Locating Useable NASA (and other) DataLocating Useable NASA (and other) Datafor Earth and Space Science Inquiryfor Earth and Space Science Inquiry

• What and where are the best NASA (and other) data resources for engaging pre-service teachers in Earth and space science inquiry?

• How can these data resources be used for inquiry?

What Qualities Should Data Resources What Qualities Should Data Resources Have for Effective Classroom Use?Have for Effective Classroom Use?

Best Practice Tips: Get your audience involved using their experience; build ownership.

What Qualities Should Data Resources What Qualities Should Data Resources Have for Effective Classroom Use?Have for Effective Classroom Use?

• Easy to find

• Easy to access – (relatively) simple user interface

• Easy to manipulate – so students can do something meaningful with them; visual data, graphic data (Excel)

• Well-sampled (in space, time, etc.)

• Elicits scientific questions that can be addressed through further investigation

• Other qualities?

What NASA - or other - Data What NASA - or other - Data Resources Have You Found Useful?Resources Have You Found Useful?

• Jot down a few Earth or space science data resources that you think lend themselves to open inquiry

Earth

Solar System

Beyond

• Share as we go!

Best Practice Tips: Get your audience involved using their experience; build ownership.

CD!

Here’s What We FoundHere’s What We FoundEarthEarth … … A Work in ProgressA Work in Progress

NASA Earth Observatory Data and Images

Earth Impact Data Base

IRIS Seismic Data

TOMS Ozone Data (A little more advanced)

USGS Real Time Water Data

And More!

And Links to Data-Rich Teaching Resources:

Student Observation Network

Discovering Plate BoundariesOther Datasets?

DISCLAIMER: ALL of these data sets will require some playing around to get what you want … but they are nearer to useable than much of what’s out

there ….

Best Practice Tips: Poweryak at your audience … in a monotone …

CD!

Here’s What We FoundHere’s What We FoundSolar SystemSolar System … … A Work in ProgressA Work in Progress

Mars Phoenix Lander Images

Solar System Simulator – more than Galilean moons!

Solar Activity – Sunspots, Tracking a Solar Storm, Solar Images

Cratering databases (planets and moons)

Project Spectra @ LASP – uses planetary spectra

SDSS SkyServer – plots planets and asteroids in sky.

Other Datasets?

CD!

Here’s What We FoundHere’s What We FoundAnd BeyondAnd Beyond … … A Work in ProgressA Work in Progress

Globe at Night

SDSS SkyServer – images and spectra of stars and galaxies star types, galaxy types, redshifts Hubble Law, cluster properties

Hubble Deep Field folder on CD

Amazing Space – “Hubble Deep Field Academy” and “Galaxy Hunter” (also uses HDFs but with more statistics).

US National Virtual Observatory -- oodles of data but hard to use

Extra-Solar Planets Dataset

Stellarium – more sophisticated planetarium program

Other Datasets?

CD!

Now It’s Your Turn!Now It’s Your Turn!Launch into Some Open-Ended InquiryLaunch into Some Open-Ended Inquiry!!

• Browse the data CD

• Select 2 data sets that relate to what you teach and align with your state science standards

Crater data base and impacts = natural hazard

Sunspot activity = characteristics of the sun

• Compare and contrast these 2 data sets re: desired qualities

• Identify scientific questions that the data set(s) can address

What is the relationship between sunspot activity and Earth’s temperature?

How does cratering size and density on the Moon compare to that on Mars?

Dig In! Use the Electronic Poster Slides PowerPoint on the CD to present your results (recall the disclaimer!).

What Did You Think of the Resources?What Did You Think of the Resources?

Were they easy to find?

Were they easy to access – simple user interface?

Were they easy to manipulate – visually or graphically?

Did they adequately sample the parameter space?

Did they elicit fruitful scientific questions?

Other qualities?

Questions?Questions?

Best Practice Tips: Allow time to clarify discussion; be responsive to audience.