Remote Sensing Education: Past, Present, and Future

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Remote Sensing EducationPast, Present, and
Future

• Nancy Colleton
• Theresa Schwerin
• IGES

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Overview

• Background
• Trends Examples
• Hallmarks of Excellent RS Education Products
• For Further Information

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BackgroundNASA Earth Science Education Product
Review

• Independent peer review conducted by IGES for
  NASA (1996-present)
• Range of Product Types/Formats
• Curriculum/Instructional, Supplemental Curriculum
  Materials, Resources
• Printed (e.g., posters, lithographs, booklets) to
  electronic formats (e.g., WWW pages, CD-ROMs)
• Targeted Audiences Elementary - Undergraduate,
  Informal Education

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Trends

• Products
• Single Discipline ? Multi- and Inter-disciplinary
• Inquiry/Investigative approach vs Cookbook
  activities
• Student-Focused Research
• Increased use of Technology (www, online
  instruction, CD-ROM, etc.)

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Product Examples

• Earth System Science Education Alliance (ESSEA)
• Earth System Science Online Courses for K-12
  Teachers (www.cet.edu/essea)
• Graduate-level, 16 week courses (K-4, 5-8, 9-12),
  developed by Center for Educational Technologies
  at Wheeling Jesuit University
• Through a partnership between IGES and CET, with
  NASA funding, courses are being offered through
  several colleges and universities across the U.S.
• Inquiry-based, team approach, uses innovative
  instructional design

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Product Examples

• GLOBE Earth System Science Poster - www.globe.gov
• Global Data for 1987 (Pathfinder Dataset/Typical
  Year)
• Solar Energy
• Average Temperature
• Cloud Cover
• Precipitation
• Soil Moisture
• Vegetation

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Product Examples

• Skymath -http//www.unidata.ucar.edu/staff/blynds/
  Skymath.html
• Science/Math/Technology
• Developed by UCAR
• Middle school modules using environmental and
  real-time weather data
• Space Place - http//spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov
• Earth and space science and technology
• NASA JPL -- activities for elementary-age
  children
• Mission Geography -- http//missiongeography.org
• WestEd - Strategic Science Teaching --
• Lessons for using literature in inquiry-based
  science (late 2002)

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Hallmarks of ExcellenceRemote Sensing Education
Products
Start and End with the Audience in Mind

• Know your audience
• Design based on audience needs
• One Size Does Not Fit All -- targeted vs. broad
  audience
• Include target audience in design, review, and
  testing
• Distribution/Dissemination

Provide Accurate Content (Science Tech)
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Hallmarks of ExcellenceRemote Sensing Education
Products
Education Friendly

• Supports Teacher Requirements (e.g., National
  Education Standards in U.S.)
• Incorporates effective teaching/learning styles
  Inquiry-based, Student Centered
• Age-appropriate -- e.g., reading level
  appropriate to audience, considers developmental
  differences of audience
• Effectively-Presented Information
• Complete information/content for target audience
  (may not be familiar with the content).
• Tools (e.g., glossaries, answer keys, blank
  worksheets)
• Label images/charts/graphs with units of
  measurements (metric!) and provide color keys

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Hallmarks of ExcellenceRemote Sensing Education
Products
Technology-based Products

• Platform Independent (Mac/PC)
• Appropriate for computer resources available in
  classrooms
• Web not Cob-Web Keep links up-to-date and update
  content
• Uses technology effectively (interactive
  features, cost effectiveness)
• Password-protected teacher sections (students not
  have access to answers)

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Hallmarks of ExcellenceRemote Sensing Education
Products
Production/design quality is high

• Design is effective, visually stimulating, and
  appealing.
• Visuals/images are crisp, clear, and/or
  high-resolution.
• Video/audio quality is high.
• Free from production errors

Provide Resources/References for Further
Exploration
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For More Information

• http//www.strategies.org
• http//earth.nasa.gov/education