Transcript NASA Langley/CNU Distance Learning Programs Randall Caton, Department of Physics, Computer Science and Engineering, Christopher Newport University Thomas E.

NASA Langley/CNU
Distance Learning Programs
Randall Caton, Department of Physics,
Computer Science and Engineering,
Christopher Newport University
Thomas E. Pinelli, Office of Education,
NASA Langley Research Center
NASA Langley Distance Learning Center Programs
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Acknowledgements
• We thank Shannon Ricles, Bobbye Bartels,
Loren Yee, Bernie Freeman, Heidi Boyette, Jeff
Seaton, Cory Gilbert, William Bensen, Chris
Giersch, Jennifer Pulley, Cheryl Keeton,
Katrina Townes, Kevin Krigsvold, Michael
Bibbo, Clyde Lewis, Robert Starr, and William
Williams for their contributions to various
programs discussed in this presentation.
• NASA Grant NAG-1-2219 and NASA Grant
NCC 435 provide funding support for these
programs.
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A Unique Collaboration: NASA and Learners
June 19, 2002
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I. Introduction
The NASA Langley Distance Learning
Center programs employ both advances
in information technology and in effective
pedagogy to produce a broad range of
Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM) materials to
complement and enhance other
educational efforts. The ultimate goal is
learning. We integrate a variety of
modalities to achieve this goal.
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I. Introduction
The NASA Langley Distance Learning programs
• focus on math, science, engineering, and/or
technology
• cover a spectrum of education levels from Kadult
• are free to the public
• have 450,000 registered educators
• have 12.5 million registered students
• are used in 60 countries
• appear on many television networks
• have many partners and affiliates include NWF
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II. Major Goals of Distance
Learning Programs
• to increase educational excellence
• to enhance and enrich the teaching of
mathematics, science, and technology
• to increase scientific and technological
literacy
• to communicate the results of NASA
discovery, exploration, innovation and
research
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III. History of Distance
Learning Programs
• NASA CONNECT 1997
• NASA Science Files (formerly NASA Why?
Files) and NASA's Destination Tomorrow 2000
• NASA's Kids Science News Network (KSNN)
and NASA LIVE 2001
• The programs have won numerous (~60)
awards for distance learning, videography, and
web design, including 8 Emmys.
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IV. Description and Methodology
for Distance Learning Programs
We define distance learning as “getting
people--and often video images of people
--into the same electronic space so they can
help one another learn,” and we provide “a
system and process that connects learners
with distributed sources”
Putting the Learning into Distance Learning, B. Filipczak,
TRAINING 32, no. 10, pp. 111-118 (October 1995), EJ 511 253.
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IV. Description and Methodology
for Distance Learning Programs
All pre-college distance learning programs
• support the national mathematics,
science, and technology standards
• support K-12 systemic change
• involve educators in their development,
implementation, and evaluation
• are based on alliances and partnerships
• seek to invoke a sense of geographic,
ethnic and cultural diversity
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IV. Description and Methodology
for Distance Learning Programs
Integrated Modalities
• Video broadcast - narrative
open, closed, descriptive captioning
English, Spanish
• Text – lesson guides downloadable in PDF
• Activities with inexpensive materials
• Web activities – simulations
• Audio – plans for public radio in future
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IV. Description and
Methodology for Distance
Learning Programs
• NASA CONNECT
• NASA Science Files (formerly NASA
Why? Files)
• NASA's Destination Tomorrow
• NASA KSNN
• NASA LIVE
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NASA CONNECT
Goal: Support the integration of
mathematics, science, and technology in
grades 6-8.
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NASA CONNECT
Description:
• connection between the mathematics, science,
and technology concepts taught in the
classroom and NASA research
• 30 minute broadcast
• classroom activities – low cost materials
• web activities - simulations
• resource-rich teacher guide (PDF on web)
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NASA CONNECT
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connect.larc.nasa.gov
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NASA CONNECT
Methodology (1 of 2):
• components complement one another and produce a
cohesive, flexible unit for classroom use
• the broadcast intersperses classes of students from
diverse backgrounds and geographical locations
doing the activities
• experts from diverse backgrounds
• dynamic hosts weave the story together and take the
students on an adventure in learning
• mentors from partner organizations
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NASA CONNECT
Methodology (2 of 2):
• the cartoon character Norbert invites viewers to
reflect on what they are learning
• short animated mathematics activities are featured
during the video as reinforcement
• script produced in conjunction with educators and
the scientists featured in the video
• activities are developed and tested by educators
• lesson plan contains connections to national
standards, resources, a glossary, a complete
description of the activity, and extensions and
questions (PDF on web)
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NASA CONNECT
Student Outcomes:
1) Make connections between the mathematics, science, and technology
taught in their classroom and the real world applications by observing
NASA engineers and scientists;
2) increase understanding of mathematics, science, and technology concepts
through hands-on and interactive web activities;
3) develop the literacy and technology skills needed to use the Internet for
investigation and research;
4) view mathematics, science, and technology as a process requiring
creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills;
5) gain awareness of careers requiring problem-solving skills, mathematics
and science proficiency, and technology application;
6) gain awareness of NASA: programs, projects, and facilities;
7) and overcome stereotyped beliefs by learning about women and minorities
actively involved in challenging engineering and scientific tasks.
