Microscope: integrating NASA data into learning and teaching, will bring together earth science teachers already using datasets, familiarize them with NASA data, provide a portal for easy access to…

Microscope: integrating NASA data into learning and teaching, will bring together earth science teachers already using datasets, familiarize them with NASA data, provide a portal for easy access to the continuously updated data, develop a methodology for creation of lessons and student activities utilizing these NASA datasets, develop specific lessons, which will then be incorporated into the teachers instruction or programs. This will give both teachers and students experience in using and interpreting NASA data as part of a larger multidisciplinary system. The project tasks include the development and implementation of teacher training and student components, mounting culminating events, planning and implementation with partner districts to integrate aspects of project, and production and dissemination of materials. The stem content focus will be earth science, using earth observing systems to investigate questions relevant to teachers and students local environments in which data sets and tools exist to take them beyond local to a global scope. The program components will include 1) professional development for teachers, including summer institutes and academic year work groups; 2) programs for students, including twenty traveling science programs and five residency programs; and 3) development of an LSC data portal to facilitate use of NASA data. Programs for teachers and students will include hands-on instruction and presentations and interaction with professionals from science, industry, such as ... Three specific target groups will be identified in this project: 1) 50 9TH to 12TH grade teachers, with an intention to have a substantial number from the 31 abbott school districts, 2) 1450 participating 9TH to 12TH grade students who will participate in traveling science and school residency programs, and 3) approximately 5,000 9TH to 12TH grade students exposed to this project through their teachers active involvement. The objectives of the project are to: 1. Make NASA data more accessible and utilized by teachers and students; activities; 3. Exploit the appeal of remote sensing imagery and interactive video to promote an understanding of the underlying natural and applied sciences, mathematics, and information technology; 4. Promote familiarity with remote sensing tools and their use in decision making; 5. Increase access to the NASA remote sensing data and collaborative tools available to generate and research hypotheses concerning earth systems; participating teachers and students will gain: 1. Familiarity with data sets available on the internet from NASA and use of existing educational NASA materials; 2. Skills in assembling different data sets to draw conclusions, and a better understanding of media-displayed data; 3. Experience with working within a methodology that promotes including data sets as a regular part of teaching earth science concepts 4. Skills in collaborative research and communicating conclusions; and 5. A systems perspective of earth science and the ability to identify and relate local and global trends. Via the proposed project high school teachers and students will be introduced to a variety of data and instruments used to detect changes and conditions on the earth and will be exposed to the history and usefulness of NASA data in a variety of formats.