NASA Workshop Attracts Educator From Bison, Kansas

    HAMPTON, Va., July 15 /EMWNews/ -- NASA's Langley

Research Center hosted its fourth annual MY NASA DATA workshop June 22 to

27, attracting 21 educators from regions across America.



    Kathy Rome, a science teacher at Otis-Bison Middle School, Bison,

selected the MY NASA DATA (MND) workshop for professional development

because the training included using real data collected by NASA satellites,

weather balloons and other sources.



    The MND program offered educators in math and science relevant tools

for teaching that are both standards based and challenging for students.

This year's workshop goals allowed teachers to access and explore NASA

Earth system science data and develop lesson plans to share these data with

their students.



    "The MND Web site provides data from satellites that the students can

access, graph and analyze," Rome says. "Performing these tasks is an

important standards requirement in Kansas."



    Even more important to Rome is that students are very receptive to

lessons applying directly to their world.



    "With the data connecting students to real scientists and their work,

the science becomes real for the students as they perform their own

studies," Rome says.



    "There is an educationally effective blend of content lectures, tours,

directed practice, and self-guided exploration of the technology," says

Susan Moore, a member of the MND team. "Enthusiastic about their

profession, our team of teachers have developed networking opportunities

and lesson collaborations among one another."



    The importance of scientific inquiry and reflection to advancing

student knowledge was a common thread in this year's discussion. These

processes are important skills in scientific studies and are not techniques

children learn from a textbook. Scientific inquiry and reflection motivate

students to think in deeper levels.



    Lin Chambers, an atmospheric scientist at NASA Langley who developed

the MND program, is pleased with the growth and progress she sees in the

program.



    "Being the fourth workshop, we have definitely learned from past

experience," Chamber says. "We can provide a quality experience for our

teacher participants."



    To find out more about MY NASA DATA and workshop availability, go to:



    http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov