About Eyes in the Sky II
What is Eyes in the Sky II?
Eyes in the Sky II is a long-term professional development program that prepares high school science teachers to use NASA data and visualizations along with other geospatial information technologies. Throughout the program, teachers and students investigate both global and local environmental issues. The program includes four parts:
- A 12-week online Web course, consisting of three 4-week modules.
- A 7-day face-to-face summer workshop held onsite at a NASA research center.
- One year of classroom implementation, ending with a virtual student showcase.
- An ambassador program for providing professional development for other teachers in participants' schools or districts.
What will I do in the program?
As an Eyes in the Sky II teacher, you will:
- Learnto access and use geospatial data and visualization tools like NASA's Giovanni, NEO, and World Wind programs plus geographic information system (GIS) software, image analysis software, and Google Earth by working through prepared modules during an online course and a 7-day summer workshop.
- Visitone of three collaborating NASA research centers, meet NASA scientists, and engage in geospatial data analysis.
- Implement data-rich investigations with your students when you return to school in the fall.
- Prepare your students to share their results at a virtual showcase the following spring.
- Collaborate electronically and in person with peers, program staff, and NASA scientists.
- Be an ambassador for the Eyes in the Sky II program by providing professional development for other teachers in your school or district.
When is the program offered?
Eyes in the Sky II is an 18-month program that will begin in late January, 2010. The four parts of the program that will take place are as follows:
Online Course
The online course is 12 weeks long, running from the end of January through May, 2010. The course is broken up into three four-week-long modules, each separated by one week. An optional review plus question and answer session will be held during the weeks between modules. We recognize that you have a busy teaching schedule and so we have designed the course in chunks to make it easier for you to be fully involved. It takes most participants from 4 to 6 hours per week to carry out data analysis activities and share and discuss ideas. You will need to have access to an Internet-connected computer, preferably the same one you will be bringing to the summer workshop.
Summer Workshops
Eyes in the Sky II participants will be required to attend one 7-day summer workshop. Workshops will be held onsite at 3 different NASA centers across the country. Meals and lodging will be provided during the summer workshop, but the project does not provide funds for travel to and from the workshop location. Participants will need to bring their own laptop computer to the workshop. Workshop options are as follows:
| Location | Dates |
| Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX | June 21-27, 2010 |
| Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA | July 7-13, 2010 |
| Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD | July 19-25, 2010 |
Classroom Implementation and Virtual Showcase
During the 2010-2011 school year, Eyes in the Sky II participants will implement data-rich investigations with their students. The classroom implementation period will culminate with an online "showcase" that highlights the results of students' investigations. This virtual event will take place in May 2011.
Ambassador Program
After completing the online course and attending the summer workshop, Eyes in the Sky II teachers are expected to become Eyes in the Sky Ambassadors, sharing what they've learned with other teachers in their school, district, or region. Ambassadors will be paid to offer twenty hours of professional development (e.g. after school meetings, virtual workshops, conferences) to ten teachers. Ambassadors are encouraged to work with teachers in multiple sessions over a long period of time, rather than in one or two-day venues.
What are the benefits of participating?
- Become proficient using NASA data and geospatial analysis tools.
- Receive a $1000 stipend for completing the online course and the 7-day summer workshop. Receive an additional $1000 stipend as compensation for delivering professional development as an Eyes in the Sky Ambassador.
- Equip your students with geospatial technology skills that are in increasing demand in the workplace.
- Obtain optional graduate credit through Northern Arizona University.
Who should apply?
Grade 9 to 12 high school science teachers who have access to computers with Internet connectivity and who are willing to use geospatial technology and NASA data to help their students better understand Earth through investigating global and local environmental issues. Participants are expected to be teaching high school science courses during the 2010-2011 school year.
Eyes in the Sky II is actively seeking teachers in schools with historically underserved student populations.
How do I apply?
Fill out and submit an online application by January 15, 2010. Applicants will be notified of their status by January 20, 2010. We expect this will be a popular program. As there are a limited number of openings available, first consideration will be given to early applicants.
What if I have questions about Eyes in the Sky II?
Email Carla McAuliffe Carla_McAuliffe@terc.edu or Erin Bardar Erin_Bardar@terc.edu
Eyes in the Sky II is a professional development program created and administered by TERC, Inc. through funding from the NASA K-12 Competitive Grants Program. Eyes in the Sky II is an expansion of TERC's existing program that was supported by NSF ITEST funding.