E-note Index    November 2006 January 2007

S'COOL E-note for December, 2006

Greetings from the S'COOL Team! Welcome to Issue #10 of the S'COOL E-note.

This month's E-note includes:

1. S'COOL website "Feature of the Month"
2. Satellite correspondence (FLASHFlux) comments
3. Thacher Scholarship
4. MY NASA DATA workshop 2007

1. S'COOL website "Feature of the Month"
   New E-note feature!! Beginning with this month's E-note, we would like to feature one particular section of the S'COOL website. The S'COOL site has many wonderful resources, links, and helpful information. We would like to call "special attention" to various sections during the upcoming newsletters. If you have a "favorite" section of the website, and would like to see that section as the "Feature of the Month", please let us know.

   Often the S'COOL team is asked for suggestions on how to implement the S'COOL project in the classroom. With so much emphasis on time-management and standards-alignment, it may seem challenging to work the S'COOL project into the curriculum or into the classroom routine. Not too long ago, S'COOL participants were asked to send in their "helpful hints" for addressing this challenge. We would invite you to read the helpful hints in this month's featured website section, "Classroom Management Ideas". If you have comments or additional suggestions from your own experience, please let us know so that we may continue to update the list.

2. Satellite correspondence (FLASHFlux) comments
   If you get an automated email notifying you of a correspondence with the satellite data, please take a moment to look at the visualization and consider writing a comment about the comparison. The S'COOL team receives and reviews all of your comments, and responds with its own comments when the comparison looks particularly interesting. Some of your comments also get passed along to other members of the CERES team who have particular research interests. We appreciate your inputs!

3. Thacher Scholarship
   The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) is now accepting entries for the 2007 Thacher Scholars Award, to be given to secondary school students designing and conducting the best projects using satellite observations of the Earth. U.S. students in grades 9-12, including U.S. citizens attending schools in foreign countries, are eligible. Entries must be postmarked by April 2, 2007. For more information on the Thacher Scholars Award, including contest rules and guidelines, please visit Thacher Scholars.
   

   CONTACT
   Dan Stillman
   Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
   (703) 312-7138 (Phone)
   (703) 312-8657 (FAX)
   E-mail: dan_stillman@strategies.org

4. MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop 2007
   Here is a workshop opportunity for teachers of Grades 6-12! Plans for our third MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop are underway! Please share the announcement included below (and on the MY NASA DATA website) with your grade 6-12 colleagues, especially with those who would want to learn how to use data sets in their classroom instruction.

   MY NASA DATA Summer Workshop 2007

   NASA Langley Research Center will host a hands-on workshop designed for the Grade 6-12 Educator. The workshop will focus on the implementation and use of Earth System Science data sets developed for the pre-college education community as part of the MY NASA DATA program. A major component of the workshop will be the development of lessons incorporating one or more data sets. The data sets are derived from the archive of remotely sensed data retrieved from NASA's Earth Observing System satellites. Participating teachers will explore topics in Earth system science (especially atmospheric science), educational application of data sets, and hands-on classroom activities. Participants will experience meaningful field trips and benefit from the expertise of nationally recognized atmospheric researchers. Participants will also explore how data sets can be used to enhance their curriculum and how students can utilize these data for inquiry-based learning and research. Participant feedback and curricular contributions will be enlisted as further development of data sets continues. Earth Science educators are particularly encouraged to apply.
   
   Goals: Participants in the MY NASA DATA teacher workshop will:
   • access microsets of Earth system science data
   • access and explore model lessons which utilize microsets of data
   • participate in interactive seminars and tours led by scientists discussing selected methods of data collection and analysis
   • develop, individually or as a group, at least one new lesson incorporating data sets
   
   Key Outcomes: During the school year following participation in the MY NASA DATA teacher workshop, teachers will:
   • use the MY NASA DATA website and Live Access Server to access microsets of Earth system science data
   • implement lessons or other teaching strategies which incorporate microsets of Earth system science data
   
   Important Dates:

   Application must be postmarked by April 30, 2007
   Notification of acceptance will be sent by e-mail on or before May 18, 2007
   Workshop dates will be July 29-August 3, 2007

   Contact Information:
   MY NASA DATA Workshop
   Attn: Joyce Fischer
   Mail Stop 927
   NASA Langley Research Center
   Hampton, VA 23681-2199
   Phone (757)827-4848
   E-mail: j.d.fischer@larc.nasa.gov
   Web: http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov