The JASON Project
Al Hovey, JASON National Trainer, with Tim Samaras, JASON Author, at the 2012 WSST Conference in Madison, WI.
Larry Scheckel, National JASON Trainer publishes
Ask Your Science Teacher: Answers to Everyday Questions
Things you always wanted to know about how the world works
What is The JASON Project?
The JASON Project, Sea Research, Immersion Learning, and National Geographic connect students with great explorers and great events to inspire and motivate them to learn science.
JASON embeds the cutting-edge research of its partners – NASA, NOAA – into core science curriculum units for middle level grades and professional development for teachers. Their leading scientists work “side by side” with JASON students in the classroom and in an online global community, challenging them to apply their knowledge to compelling, real-world scenarios. Immersion provided after-school, summer camp models as well as live events with scientist throughout the school year.
Rationale
Faced with dramatic changes in twenty-first-century business practices, our public schools risk becoming obsolete unless teaching practices are adapted to meet the business community’s rapidly changing needs. In particular, advances in technology have created an environment where children need to begin early in their educational career to develop strong problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking skills. If not addressed, our children and our society face dire consequences. STEM training and careers are the pathway to innovation, national competitiveness and prosperity for students and the nation.
Educators and education advocates have developed a program to emphasize these important areas, not only to satisfy student learning and achievement, but to break new ground in:
- utilizing math and science as the “new literacy” to combat low “at-risk” student achievement;
- closing the gap in opportunities for girls in math and science;
- developing systemic “best practices” and innovations in teaching math and science;
- encouraging and supporting greater interest among all students to pursue further studies in math and science by creating advanced learning opportunities; and supporting the economic needs of our community by providing well-trained graduates in the field of math, science and engineering.
Making the Case for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
In a recent position paper on math and science education, the College Board’s Center for Innovative Thought described today’s worldwide economic shifts as leading to “a perfect storm aimed squarely at the United States.” They supported their claim with data sources revealing why today’s students will lack marketplace competitiveness in the evolving global economy. National trend data has made it clear that we must go well beyond current expectations for math, science, and technology education to prepare a twenty-first-century workforce:
- Though U.S. students score well against international competition in fourth grade tests, they fall near the bottom or dead last by twelfth grade in scores on math and science tests respectively.
- Less than half of those graduating from U.S. high schools are prepared for college-level science and math.
- University students in South Korea, France, Singapore, China, India, and elsewhere are studying natural sciences and engineering at rates two to three times greater than American students.
(from Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future, The National Academy of Sciences Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy, 2007)
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