www.nasa.gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Education Highlights Robert H. Goddard Memorial SymposiumMarch 29, 2012

James StofanDep. Assoc. Admin. for Education Integration

Over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school education. And yet, as many as a quarter of our students aren’t even finishing high school. The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations. America has fallen to ninth in the proportion of young people with a college degree. And so the question is whether all of us—as citizens, and as parents—are willing to do what’s necessary to give every child a chance to succeed.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, 2011 STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

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1. Shanghai-China2. Finland3. Hong Kong-China4. Singapore5. Japan6. Korea7. New Zealand8. Canada9. Estonia10. Australia13. Germany16. United Kingdom23. United States

Source: OECD (2010), PISA 2009 Results: What Students Know and Can Do – Student Performance in Reading, Mathematics and Science(Volume I)http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264091450-en 

US Global Rank on Science

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1. Shanghai-China2. Singapore3. Hong Kong-China4. Korea5. Chinese Taipei6. Finland7. Lichtenstein8. Switzerland9. Japan10. Canada16. Germany28. United Kingdom31. United States

US Global Rank on Mathematics

Source: OECD (2010), PISA 2009 Results: What Students Know and Can Do – Student Performance in Reading, Mathematics and Science(Volume I)http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264091450-en 

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NASA’s Earth Science Missions

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National Education Administration and Congressional PrioritiesPresident’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology: Prepare and Inspire: K-12 Education in STEM for America’s Future (09/10)

(1) improve Federal coordination and leadership on STEM education(2) support the state-led movement to ensure that the Nation adopts a

common baseline for what students learn in STEM;(3) cultivate, recruit, and reward STEM teachers that prepare and inspire

students;(4) create STEM-related experiences that excite and interest students of all

backgrounds; and(5) support states and school districts in their efforts to transform schools

into vibrant STEM learning environments.

Presidential Goal: • The U.S. [will] have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020, the

Federal Government will work with education partners to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education at all levels to help increase the number of well-prepared graduates with STEM degrees by one-third over the next 10 years, resulting in an additional 1 million graduates with degrees in STEM subjects.”

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To advance high quality STEM education using NASA’s unique capabilities

NASA Education Vision Statement

NASA Education Overview

Outcomes

Relevance NASA Content Diversity Evaluation Continuity Partnership/Sustainability

Engage

Inspire

Audiences

Identify, cultivate, and sustain a diverse workforce and inclusive work environment that is needed to conduct NASA missions

Employ

Educate

Attract and retain students in STEM disciplines along the full length of the education pipeline.

Engage the public in NASA’s missions by providing new pathways for participation.

Inform, engage, and inspire the public by sharing NASA’s mission, challenges, and results.

Build strategic partnerships that promote STEM literacy through formal and informal means.

Operating Principles

Learners

Educators

Institutions

STEM Education Framework

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First Steps to a STEM Career

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In FY 2012, NASA is pursuing several education activities:

Support national STEM improvement efforts.

Continue the Summer of Innovation (SoI) project.

Enable student internships, launch initiatives, hands-on payloads. Development and engineering opportunities for NASA missions.

Improve STEM education coordination among Federal agencies.

Future of NASA Education

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2012 NASA STEM Education Focus

     

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NASA STEM Education Programs and Activities K-12

FIRST Robotics

Kids in Microgravity Challenge

Summer of Innovation

Great Moonbuggy Race

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NASA Educator Outreach

NASA CORE

ISS Downlinks

NASA Explorer SchoolsDigital Learning Network

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Easy Ways to Obtain NASA Materials

View and download from NASA website• www.nasa.gov/educationVisit a NASA Educator Resource Center (ERC)• www.nasa.gov/education/ercnPurchase materials from the Central Operations of Resources for Educators (CORE)• www.nasa.gov/education/core

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The LEGO CompanyMary J. Blige & FFAWN

Will.i.am & FIRST Robotics

Coordination and Partnerships

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Looking Towards the Future

International Space Station New Space Launch System

Mars Science LaboratorySLS Launch Pad Concept

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NASA SPHERES

www.nasa.gov

Questions or CommentsJames Stofan

Dep. Assoc. Admin. for Education Integration