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

The U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative has opened registration for its free summer workshops. Each workshop will target specific grade levels and content areas. A number of workshops will be held across the country. Registration for the workshops is currently open and space is limited. For more information and to register online, visit the links below.

June 18-19, 2008: Denver, Colo.

The U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Mint are sponsoring a free Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative workshop at the Colorado History Museum in Denver, Colo. This workshop provides opportunities to learn reading and history strategies from prominent teachers and district officials who will share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their schools and classrooms. Tours of the U.S. Mint building will also be offered. https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/EventInfo.asp?EventID=76  

June 25-26, 2008: Nashua, N.H.

The U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Aviation Administration are sponsoring a free Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative workshop at Daniel Webster College in Nashua, N.H. This workshop provides opportunities to learn mathematics, science and reading strategies from prominent teachers and district officials who will share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their schools and classrooms. https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/EventInfo.asp?EventID=77

July 9-10, 2008: Lower Manhattan

The U.S. Department of Education and the National Park Service are sponsoring a free Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative workshop in Lower Manhattan in New York City at the site of the African Burial Ground Memorial. This workshop provides opportunities to learn reading, history and science strategies from prominent teachers and district officials who will share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their schools and classrooms. https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/EventInfo.asp?EventID=84

July 10-11, 2008: Newport News, Va.

The U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Energy are sponsoring a free Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative workshop at the Jefferson Lab in Newport News, Va. This workshop provides opportunities to learn math, science and reading strategies from prominent teachers and district officials who will share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their schools and classrooms. https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/EventInfo.asp?EventID=81

July 15-16, 2008: Fort Worth, Texas

The U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Aviation Administration are sponsoring a free Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative workshop at the Tarrant County Community College Northwest Campus in Fort Worth, Texas. This workshop provides opportunities to learn math and science strategies from prominent teachers and district officials who will share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their schools and classrooms. https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/EventInfo.asp?EventID=90

July 17-18, 2008: New Orleans, La.

The Office of Charter Schools at the U.S. Department of Education is sponsoring a free Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative workshop at the University of New Orleans in New Orleans, La. This workshop provides opportunities to learn reading, science and math strategies from prominent teachers and district officials who will share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their schools and classrooms. https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/EventInfo.asp?EventID=85  

July 22-23, 2008: Washington, D.C.

The Office of Charter Schools at the U.S. Department of Education are sponsoring a free Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative workshop at the Carlos Rosario Public Charter School and Career Center in Washington, D.C. This workshop provides opportunities to learn reading, science, history and math strategies from prominent teachers and district officials who will share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their schools and classrooms. https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/EventInfo.asp?EventID=86  

Aug. 4-5, 2008: Lakewood, Wash.

The U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Defense Education Activity is sponsoring a free Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative workshop at the Lakeview Hope Academy in Lakewood, Wash. This workshop provides opportunities to learn reading, math and science strategies from prominent teachers and district officials who will share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their schools and classrooms. https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/EventInfo.asp?EventID=89  

Aug. 7-8, 2008: Philadelphia, Pa.

The U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Mint are hosting a free Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative workshop at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pa. This workshop provides opportunities to learn reading and history strategies from prominent teachers and district officials who will share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their schools and classrooms. Tours of the U.S. Mint will also be offered. https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/EventInfo.asp?EventID=82

Aug. 11-12, 2008: 29 Palms, Calif.

The U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Defense Education Activity are sponsoring a free Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative workshop on the Marine Corps Base in Twentynine Palms, Calif. This workshop provides opportunities to learn reading and math strategies from prominent teachers and district officials who will share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their schools and classrooms. https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/EventInfo.asp?EventID=88  

Aug. 13-14, 2008: Los Angeles, Calif.

The Office of Charter Schools at the U.S. Department of Education and the California Charter Schools Association are sponsoring a free Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative workshop at the Pacific Palisades Charter High School in Pacific Palisades, Calif. This workshop provides opportunities to learn reading, science, history and math strategies from prominent teachers and district officials who will share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their schools and classrooms. https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/EventInfo.asp?EventID=87

Topic: Enrichment Problems in Space Science VI

In the seventh bi-monthly installment of these mission- and inquiry-oriented mathematics problems, Dr. Sten Odenwald will supply background for and lead participants through problems from his “Problems in Space Science” series. The goal of these problems is to teach students about space weather by using mathematics. Each problem begins with real world questions, missions and situations, and applies the necessary mathematics for a solution. Participants may ask questions and work along in this fully interactive Webinar environment. http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov

Date: Friday, April 25, 2008
Time: 3:00 p.m., EDT (Greenwich Mean Time -04:00, New York)
Participants must first register for this meeting. There is no cost for this event.

Note: Only the first 40 registrants will be accepted. Register ASAP! If this meeting is full, you will receive an e-mail that reads:”Your registration for this meeting is denied.” In that case, we ask you to please join us in the next workshop! If you do miss this event, we will send you the link to a video archive of the workshop so you will still be able to benefit from the exercises.

Please join the meeting 10-15 minutes before start to make sure your computer is prepared to run the Webex software. You may also pre-install the Webex plug-in following the instructions at the bottom of this post.

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Where to register for this meeting

1. Go to https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/j.php?ED=101077912&RG=1&UID=0
2. Register for the meeting.

Once the host approves your request, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with instructions for joining the meeting.

