NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Origins Education Forum

The examples below of professional development opportunities for educators include workshops, online courses, research opportunities (in which you would partner with a scientist), and summer programs. Additional professional development opportunities can be found at the Web sites of the individual missions.

Workshops

Science literacy and education

Enhancement for College & Informal Education. Every summer, educators and faculty involved in undergraduate instruction, science and technology centers, and planetariums will have the opportunity to participate in special workshops at the SOFIA Science and Mission Operations Center at NASA's Ames Research Center in Northern California. Participants will be encouraged to develop partnerships with SOFIA-affiliated scientists and may have opportunities to participate in research flights.

http://sofia.arc.nasa.gov/Edu/programs/literacy/literacy.html

Special Needs workshops

All exceptional students (young and old) are held to the same state and national math and science education standards as their peers. However, current materials are often not designed with the deaf and/or blind user in mind, or the hearing-, visually-, and mobility-impaired student, or those with learning disabilities. The Southeast Regional Clearinghouse (SERCH) has been working with teachers from these exceptional classroom settings to identify the kinds of materials they need and which mediums will work best for the different student capabilities. Occasionally, workshops are offered on this topic.

http://serch.cofc.edu/special/overview.htm

Short courses

The Origins Education Forum and its member missions offer workshops and short courses at NSTA conventions and local venues. Learn how to bring the excitement of NASA's search for galaxies, stars, planets and life to your classroom with activities that illustrate fundamental science concepts.

http://www.nsta.org/conventions

Online Courses

Astrobiology for teachers:

Astrobiology is the interdisciplinary science that seeks answers to fundamental questions about life in the universe. These questions ask how life began and evolved on Earth, whether there is life elsewhere in the universe, and what the future is of life on Earth. The two main goals of this course are: (1) to provide information on the central concepts related to the field of Astrobiology, and (2) to provide experiences with using and creating student-centered and inquiry-based curriculum materials for teaching astrobiology that are aligned with the National Science Education Standards.

http://btc.montana.edu/ceres/astrobiology/

Research Opportunities

SOFIA Airborne Ambassadors

Once SOFIA is fully operational, approximately 200 educators will be selected each year to participate in one or more research flights. Training will prepare educators for the flights, during which they will work alongside scientists as they conduct astronomical research. Educator training will provide hands-on, minds-on classroom activities that educators can take back to their schools and communities.

http://sofia.arc.nasa.gov/Edu/programs/ambassadors/ambassadors.html

NASA Astrobiology Institute

Astrobiology is the interdisciplinary science that seeks answers to fundamental questions about life in the universe. These questions ask about how life began and evolved on Earth, whether there's life elsewhere in the universe, and what the future is of life on Earth. If you're interested in astrobiology, here are ways to get involved, including summer programs, partnerships with scientists, conferences, and books on astrobiology.

http://www.nai.arc.nasa.gov/teachers/teacher_topics.cfm?ID=1

Summer Programs

SOFIA Visiting Educators – staff opportunities

Each year, three or four experienced educators will have the opportunity to join the SOFIA Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) staff. Based at the SOFIA Science and Mission Operations Center at NASA's Ames Research Center, visiting educators will train and host airborne guests, develop classroom and web-based material, and support other SOFIA E/PO programs.

http://sofia.arc.nasa.gov/Edu/programs/visiting/visiting.html

NASA Astrobiology Institute

Here is a list of summer activities that you can use to enrich your professional life. Topics range from supernova explosions and the creation of the chemical elements to the planets in our solar system to life on earth. For some workshops that have already taken place, there are links to online information.

http://www.nai.arc.nasa.gov/teachers/teacher_topics.cfm?ID=3