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NASA Science Files
Goal: The NASA Science Files television
broadcast, web site, and educators’ guide
use Problem-Based Learning (PBL) to
help students in grades 3-5 explore topics
through scientific inquiry.
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NASA Science Files
Description:
• series of four, standards-based instructional
programs for grades 3-5 that introduce
students to science as inquiry, the scientific
method, problem-based learning and NASA
• each 60-minute program is divided into four
15-minute “teachable segments” and is
supported by a web site and resource-rich
teacher guide.
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NASA Science Files
Methodology (1 of 3):
• tree house detectives are confronted with realworld problems and are provided with the
knowledge and tools to attack the problem
• four 15-minute instructional segments
• features content experts from NASA and the
STEM community
• museum resources, experiments, and
classroom activities to help the tree house
detectives solve the problem.
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NASA Science Files
Methodology (2 of 3):
• web component nerve center of learning experience
– separate sections for students, educators, and parents
– content information, experiments and activities, experts to contact,
and a variety of other resources to aid student teams in finding
possible solutions to the featured online problem
– teams take on role of scientist solving the online problem
– array of Problem-Based Learning tools (action plan, basic design log,
PBL questions, “get up and go”, problem board, problem log,
reflection journal, scientific investigation log, scientific method
flowchart, scientific process log, and web site evaluation)
– resources and guidance for the team’s culminating report and
presentation
– essential information is one click away and other information a
maximum of three clicks away
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NASA Science Files
NASA Langley Distance Learning Center Programs
scifiles.larc.nasa.gov
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NASA Science Files
Methodology (3 of 3):
• educators’ guide is designed to augment the
television broadcast and can be downloaded from
the web site or received in the mail
• guide features segment overviews, program
objectives, vocabulary, classroom activities,
worksheets, literature and Internet resources, and
implementation strategies
• team of elementary school teachers, NASA
researchers, and NASA Distance Learning Center
staff develops the programs and guides.
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NASA Science Files
Student Outcomes:
1) Increase understanding of Problem-Based Learning and science as
inquiry;
2) develop the literacy and technology skills needed to use the Internet for
investigation and research;
3) increase scientific and technological literacy;
4) gain awareness of careers requiring problem-solving skills, mathematics
and science proficiency, and technology application;
5) view mathematics, science, and technology as a process requiring
creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills;
6) gain awareness of NASA: programs, projects, and facilities;
7) and overcome stereotyped beliefs by learning about women and
minorities actively involved in challenging engineering and scientific
tasks.
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NASA's Destination Tomorrow
Goal: Create and heighten the interest of
high school students and adult learners in
mathematics, science, technology, and
NASA.
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NASA's Destination Tomorrow
Description:
• 30-minute nationally aired video programs
designed to increase the scientific literacy of
educators, parents and lifelong learners
• material is drawn from current research and
spin-offs developed at NASA Centers –
primarily the NASA Langley Research Center.
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NASA's Destination Tomorrow
destination.larc.nasa.gov
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NASA's Destination Tomorrow
Methodology:
• theory and principles of adult learning guide the
developers
• topics are chosen to broaden the public’s perception of
NASA beyond space and flight by discussing less known
spin-offs of NASA researchers
• 30-minute show is divided into five 5-minute segments:
Behind the Scenes, How It Works, On the Runway,
Future/Tech Watch, and Retrospective and two 30-second
“Did You Know?” vignettes
• two hosts set the tone of the show and introduce the
segments
• individual correspondents cover the segments in depth
and interview one or two researchers.
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NASA's Destination Tomorrow
Outcomes:
1) Stimulate and increase scientific and technological
inquiry and literacy;
2) enhance, enrich, and facilitate the learning process;
3) gain awareness of NASA: programs, projects, and
facilities;
4) interest NASA and university collaboration;
5) increase outreach to the informal education
community;
6) increase interest of under-represented groups in
mathematics, science, technology, and NASA;
7) improve literacy of students who do not use English
as their primary language.
