The Nasa Educational Workshops are designed to give teachers background in current NASA technology. Teachers will experience NASA’s state-of-the-art research and development programs through direct interaction with NASA scientists, engineers, technicians, and educational specialists at a NASA Field Center. Workshops will help teachers adapt their new content knowledge, experience, and materials into their specific educational situations. The end goal of this program is to bring science and technology into the classroom through the teachers themselves.
Selected participants will spend two weeks in the summer at one of NASA’s Centers. Travel, housing, and meal expenses are provided by NASA. Graduate credit is available. The two-week workshops occur during mid-June through mid-August. Participants will be notified by April 15th of their NASA Center assignment and workshop dates. More info here.
Space Science Institute
The Space Science Institute (SSI) conducts workshops for educators (both classroom-based and museum-based) on science and workshops for scientists, engineers, and E/PO managers on education.All of our workshops incorporate the basic principles of professional development: learning cycles, inquiry based activities, education standards. We have extensively evaluated their effectiveness. They have inspired and deepened the scientific understanding of classroom and museum educators. Our workshops for scientists have had a positive impact in improving NASA mission E/PO and education and outreach programs at research institutions.
A number of education resources for scientists based on our workshop experiences can be found here.
PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
Beginning in the summer of 1990, the Texas Space Grant Consortium initiated a weeklong professional development training for teachers. This aerospace workshop series, called LiftOff, emphasizes science, mathematics, and technology learning experiences by incorporating a space science theme supported by NASA missions. Teacher participants are provided with information, materials, and experiences through hands-on activities and field trips that will promote space science and enrichment activities for themselves and others.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Some of the most frequently asked questions about the U.S. space program are "Why go into space when we have so many problems here on Earth?" and "What does the space program do for me?"
These legitimate questions will be answered when educators become aware of the vast benefits of the space program that increase the quality of our daily lives. The applications on Earth technology needed for space flight have produced thousands of "spinoffs" that contribute to improving national security, the economy, productivity and lifestyle. We would be hard pressed to find an area of everyday life that has not been improved by spinoffs from the space program.
So, the next time someone asks "Why do we go in space" and "What does the space program do for me?" You will be able to explain it because of LiftOff 2005: NASA Spinoffs, Bringing Space down to Earth!
PROGRAM FEATURES:
Sponsored by the Texas Space Grant Consortium and held at Johnson Space Center, LiftOff 2005 features:
Presentations by NASA scientists and engineers
Tours of NASA and Space Center Houston
Hands-on, inquiry based classroom activities
Free curricula and space science materials aligned to educational standards
Teacher activity share
Opportunity to interact with researchers dedicated to space missions
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
currently employed as a middle of high school educator
minimum one year teaching experience prior to workshop
demonstrated willingness to share information with others
must be a U.S. citizen
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Texas Participants: FREE with $50 refundable deposit upon completion of workshop
Out-of-State: $500 registration fee + travel to Houston, Texas