For assistance

1. Go to https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/mc
2. Click “Assistance”.
3. Click “Support”.

Want to know more about global climate change?
What: Global Climate Change Institute for Teachers: Elementary
Where: Western Oregon University
When: Three dates to choose from
Friday, July 11, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Time: 8:30-4 pm
Cost: FREE! Includes snacks and lunch. (charges apply if taking the class for one graduate credit or if you choose to stay overnight in university housing)

What to expect:

• Gain an understanding of what global climate change is and how it will impact the Pacific Northwest
• Explore ways your school and students can initiate changes to reduce your school’s carbon footprint.
• Learn how Global Climate change curriculum connects with national and state science standards
• Participate in lessons and hands-on activities suitable for use in k-5 classrooms
• Receive copies of the lessons along with supplies to take with you
• Examine children’s books that can be integrated with the global climate change curriculum
• Possible follow up school visit and assistance from GIFT staff during the 2008-09 school year

Limit: 24 elementary teachers each day
For more information contact: Dr. William Schoenfeld or Dr. Adele Schepige at gccift@wou.edu

NSTA Issues National Call for Entries for the 2008–2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy

On April 1, NSTA announced a call for entries for the 2008–2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. Cofounded by the Amgen Foundation, the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy is a fellowship program created to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence and improve teacher content knowledge. NSTA Fellows selected for the program will receive a comprehensive membership package, online mentoring with trained mentors who teach in the same discipline, and the opportunity to participate in a variety of web-based professional development activities, including web seminars. In addition, each NSTA Fellow will receive financial support to attend and participate in NSTA’s 2009 National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans. This year’s 150 new science teachers supported by the Amgen Foundation will be named Amgen-NSTA Fellows.

Science teachers located throughout the country who will be entering their second or third year of teaching and whose schedule is a minimum of 51 percent middle or high school science, can apply to the become an NSTA Fellow. For more information about the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy or to learn how to apply to become a fellow, please visit www.nsta.org/academy.

Applications must be submitted no later than May 23, 2008, to be considered.

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

PENN STATE SCIENCE WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS 2008
Stipend Notification: March 21, 2008
Application Deadline: May 31, 2008

Choose from six different content area workshops designed to meet classroom curriculum requirements. Keep pace with the latest science research, engage in standards-based classroom activities, and explore ways to make science fun as you work side by side with Penn State faculty.

Grants, sponsored in part by NASA, provide all participants with a private room in the newly built Brill Hall, reimbursements for travel costs up to $100, breakfast in the dining commons, and an allotment for lunches and dinners. In addition, tuition subsidies are available for ALL of the workshops on a competitive basis. Depending upon funding availability, additional tuition subsidies may be provided after March 21. Sign up today and find out why most of our teachers come back to take additional courses in our series!

2008 course titles:

• Exploring Renewable Energy Technologies and the Materials that Make it Happen (NEW)
• Earth’s History: Interaction Between Life and the Environment (NEW)
• Extreme Particle Astrophysics
• Evolution - How important is it to a good science education?
• Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomical Inquiry (NEW)
• Black Holes: Gravity’s Fatal Attraction (NEW)

For more information and the on-line application, visit http://teachscience.psu.edu . If you have questions about this opportunity, please e-mail Leah Bug at teachscience@psu.edu .

John Ensworth at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and the NASA Science Mission Directorate invite you to attend an upcoming online professional development workshop.  

Topic: Enrichment Problems in Space Science VI

In the sixth bi-monthly installment of these mission- and inquiry-oriented mathematics problems, Dr. Sten Odenwald will supply background for and lead participants through problems from his “Problems in Space Science” series. The goal of these problems is to teach students about space weather by using mathematics. Each problem begins with real world questions, missions and situations, and applies the necessary mathematics for a solution. Participants may ask questions and work along in this fully interactive Webinar environment. http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov

Date: Friday, April 4, 2008
Time: 3:00 p.m., EDT (Greenwich Mean Time -04:00, New York)

Participants must first register for this meeting. There is no cost for this event.
Note: Only the first 40 registrants will be accepted. Register ASAP!

If this meeting is full, you will receive an e-mail that reads:
“Your registration for this meeting is denied.”
In that case, we ask you to please join us in the next workshop!
If you do miss this event, we will send you the link to a video archive of the workshop so you will still be able to benefit from the exercises.

Please join the meeting 10-15 minutes before start to make sure your computer is prepared to run the Webex software. You may also pre-install the Webex plug-in following the instructions at the bottom of this e-mail.

—————————————————–
Where to register for this meeting
—————————————————–

1. Go to https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/j.php?ED=100327002&RG=1
2. Register for the meeting.

Once the host approves your request, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with instructions for joining the meeting.

In an article posted in January of 2008 Jessica Hupp, a writer for the Online Education Database, offered links to 200 free online courses from some excellent universities. The article, titled 200 Free Online Classes to Learn Anything, lists a wide range of subject material in the sciences, arts, and humanities. Students and educators alike are free to study at their leisure using the same quality course materials provided to university students.

Enhance your current skills or learn about a new subject today. Visit the OEDb website to view the entire article and explore the links of interest to you. http://oedb.org/library/beginning-online-learning/200-free-online-classes-to-learn-anything

Back in January of 2008, Online Education Database writer Heather Johnson posted an excellent article listing 100 sources for free online education podcasts.  The article, titled Skip the Tuition: 100 Free Podcasts from the Best Colleges in the World, includes audio and video course content from such schools as Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Yale, and UCLA. 

Whether you just want to brush up on an old subject or expand your knowlege base, these podcasts provide a free and flexible alternative to traditional courses.  All you need is an MP3 player and an internet connection for downloading the content.

Check out Heather’s post at the following URL:
http://oedb.org/library/beginning-online-learning/skip-the-tuition:-100-free-podcasts-from-the-best-colleges-in-the-world