News - NASA Langley Research Center

Janelle Johnson and Anne Lewis review a draft of a new storybook that explains the idea of aerosols in Earth's atmosphere. A prototype of the book will be shared in classrooms staring in April.

Image Credit: 

NASA/David C. Bowman

 

About 30 educators, including some from as far away as Boston and Monterey, Calif., gathered at NASA's Langley Research Center Feb. 24-25 to sharpen techniques for teaching environmental science to youngsters.

At the Elementary GLOBE Partner Workshop held at Langley, they compared notes, reviewed materials and refined skills. "We're working to build a community of practice," said Becca Hatheway, who develops educational materials for University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo. "We want to share ideas and support the people doing this work."

GLOBE stands for Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment. The program is a worldwide, hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science education effort. It draws strength from partner organizations including NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Science Foundation.

 NASA Langley has been a GLOBE partner since 2003. Jessica Taylor of the NASA Langley Science Directorate helped host the workshop. She said it was intended to empower those who train the teachers who implement the GLOBE program. "We do teacher trainings fairly often, but this is more like a ‘train the trainer' program," Taylor said. GLOBE provides free educational resources, including a series of children's storybooks to help elementary school students understand Earth system science concepts.

Dave Young, director of Langley's Science Directorate, stopped by the workshop to welcome the educators. "We really value what you do," he said. "Part of our mission is getting our message to the youth so we can have that next generation of scientists."