MY NASA DATA E-note (Number 8) March 2007 Greetings MY NASA DATA Alumni and Newslist members! The monthly E-note is sent to anyone who is interested in learning more about or keeping up to date with the MY NASA DATA project. If you know someone who is interested in this information, the sign-up can be found at: http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/HPDOCS/email_registration.html 1) New lessons awarded "Recommended" level by the ESE Review Good news concerning our lessons! Four of our most recently posted lessons have been given the mark of "Recommended" by the NASA Headquarters Earth Science Education (ESE) Review panel for Winter 2006/2007. The panel is comprised of both scientists and educators who complete a detailed review of each educational product submitted. The "Recommended" lessons for this review period are: Lesson 17: Analysis of Atmospheric Conditions for a High Mountain Retreat by Laurissa Werhun Lesson 18: Does Cloud Type Affect Rainfall? by Chris Spiegl edited by Erica Alston Lesson 22: Sea Surface Temperature Trends of the Gulf Stream by Rex Roettger Lesson 23: Coral Bleaching in the Caribbean by Rex Roettger Laurissa, Chris, and Rex are MY NASA DATA Workshop 2005 alumni. Their lessons, along with other User Contributed Lessons, may be found on the MY NASA DATA website http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/lessons.html 2) MY NASA DATA will be at NSTA and NCTM The MY NASA DATA team will be represented at the annual meetings of both NSTA and NCTM. Will we see you there? The locations and dates are: NSTA: St. Louis, MO, March 29-April1, 2007 NCTM: Atlanta, GA, March 21-24, 2007 If you are doing a presentation for these or other conferences, and would like to include MY NASA DATA materials, just drop us a note. Thank you to those of you who have represented us! 3) STS-118 In-flight Education Downlink Opportunity NASA is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host live, in-flight education downlinks during STS-118, the first flight of an Educator Astronaut, Barbara Morgan. To maximize the impact of these events, NASA seeks organizations that will draw large participant numbers and demonstrate large-scale educational impact. STS-118 will have a lasting impression on the education community. The theme of the STS-118 education effort is Igniting the Flame of Knowledge. Downlinks are approximately 20 minutes in length, and allow students and educators to interact with a crew on board the space shuttle through a question and answer session. A downlink is essentially a modified videoconference in which participants hear and see the crewmembers live from space. The crew does not see the audience. Downlinks afford education audiences the opportunity to learn first-hand from space explorers what it is like to live and work in space. These events are broadcast live on NASA TV. Members of the U.S. informal and formal education communities are eligible to host these downlinks. Examples include museums and science centers, local school districts, national and regional education organizations, and local, state and U.S. government agencies. NASA provides this opportunity at no cost to the host. The deadline to submit an application for STS-118 downlinks is March 9, 2007. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/F_STS118_In-flight_Education_Downlink_Opportunity.html 4) MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop 2007 Plans for our third MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop continue! Joyce has received a few early applications, and many inquiries. Some of the interested teachers have said they had been encouraged to apply after speaking with our workshop alumni! Thank you for spreading the word about the workshop! The announcement is included below and is posted on our website at http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/workshop.html. Please continue to share the information with your colleagues who would like to learn how to use data sets in their classroom instruction. MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop 2007 NASA Langley Research Center will host a hands-on workshop designed for the Grade 6-12 Educator. The workshop will focus on the implementation and use of Earth System Science data sets developed for the pre-college education community as part of the MY NASA DATA program. A major component of the workshop will be the development of lessons incorporating one or more data sets. The data sets are derived from the archive of remotely sensed data retrieved from NASA's Earth Observing System satellites. Participating teachers will explore topics in Earth system science (especially atmospheric science), educational application of data sets, and hands-on classroom activities. Participants will experience meaningful field trips and benefit from the expertise of nationally recognized atmospheric researchers. Participants will also explore how data sets can be used to enhance their curriculum and how students can utilize these data for inquiry-based learning and research. Participant feedback and curricular contributions will be enlisted as further development of data sets continues. Earth Science educators are particularly encouraged to apply. Goals: Participants in the MY NASA DATA teacher workshop will: … access microsets of Earth system science data … access and explore model lessons which utilize microsets of data … participate in interactive seminars and tours led by scientists discussing selected methods of data collection and analysis … develop, individually or as a group, at least one new lesson incorporating data sets Key Outcomes: During the school year following participation in the MY NASA DATA teacher workshop, teachers will: … use the MY NASA DATA website and Live Access Server to access microsets of Earth system science data … implement lessons or other teaching strategies which incorporate microsets of Earth system science data Important Dates: Application must be postmarked by April 30, 2007 Notification of acceptance will be sent by e-mail on or before May 18, 2007 Workshop dates will be July 29-August 3, 2007