NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

When you think NASA, you probably think space, but NASA also helps educators present math, science, and technology concepts to students. NASA Langley's Center for Distance Learning in Hampton, Virginia, enhances grade K-16 curriculums by providing educators with FREE multimedia instructional programs. They use information from NASA research in aeronautics, atmospheric sciences, and space transportation to develop activities and programs that increase the awareness of math, science, and technology as it relates to the real world. Their ultimate goal is to stimulate interest in science and math fields.

There are currently five programs available, free of charge. NASA's Kids Science News Network, the NASA SCI Files, and NASA CONNECT are grade school programs that include hands-on activities, web activities and resources. NASA's Destination Tomorrow is a technology-based program for lifelong learners. The fifth program, NASA LIVE, is an interactive videoconferencing program. The following information describes the programs that are appropriate for grades 9-12 and Post Secondary.

Destination Tomorrow Web site

Destination Tomorrow™ - is a series of 30-minute educational television programs that focuses on NASA research, past, present, and future, and is designed for educators, parents, and adult (lifelong) learners. Each program in this award-winning series follows a magazine style format with segments ranging in length from 3-5 minutes and 6-8 minutes. The development of each program is based on the theory, principles, and educational research as they apply knowledge.

Programs in the series are designed to (1) create and heighten adult interest in mathematics, science, technology, and NASA; (2) increase the scientific and information technology literacy of adults; (3) improve literacy of adults who do not use English as their primary language; and (4) to serve as a mechanism for parents and caregivers to become involved in the education of children and young adults. An associated 508 compliant Web site provides summaries of stories and links to related program material. NASA's Destination Tomorrow is also available in Spanish.

Visit the NASA Destination Tomorrow Web site to obtain satellite coordinates, for information about ordering copies of the programs and to find out when the programs air in your locality.

Destination Tomorrow
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NASA Live Web site

NASA Live™ - is a series of synchronous (two-way) videoconferencing programs designed to extend and strengthen NASA's commitment to educational excellence at the college and university level. NASA LIVE provides opportunities for learning, instructional enrichment, and professional development for students and faculty by engaging them in an interactive, virtual environment with NASA researchers. The goal of this program is to make full use of NASA's aerospace technology assets to produce exciting and meaningful learning experiences for students, faculty, and adult learners across the nation and the world.

Videoconferencing is synchronous (two-way) communication that allows individuals at two or more sites to see and hear one another as well as collaborate using various forms of multimedia. Videoconferencing enhances formal and informal instruction by connecting students to professionals in the real world with expertise in numerous subjects or fields.

To participate in a NASA LIVE videoconference, you need the following:

• One or more Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) data lines.
  
• A H.320-compatible videoconferencing system comparable to a Vtel or PicTel System Type.
  
• Connection rate of 128 - 384 Kb/s.
  
• The required rate of connection may vary. The connection rate may range from 128 Kb/s to 384 Kb/s. For the best video and audio quality, a connection rate of 384 K/bs is highly recommended.
  
• A video bridge is required to conduct Multi-Point videoconferences. A Multi-Point videoconference occurs among several (three or more) locations (or sites) with all individuals participating in the same videoconference (like a telephone conference call).
  
• The cost of the NASA LIVE videoconference is FREE; however, you (the requester) must provide your own videoconferencing system and pay all associated costs on your end.
  

Presently, educators (K-12) and college/university faculty, college/university students, professional organizations, and student organizations may schedule a videoconference, and educators (K-12), faculty, professional organizations, and student organizations are invited to participate in the videoconferencing experience.

Registration information, preparations for the videoconference and a list of topics for collaboration are all available on the NASA Live Web site.

NASA Live
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These programs are produced by NASA Langley's Center for Distance Learning, a component of the Office of Education at NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA. NASA Langley's Center for Distance Learning is operated under cooperative agreement NCC-1-02039 with Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA. Broadcast and off air rights are unlimited and are granted in perpetuity.

NASA Langley's Center for Distance Learning
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Distance Learning at Work in Schools