This set of three videos illustrates how math is used in satellite data analysis. The videos feature NASA senior climate scientist Claire Parkinson. Parkinson explains how the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice covers are measured from satellite data and... (View More) how math is used to determine trends in the data. In the first video, she leads viewers from satellite data collection through obtaining a time series of monthly average sea ice extents for November 1978 – December 2012, for the Arctic and Antarctic. In the second video, she begins with the time series from the first video, removes the seasonal cycle by calculating yearly averages, and proceeds to calculate the slopes of the lines to get trends in the data, revealing decreasing sea ice coverage in the Arctic and increasing sea ice coverage in the Antarctic. In the third video, she uses a more advanced technique to remove the seasonal cycle and shows that the trends are close to the same, whichever method is used. She emphasizes the power of math and that the techniques shown for satellite sea ice data can also be applied to a wide range of data sets. (View Less)

These e-training resources from the GLOBE Program consist of three modules for teachers and one for scientists: Introduction to GLOBE; Introduction to GLOBE for Scientists; Introduction to the Atmosphere Investigation Area, and Clouds Protocols. The... (View More) modules can be used as a review for current GLOBE teachers; additional training material for GLOBE trainers to use before, during, or after GLOBE trainings; and an introduction to GLOBE for Scientists. GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide, hands-on, K-12 school-based science education program. (View Less)

In this self-paced tutorial, learners examine data to determine the relative contribution of what we call natural climate cycles and that of human-caused greenhouse gases to contemporary climate change. Changes in the Earth-Sun geometry over time... (View More) are explored using interactive digital applets. A section supporting pedagogical techniques that begin with student prior conceptions and a list of common Earth science student misconceptions are included. Vocabulary terms are hot linked to a glossary. This is the sixth of ten self-paced professional development modules providing opportunities for teachers to learn about climate change through first-hand data exploration. (View Less)

This self-paced tutorial investigates evidence for contemporary climate change by examining multi-year weather, statistical and anecdotal records obtained from several U.S. localities. Learners plot and identify trends in regional weather data,... (View More) learn the difference between weather and climate, and explore the pedagogic advantages associated with learning about global climate change by examining regional data. Videos describing local phenological data of changing seasonality, data portals, an interview with NASA scientist, Dr. Eric Fetzer, and activities to adapt for middle and high school classrooms are included. Vocabulary are linked to a glossary. This is the third of ten professional development modules providing opportunities for teachers to learn about climate change through first-hand data exploration. (View Less)

In this self-paced tutorial, learners explore the personal choices students make every day as resource consumers, and how those decisions contribute to the climate health of our planet. Multimedia educational resources such as video clips, digital... (View More) interactive explorations and a quiz are included. This is the fifth of ten self-paced professional development modules providing opportunities for teachers to learn about climate change through first-hand data exploration. A carbon consumption calculator designed for kids to be used in the classroom and glossary links to vocabulary are included. (View Less)

This tutorial provides the evidence that the amount of CO² in the atmosphere has not been as high as it is currently for nearly half a million years and that this increase corresponds with data that human activity is responsible. Learners examine... (View More) scientific data showing increases in both atmospheric becomes CO² and the Earth's average temperature and analyze changes in atmospheric concentration of CO² over time. They reflect on some of the barriers involved in teaching global climate change and how using data in the classroom may be used to overcome those barriers. Multimedia resources such as video clips, a data visualization exercise featuring digital resources on climate.nasa.gov, and an interview with NASA climate scientist, Dr. Gavin Schmidt, are included. This is the second of ten self-paced professional development modules providing opportunities for teachers to learn about climate change through first-hand data exploration. Lesson plans for middle and high school students, descriptions of data collection instruments, glossary links to vocabulary are included. (View Less)

In this self-paced tutorial, examine evidence of climate change from different parts of the Earth’s system and consider what it means to live on a planet with a dynamically changing climate. The resource includes multimedia resources such as video... (View More) clips of local impacts of climate change in the Arctic and Samoa, data visualization exercise featuring digital resources on climate.nasa.gov, and an interview with NASA climate scientist Dr. Gavin Schmidt, a discussion on teaching using data, and an interactive quiz. Introduction to the Earth's Dynamically Changing Climate is the first of a series of ten self-paced professional development modules providing opportunities for teachers to learn about climate change through first-hand data exploration. Activities and resources that can be employed in the classroom are featured. (View Less)

In this self-paced tutorial, educators learn about the kinds of educational experiences that prove effective in exciting students about STEM careers and identify resources that can be used to introduce students to STEM careers, especially those... (View More) related to climate change science. Profiles of scientists and engineers representing diverse populations are included for use in the classroom. Multimedia educational resources including video clips and vocabulary words linked to a glossary are included. This is the eighth of ten self-paced professional development modules providing opportunities for teachers to learn about climate change through first-hand data exploration. (View Less)

This self-paced tutorial explores the evidence for sea level rise related to global climate change and the consequences for humanity, especially for coastal-dwelling populations. Learners explore how a warming climate contributes to sea level rise,... (View More) examine how satellites collect sea level data, and analyze interactive data to understand the potential consequences of climate change on sea level in different parts of the world. Multimedia educational resources including video clips and glossary links to vocabulary are included. This is the seventh of ten self-paced professional development modules providing opportunities for teachers to learn about climate change through first-hand data exploration. (View Less)

In this self-paced tutorial, learners analyze data to understand the relative influence of solar variability on today's climate to determine whether changes in incoming solar radiation can explain all or part of the warming trend we have seen in... (View More) Earth's planetary temperatures. The resource supports teacher reflection on how climate change skepticism in the media impacts instruction in the classroom. Multimedia educational resources including video clips and data portals are included. This is the fourth of ten self-paced professional development modules providing opportunities for teachers to learn about climate change through first-hand data exploration. Glossary links to vocabulary are included. (View Less)