Filed under: Educational Materials, K-12, NASA, Professional Development, STEM, Science, Teacher Development, Teacher Opportunities
Are you a K-12 teacher of STEM disciplines? Are you looking for a way to enhance your instructional skills, meet your professional development goals, or find new and exciting resources to use in your learning environments? Then NASA’s Electronic Professional Development Network (ePDN) is for you!
NASA’s Learning Environments and Research Network (LE&RN) and the Georgia Institute of Technology have teamed up to create the ePDN, a new initiative dedicated to preparing teachers to engage their students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through the use of NASA-developed learning materials and resources.
The ePDN Offers:
• Free certificate programs (52 hours) in robotics, mathematics, Earth/space science, and technology integration.
• Flexibility to take individual courses within a certificate or the entire certificate program, both for CEU credit.
• Resources that teachers can use in the classroom or for personal development.
Applications are now open for the Robotics certificate, which begins in January, 2010. To apply, please visit http://www.nasaepdn.gatech.edu/certificates.php
For more information on the ePDN, visit http://www.nasaepdn.gatech.edu/
Filed under: Cool Science, Educational Materials, Higher Education, K-12, Links to Other Resources, NASA, Robots, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities, Teacher Opportunities
Innovation, creativity, problem solving — the world of robotics at NASA is all of these things. Bookmark this new one-stop shop on NASA.gov for news about robotics for educators and students. Check out the things to do on the site to see if robotics might be in your future.
Things you can do on this site:
–Answer the question: What Is Robotics?
–Practice your programming skills with the interactive robotic activity.
–Watch and download video and multimedia features about robotics.
–Follow a timeline tracing the history of robotics.
–Check out lesson plans for your classroom.
–Stay up-to-date with information about NASA-supported robotics competitions.
–Visit the Robotics Image Gallery.
–Explore other worlds with NASA through robotic spacecraft discoveries.
–Read about scientists and engineers who design and test robots.
–Browse NASA Web sites for information about robotics.
Visit the new NASA Robotics website at: http://www.nasa.gov/education/robotics
Filed under: Conference, Cool Science, NASA, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities, Teacher Opportunities
NASA is holding the first-ever TEDx-NASA, a one-day multidimensional event that fosters discussions that will shape the future.
TEDx-NASA is Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News, Va. A limited number of free tickets are available to the public. For more information and to register, go to http://www.TEDx-NASA.org
NASA is synonymous with innovation and thought leadership; TEDx is about “ideas worth spreading.” TEDx-NASA will provide an opportunity to leverage the strengths of both organizations and present a unique environment for the exchange of game-changing ideas.
NASA’s Langley Research Center and the National Institute of Aerospace have organized TEDx-NASA, dubbed “Space to Create.” The event is a day-long immersion in topics that range from science and technology to entertainment and the arts. Scheduled presenters include:
• Celebrated author Mitch Albom
• Experimental artist Chakaia Booker
• Creativity and innovation coach Gregg Fraley
• Robotics inventor Dr. Dennis Hong
• Astronaut Leland Melvin
• Humorous guitar virtuoso Mike Rayburn
• Space illustrator and designer Pat Rawlings
• Oprah & Friends radio host John St. Augustine
• Motivational entertainer Jana Stanfield
• And many more.
TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is most well known for its annual conference that brings together leading thinkers and doers to share their passion for big ideas.
TEDx-NASA is an independently organized event in the spirit of TED that will connect innovators from NASA and around the world with the Hampton Roads audience.
For more information about TEDx-NASA, visit http://www.TEDx-NASA.org
For more information about NASA’s Langley Research Center, visit http://www.nasa.gov/langley
For more information about the National Institute of Aerospace, visit http://www.nianet.org
Do you know K-12 teachers or district-level administrators who are making a difference in education through the use of technology? Recognize their achievements by nominating them for the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award. The Astronauts Memorial Foundation, in partnership with NASA and the Space Foundation, will recognize the accomplishments of one outstanding individual and his or her contributions to lifelong learning through the application of technology in the classroom or professional development of teachers.
Technology personnel and K-12 classroom teachers who have demonstrated exemplary use of technology to enhance learning are eligible for this award. School principals, superintendents or associate superintendents may nominate eligible candidates. The award will be presented in April 2010 at the 26th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. The deadline for applications is Jan. 16, 2010.
Applications and more information are available online at http://www.amfcse.org/Alan%20Shepard%20Award/alan_shepard_award.htm
Filed under: Best Practice, K-12, STEM, Science, Teacher Opportunities, fellowships
Applications are currently available for the 2010-2011 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program. This program is open to current public or private elementary and secondary mathematics, technology and science classroom teachers with demonstrated excellence in teaching.
Selected teachers spend a school year in a congressional office, the Department of Energy, or a federal agency such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Applicants for this program must be U.S. citizens and be currently employed full-time in a public or private elementary or secondary school or school district. Applicants must have been teaching full-time in a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least five of the last seven years. Three recommendations are required. One must be from a school district official.
During the fellowship, each Einstein Fellow receives a monthly stipend plus a monthly cost of living allowance. In addition, there is a moving/relocation allowance as well as a professional travel allowance.
The deadline for applications is Jan. 13, 2010. For more information about this opportunity, visit http://www.trianglecoalition.org/fellows/einapp.htm
Filed under: Educational Materials, K-12, NASA, STEM, Science, Teacher Opportunities, Webcasts
NASA’s Digital Learning Network presents a series of videoconferences to assist educators in staying current on NASA education resources and related products.
