The NASA Explorer Schools project is NASA's classroom-based gateway for middle school (grades 4-8) and high school (grades 9-12) classrooms. NES provides free teaching and learning resources that promote student engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM.
The project provides opportunities for teachers and students to participate in NASA's mission of research and discovery through inquiry-based experiences directly related to the work of NASA scientists and engineers.
Throughout the school year, the NES Virtual Campus website will serve as a portal to dynamic learning experiences, allowing students to examine real-world problems and challenges based on NASA research and exploration. Classroom activities are coupled with special events featuring interactions with NASA's scientific and technical workforce, so students learn firsthand about mission highlights, new technologies and research findings.
Teachers have the opportunity to participate in professional development experiences delivered through NES Virtual Campus technology to support effective classroom implementation of NES resources.
At the end of the year, NES will recognize its best teachers and schools with NASA experiences such as field center training, research opportunities and flights aboard a reduced-gravity aircraft.
All participants must be U.S. citizens. Each must be an administrator, aide, curriculum specialist, educator, guidance counselor, media specialist, resource teacher or student teacher in a state- or nationally accredited K-12 education institution in the United States or a U.S territory.
For more information and to schedule an orientation session, visit http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/nes2/home/index.html.
Questions about the new NASA Explorer Schools project should be directed to nasa-explorer-schools@mail.nasa.gov
.
[X]
Barbara Mann
Program Manager
Virginia Space Grant Consortium
600 Butler Farm Road
Hampton, Virginia 23666
757.766.5210
757.766.5205 FAX
bmann@odu.edu
