HR: 14:55h
AN: ED32D-06 [PDF]
TI: NASA's Learning Technology Project: Developing Educational Tools for the Next Generation of
Explorers
AU: * Federman, A N
EM: afederman@mail.arc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA Ames Research Center, MS226-8, Moffett Field, CA 94035 United States
AU: Hogan, P J
EM: phogan@mail.arc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA Ames Research Center, MS226-8, Moffett Field, CA 94035 United States
AB:
Since 1996, NASA's Learning Technology has pioneered the use of innovative technology toinspire students to pursue careers in
STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.)
In the past this has included Web sites like Quest and the Observatorium, webcasts and distance learning courses, and even
interactive television broadcasts. Our current focus is
on development of several mission oriented software packages, targeted primarily at the middle-school population, but
flexible enough to be used by elementary to graduate students. These products include contributions to an open source solar
system simulator, a 3D planetary
encyclopedia), development of a planetary surface viewer (atlas) and others. Whenever possible these software products are
written to be 'open source' and multi-platform, for the widest use and easiest access for developers.
Along with the software products, we are developing activities and lesson plans that are tested and used by educators in the
classroom. The products are reviewed by professional educators. Together these products constitute the NASA Experential
Platform for learning, in which the tools used by the public are similar (and in some respects) the same as those used by
professional investigators. Efforts are now underway to incorporate actual MODIS and
other real time data uplink capabilities.
UR: http://learn.arc.nasa.gov
DE: 6605 Education
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting