NASA Workshop Attracts Educators From Damariscotta, Maine

    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.



    Margaret Morton, a science teacher at South Bristol School,

Damariscotta, 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.



    "It was important to me to gain knowledge of how to utilize data sets

in lessons," Morton says, "because the students also need to do so."



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

lessons applying directly to their world.



    "The opportunity for students to interact with and learn from NASA

research about environmental issues helps them find answers to their

questions," Morton 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