus on the biological and physical aspects of humans living and working in space as NASA completes the International Space Station, returns a human presence to the moon and looks forward to Mars and beyond. The presenters will share their scientific 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 Oct. 30 and Nov. 6, 2007. Each seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

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

Registration is open for two, free Web Seminars featuring scientists and education specialists from NASA. 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 science and science education expertise, answer questions from the participants, and provide information regarding web sites that students can use in the classroom. These Web Seminars are designed for educators of grades K-6. Seminars are scheduled for November 20 and December 12, 2007.

http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall07/NASA_Denver/webseminar.aspx

Registration is open for two, free Web Seminars featuring scientists and education specialists from NASA. The seminars will focus on the biological and physical aspects of humans living and working in space as NASA completes the International Space Station, returns a human presence on the moon and looks forward to Mars and beyond. The presenters will share their science expertise, answer questions from the participants, and provide information regarding web sites that students can use in the classroom. These Web Seminars, designed for educators of grades 4-9, are scheduled for October 30 and November 6, 2007.

http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall07/NASA_Detroit/webseminar.aspx