During each event, product producers, authors and experts will demonstrate their materials designed to optimize awareness and understanding of science concepts. Instructional objectives, accessing the materials and primary contacts for the materials will also be discussed. During the videoconferences, participants will be able to submit questions to the presenter that will be addressed during the presentation.
In the coming months, the following topics will be covered:
— Using NASA eClips™ to Engage Millennial Learners: Nov. 18, 2009, 4-5 p.m. EST
— Exploring Space Through Math: Dec. 16, 2009, 4-5 p.m. EST
— STS-131 Robotics: Jan. 27, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EST
— NASA Fit Explorers Feb. 24, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EST
— NASA eProfessional Development Network — Robotics Course: March 31, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
— MoonWorld: April 28, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
— On the Moon: May 26, 2010, 4-5 p.m. EDT
For more information about these videoconferences and to sign up online, visit http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/webcast/ .
Filed under: Astronomy, Educational Materials, K-12, NASA, Professional Development, STEM, Science, Teacher Development, Teacher Opportunities, Workshop
Teacher Training Opportunity: Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope Program
The Lewis Center for Educational Research announces an opportunity for K-12 teachers to participate in a unique program. The Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope Program, or GAVRT, is an education partnership involving NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and LCER. The program is a K-12 project using radio astronomy to provide an opportunity for students to experience real science and to learn that science is an ongoing process and actual discovery is possible. Using classroom computers, 32,000 students have taken control of a 34-meter, 500-ton, nine-story-tall radio telescope located at NASA’s Deep Space Network at Goldstone, Calif. There are currently 473 trained teachers at 283 schools in 37 states across the United States and at American schools in 14 countries and three U.S. territories.
What is in it for the students? They learn how to gather data, understand what the data mean and how to follow through with analysis. Students and teachers team with scientists to conduct cutting-edge research leading to discovery. GAVRT is exciting for students while accomplishing educational and scientific objectives.
In 2010, the teacher training program will also include Radio JOVE. Radio JOVE is a hands-on educational activity that brings the radio sounds of the sun, Jupiter, the Milky Way galaxy, and terrestrial radio noise to students, teachers and the public. This program targets students in grades 6 – 14 and involves building a simple radio telescope, making observations, and sharing results with other participants and with professional radio astronomers.
To bring the GAVRT program into the classroom, teachers must attend a five-day class. Teacher training classes are scheduled to take place at the Lewis Center on March 8-12, July 19-23, and Oct. 25-29, 2010. The program strongly recommends that at least two teachers attend the training from each school or area. While this is not a requirement, it will definitely help in program support once back in the classroom. The cost of the five-day class is $745. Teachers interested in participating are invited to apply online at http://www.lewiscenter.org/gavrt/opportunities.php
For more information about GAVRT and Radio JOVE, visit http://www.lewiscenter.org/gavrt/ and http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov
Filed under: Conference, K-12, NASA, STEM, Science, Teacher Development, Teacher Opportunities, Webcasts
Join NASA and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for the Apollo Space Program Virtual Conference for Educators, a FREE online conference taking place on Nov. 10, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
Forty years ago the Apollo Space Program met President Kennedy’s goal of landing a man on the moon, one of the most significant achievements of the 20th Century. Join experts as they present the challenges of the Apollo program and examine the remarkable technologies that made the moon landings possible.
Participate in interactive discussions that highlight the Apollo program and its impact on American and world history and our lives today. Explore ways to teach your students how to use primary source materials.
The online conference includes sessions of general interest and sessions for secondary teachers with ties to the NASA History Advanced Placement and Human Geography Advanced Placement projects.
Are you new to virtual conferencing? A virtual or online conference is similar to other professional conferences, only you access it online. Registration is free and open to everyone. All of the conference sessions are recorded and archived so they may be played at any time.
Registration is required. To learn more and to register online, visit http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1609
Filed under: Aeronautics, Educational Materials, Higher Education, K-12, NASA, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities, Teacher Opportunities
On Oct. 27, 2009, NASA launches the first flight of a new era with the flight test of the . In preparation for the flight test, NASA has launched a new Web site to involve the public in this exciting and historic event.
The “MyExploration” Web site encourages visitors to learn, explore and participate in the upcoming mission. NASA is asking the public to upload 60-second videos that finish the statement “Space exploration is important because …” These videos will be posted on the site for others to see.
The “MyExploration” Web site also has links to Ares information on the Web, including links to the latest news and information on Flickr, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
To learn more, upload your video, view videos submitted by others, and take the “MyExploration” quiz, visit http://www.nasa.gov/myexploration
Filed under: Astronomy, Cool Science, Higher Education, K-12, NASA, Science, Student Opportunities, Teacher Opportunities, Webcasts
NASA invites students and faculty to an internet chat with Peter Schultz, co-investigator with the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite mission. NASA’s LCROSS, which is searching for water ice in the Cabeus A crater near the moon’s south pole, culminated with two lunar impacts on Oct. 9, 2009. Schultz is also involved with two other NASA missions: Stardust-NExT and Deep Impact eXtended Investigation. To learn more about Peter Schultz and his career, please visit http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/centers/kennedy/technology/schultz_peter.html.
The chat will begin at 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 15, 2009, at http://ESMDSpaceGrantProject.universitywebchat.com/chat9385/.
The chat room will not be available until 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. There are 100 slots available that will be filled on a first come/first serve basis.
Participants are encouraged to submit questions ahead of time to Mandi.C.Falconer@nasa.gov. Questions about the activities surrounding LCROSS can also be asked during the chat.
For more information about the mission, visit the NASA mission page at http://www.nasa.gov/lcross. You can also follow the mission on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LCROSS_NASA and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/LCROSS-Lunar-Impactor-Mission/154478180006
