2013 Smithsonian Online Education Conference Series Presents “NASA’s ‘Amazing Space’”

The Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access is hosting an online education conference for teachers Aug. 14 that showcases some of NASA’s most incredible astronomical images and the mysteries of the universe they have revealed. The session is the result of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education collaboration between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Space Telescope Science Institute, the operations home for NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

Frank Summers and Dan McAllister from the Space Telescope Science Institute will present “NASA’s ‘Amazing Space’: Using Hubble Space Telescope Images in the Classroom” Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 4 p.m. EDT. They will provide an overview of the science behind the world’s most famous telescope and share Hubble’s “Amazing Space” online resources to engage students in learning through astronomy and space.

Each online conference features experts presenting free digital-learning resources and teaching strategies that educators can use to explore cross-curricular lessons with their students. Experts also will respond to participant questions. Students will have the opportunity to earn the “Astrophotographer” badge through the Smithsonian Quests (smithsonianquests.org) digital badge program. New in August, teachers will also be able to earn a “Teaching with Telescopes” badge that will be shareable on Mozilla OpenBadges and social networks.

The 2013 Smithsonian Online Education Conference Series provides an online space for teachers and students to engage with Smithsonian experts and make connections from textbooks to today’s world. For more information, visit http://smithsonianeducationconferences.org/. About Smithsonian Institution

Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex, consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park and nine research facilities. There are 6,000 Smithsonian employees and 6,500 volunteers. Approximately 30 million people from around the world visited the Smithsonian in 2012. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at 137 million.

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