Welcome to the MY NASA DATA website. Our team is dedicated to making
NASA Earth Science data easily accessible to the K-12 and citizen scientist
communities. Below you will find a brief description of the project.
We invite you to explore the website and resources, and to let us
know what you like and what we can continue to improve. This site
is for you, so help us make it the best it can be.
Mentoring and inquirY using NASA Data for Atmospheric and earth science for Teachers and Amateurs (MY NASA DATA) is a project to enable K-12 teachers and students, as well as citizen scientists, to explore the large volumes of data that NASA collects about the Earth from space. Students use scientific inquiry and math skills as they access and display microsets of the Earth System.
WHAT IS A MICROSET?
A main goal of the MY NASA DATA project is to remove the barriers (such as file size and format, and complicated computer tools) that prevent the use of authentic NASA Earth System Science data in the classroom or by the interested public. A microset is a small amount of data - perhaps a single parameter for the whole globe; or a time series for a single location - extracted from a much larger data file. It is in a simple format, such as plain text, or accessible through a user-friendly tool.
WHAT KIND OF MICROSETS ARE AVAILABLE?
MY NASA DATA microsets are primarily made from data holdings of the Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA, and other sources. While the primary focus of these data is the Earth's atmosphere, some information on the Earth's surface and land cover is also available. Most of the data are global at a typical resolution of 1 degree in latitude and longitude. Microsets are NOT high-resolution images.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND STANDARDS
In addition to the microsets, the MY NASA DATA website offers a collection of lesson plans to help you get started with data exploration. Some were developed by the team, while others have been contributed by educators who have used the MY NASA DATA website. All lessons identify relevant national or state education standards. The MY NASA DATA team also has developed an Earth Science glossary to help explain many of the concepts and parameters used in the project.
WHAT IS REQUIRED?
A computer with a web browser and an Internet connection is the only thing you will need to explore the MY NASA DATA website. Data exploration and visualization tools used by the project are web-based. Some lessons involve the use of spreadsheet software or graphing calculators.
HOW CAN I GET HELP?
A team of scientists and educators receives emails sent to the address below. In addition, an e-Mentor network can provide assistance to those using the data. You can submit questions, whether scientific or pedagogical in nature, to this network through a simple form on the website. The network includes both scientists and educators who share the task of responding to inquiries. You can also join the mentor network!
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MY NASA DATA COMMUNITY:
Explore the MY NASA DATA website
Find engaging lesson plans to help you meet state standards
Use the Live Access Server to discover data to help teach concepts in your curriculum
Contribute a lesson plan you develop
Pose a question to the e-Mentor network
Join the e-Mentor network and help to answer questions
Submit student projects that use MY NASA DATA for possible posting on the MY NASA DATA website
Give feedback on the website, lesson plans, data microsets and tools