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NASA Kids Science News Network
Goal: Support national efforts to prepare
all children to succeed in mathematics,
science, and technology.
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NASA KSNN
Description:
• series of 1-minute lively, kid-oriented news
breaks that explain mathematics, science,
technology, geography and computer science
concepts
• web support
• activities
• address misconceptions
• wide visibility
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NASA KSNN
ksnn.larc.nasa.gov
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NASA KSNN
Methodology (1 of 2):
• pilot program at CNU to develop scripts,
activities, and web page content
Teams of 3-4 preservice teachers develop scripts,
activities, background material and web page
content
Teams work with content expert for their project
Effective communication with 3-5 graders through
the video medium is presented in class
• programs are professionally produced with
child actors in English and Spanish
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NASA KSNN
Methodology (2 of 2):
• activities and introductory material available
on the web
• considering producing some of the newsbreaks
using animation software like FaceStation
• content is drawn from common
misconceptions and NASA material
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NASA KSNN
Student Outcomes:
1) Stimulate interest in and increase understanding of
mathematics, science, and technology;
2) correct commonly held mathematics, science, and
technology misconceptions;
3) gain awareness of NASA: programs, projects, and
facilities;
4) increase scientific and information technology
literacy;
5) increase interest of minority and female students in
mathematics, science, technology, and NASA;
6) and improve literacy of students who do not use
English as their primary language.
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NASA LIVE
Goal: Increase the understanding of
mathematics, science, technology, and
NASA among: K-12 students and
educators, 13-18 students and faculty,
and adult (life long) learners in formal
and informal settings.
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NASA LIVE
Description:
• synchronous (two-way), interactive
videoconferencing sessions
• communicate NASA Langley research,
educational programs and career opportunities
to educators and students in grades K-12,
grades 13-18, and adult learners
• 30 topic series is currently available on the
NASA LIVE web site
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NASA LIVE
live.larc.nasa.gov
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NASA LIVE
Methodology:
• connect students to real problems and real world
applications of STEM
• topics are chosen based on an educational need to
complement university courses relating to STEM as
well as aeronautics
• interactive 60-minute videoconference live from
NASA Langley
– 30-minute presentation
– 20-minute Q&A segment
– 10-minute overview of educational and professional
opportunities
• on demand conferences
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NASA LIVE
Outcomes:
1) Stimulate and increase scientific and technological inquiry and
literacy;
2) enhance, enrich, and facilitate the learning process;
3) model the effective use and integration of instructional
technology;
4) raise awareness of NASA pre-college, college/university, and
distance learning programs;
5) gain awareness of NASA: programs, projects, and facilities;
6) increase NASA and university collaboration;
7) increase outreach to the informal education community;
8) increase interest of under-represented groups in mathematics,
science, technology, and NASA;
9) and improve literacy of students who do not use English as their
primary language.
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V. Validation and Evaluation of
Distance Learning Programs
Testing and Evaluation of Activities and
Web Site
• NASA CONNECT activities are tested by teachers during a
special summer program
• Focus groups of middle school teachers select three NASA
CONNECT programs and the teacher and students are
observed by NASA distance learning educators
• NASA Science Files web site development, formative
evaluation and usability tests are conducted before and during
each season with the help of public and home-based educators
in grades 3-5. The results are evaluated and used to improve
the usability and structure of the web site
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V. Validation and Evaluation of
Distance Learning Programs
Survey Data
1998-1999 NASA CONNECT Program
1999-2000 NASA CONNECT Program
2000-2001 NASA CONNECT Program
2000-2001 NASA Why? Files Program
1000 surveys sent to a randomly selected group of
registered educators
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V. Validation and Evaluation of
Distance Learning Programs
Survey Data
About 100 questions on
• demographics
• attitudes towards technology
• use and availability of technology
• evaluation of components of program
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V. Validation and Evaluation of
Distance Learning Programs
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V. Validation and Evaluation of
Distance Learning Programs
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V. Validation and Evaluation of
Distance Learning Programs
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V. Validation and Evaluation of
Distance Learning Programs
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V. Validation and Evaluation of
Distance Learning Programs
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V. Validation and Evaluation of
Distance Learning Programs
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V. Validation and Evaluation of
Distance Learning Programs
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VI. Future Directions
• Spanish versions of NASA's programs and web
sites
• Evolve NASA Science Files web page into a more
useful learning center for kids and parents for
home schooling
• Streaming some of the video broadcasts from our
web sites
• Dissemination on DVD
• Move to web conferencing
• Teacher training in using technology
• Science education research - welcome collaborators
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