NASA Space Science Education Resource Directory Available Online
Don Savage
Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202-358-1547)
Sonja Alexander
Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202-358-1761)
RELEASE: 00-161
NASA’s Office of Space Science today announced the release of
the Space Science Education Resource Directory, an Internet on-
ramp to top-quality educational resources produced by NASA’s Space
Science Education and public Outreach programs.
The web-based directory provides easy access to high-quality,
online space science educational resources for teachers and
students from kindergarten through high school.
“Sharing the wonders of our universe with educators and the public
is the responsibility of every space science endeavor funded by
NASA,” says Ed Weiler, NASA’s Associate Administrator for Space
Science. “It’s our way of investing in the future scientific
talent of our nation. The Space Science Education Resource
Directory will help teachers bring the exciting new discoveries of
space science into their classrooms.”
This first release of the directory contains more than 100
electronic resources, including lesson plans, educator guides,
student activities, websites, and spectacular space science
imagery such as auroras, comets, the birth place of stars, and
colliding galaxies. Educators, resource developers, and space
scientists have worked together to design a system that is
scientifically accurate and easy to use.
“This is a significant effort by the Office of Space Science to
ensure that the results from their education programs are widely
available,” says Frank Owens, Director of NASA’s Education
Division. “We look forward to adapting and integrating this model
broader use within NASA’s Education Program.
Science educators can locate science lessons and activities for
their classrooms by searching by keyword or browsing by subject,
grade level, and topics that align with National Science Education
Standards.
One middle school teacher who reviewed the directory is impressed
with its variety of resources. “Wow, this is terrific! I can find
exciting, current, and accurate space science lessons and
activities for my students so easily,” says Susan Higley, the 1999
Maryland Teacher of the Year from Cherry Hill Middle School in
Elkton, Maryland. “It’s evident that teachers helped develop this
Internet site-I find resources I can use in my classroom!”
The directory will be updated continually with new top-quality
resources. Future plans include providing access to printed
materials, CD-ROMS, videos, and posters.
The University of California at Berkeley, the NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center, and the Space Telescope Science Institute developed
the resource directory in close consultation with the U.S.
Department of Education’s Gateway to Educational Materials-GEM.
The resulting directory is compatible with national educational
databases that are familiar to, and widely used by, teachers.
David Lankes, director of GEM, believes that this directory will
help educators access accurate space science information. “We’re
thrilled to have GEM and NASA hook up. It’s a natural combination
of excellent education technology and outstanding space science
content,” Lankes says. “Through our partnership, it will be easier
and easier for teachers to find the materials they need. It’s also
exciting to see NASA adopt emerging education technology standards
as it continues its education mission.”
To review the directory’s collection, visit the web site at:
