TeacherTECH: From the Stars to Underwater Depths and Sea to Shining Sea -LIVE Distance Education Programs

Elementary School, Middle School, High School, Community College and Continuing Education Educators are invited to attend our  May TeacherTECH Science Series. The workshop is focused on Live Virtual Explorations in collaboration with the High Performance Wireless Research Education Network and the National Park Service.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

9:00am - 12:00pm

San Diego Supercomputer Center, Auditorium

University of California, San Diego 

Workshop Description

Workshop participants will visit a rocky intertidal area protecting delicate sea life, poke around in a quiet mountain stream, and embark on an adventure in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska before diving into an underwater tour seeking colorful reef creatures via LIVE. The workshop showcases remote science education opportunities using Live Interactive Virtual Explorations (LIVE) system, developed by the High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network (HPWREN).

Classrooms need only an Internet connection, a computer with external speakers and microphone, and a projector to participate in LIVE programs. During the workshop teachers will learn to assemble the LIVE backpack system, an easy to use, inexpensive and portable distance education system that provides maximum mobility to conduct distance education programs from the field.

All participants will be encouraged to conduct a LIVE program in their classroom or auditorium within 6 weeks following this training session. A limited number of LIVE backpacks will be available for teachers to borrow upon completion of the workshop.

Part 1: LIVE Demonstration

The first part of the workshop demonstrates LIVE and provides instruction on how to host a LIVE program from your classroom or auditorium. The demonstration also features LIVE science education opportunities available at several National Parks.

• Santa Monica Mountains – California
• Cabrillo National Monument – California
• Denali National Park and Preserve - Alaska
• Mammoth Caves National Park – Kentucky
• Biscayne National Park – Florida

Part 2: LIVE Backpack assembly and use

The LIVE system is small, portable, and designed to fit into a backpack, allowing educators or interpreters the freedom to move unfettered around interesting science sites. Teachers will assemble LIVE backpacks and conduct a LIVE session.

Please join us for an exciting and informative session of hands-on learning presented by:

• Hans-Werner Braun, Principal Investigator, High Performance Wireless Research and Education  Network, University of California San Diego, San Diego Super Computer Center
• Jim Hale, Programmer, High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network,
• University of California San Diego, San Diego Super Computer Center
• Karl Pierce, Chief of Interpretation and Education, Cabrillo National Monument
• Susan Teel, Director Southern California Research Learning Center
• Richard Curry, Ocean, Reef and Science Program Manager, Biscayne National Park
• Christie Anastasia, Education Coordinator, Murie Science and Learning Center, Denali National Park and Preserve

Registration is free. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited. Please contact Ange Mason at 858-534-5064 or amason@ucsd.edu to reserve your space.

For more information on upcoming TeacherTECH workshops, please see http://education.sdsc.edu/teachertech.