Interactive Science Experiences: Solar Weather 2008

Now is the time! This is the moment! You the teacher have waited since all these new online applications made email one dimensional, and NOW you can use them easily in a protected environment.

You can learn to use these new tools of technology in your classroom and in your life. I believe that using these Web2.0 tools can improve your productivity, as well as student achievement.

With a bit of effort, you can break into the Web2.0 world, and NASA has the tools to help. There are an enormous number of projects, activities and materials available to teachers, for science, math and technology, yet also for social studies, languages and other areas of education.

All you have to do is find the topic you are studying, and NASA can point you to the websites and online interactive practices to grab and hold students' attention. Then the rest is up to you, do one activity, one project or an array of related interactions and lessons. Don't forget to make an official connection with the NASA group, so you can always email or talk with someone who can help or answer questions.

If you talk with any science teacher, connecting with NASA, they will tell you their favorite NASA area. You could spend an entire teaching career using a variety of NASA connections and never know that other stuff is out there. For myself, one of my favorite NASA groups is the SECEF, Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum.

Each year, the ingenious educators, technicians and scientists, at the Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum, provide Science Math & Technology teachers with new, more creative, yet mind enhancing multimedia, projects and opportunities for students, teachers, scientists and the public to develop their knowledge of Sol and Earth.

Many of these new opportunities are considered interactive, part of the new Web2.0 movement.

One of the most exciting, yet practical Sun-Earth celebrations of the SECEF, Ancient Observatories, continued the NASA educational traditions while paving the trail into the online, interactive path for science education.

With podcasts, email alerts, related summer institutes, online projects, partnerships and public activities, the SECEF team really pulled the Sun-Earth Day problem based learning project into an international learning celebration. Each year since, they have continued this powerful methodology of linking students, teachers, scientists and the public around the world into a model classroom.

If you ready to begin an educational partnership with the SECEF, the Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum, start by registering at the Sun-Earth Day 2008 websited or by emailing Elaine Lewis, lewis@mail630.gsfc.nasa.gov and to receive the 2008 Sun-Earth Day Packet and email updates.

One Web 2.0 Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum (SECEF) activities you missed, but can use asynchronously, is the Arctic Circle Sunrise 2008. This series of meetings and interviews was part of the Polar Gateway Conference that ran during the last week in January. There are excellent interviews and historical perspectives from some of the scientists and assistants from the local Inuit communities. Their stories are marvelous, and I think children and young people would agree. Other information and images are also available from this conference.

Left, Right and Center for Mother Earth News

Recently, while surfing the Mother Earth News blog postings, I encountered one that was discussing the environmental news of the day: Vice-President Al Gore receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on environmental issues through the years. I was very disappointed in the strength of the anger in some people's comments, and it really saddens me.

We have all heard the rhetoric about Vice-President Gore that personalizes the arguments, and many of the comments on this blog were no exception. I am tired of that.

I personally know that over the past two decades, people from both extremes of the political landscape have become scared, and they often react in anger. It is natural, part of the Fight or Flight mechanism. Don't be afraid. Remember, "Fear is the MindKiller!" In our nation's history, Americans solve problems by finding common ground. Let's all try. We may not be perfect at it, but we may find our lives improve just through the effort.

Here is my response to the Mother Earth News blog posting, What You Can Do About Global Climate Change , by Megan Phelps:

This blog posting really made an impression on people. It's too bad that that the Blog Action Day for the Environment post on October 15, 2007 was ignored by most Mother Earth readers.

Happily, I have noticed that people from all sides of the political spectrum read Mother Earth News. What is the common factor that holds us all together on the same boat? I believe it is our desire to use sustainable processes to save money, the environment or both.

Let's enjoy Mother Earth News. I doubt if anyone will agree with EVERY article that is written or the independent ideas of their guests, but it is still a great magazine. Let's be thankful that we have this wonderful forum in which to debate or add to the conversation about simple living on the Earth.

When I first subscribed again, I wondered how the new Mother Earth News would be in keeping with the traditions of the old. I have been pleasantly surprised, especially with their encouragement for smaller spaces, in urban and rural areas.

It is always easier to tear something or someone down than it is to contribute to a rational growth and development. That is why farmers and those who love nature are such rare birds these days. It seems to me that anyone, including Vice-President Gore, who helps people think about the environment, ecosystems and habitats, deserves our respect and should be commended.

I know there are those who love to hate. I would suggest that you "count to ten....then to one hundred", let your blood pressure decrease, and then try to rationally frame your arguments about the topic...

It seems to me that the internet often makes us feel anonymous, so it may seem easier to personalize our attacks. In fact, you are not really anonymous. Try to take the high road if you can. This often achieves more positive long term results for your argument.