Sessions registration is now available for the 26th annual Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC) Feb. 6-8 at Space Center Houston!
SEEC brings together teachers from all around the world to exchange instructional strategies, learn from inspiring speakers, and take part in behind-the-scenes NASA tours.
This year SEEC offers over 100 different sessions covering a variety of topics from a host of experts and educators. Explore a few of the immersive sessions below.
Algae in Space – NASA Seeks Biology Investigation Collaborators
Presenters: Alicia Baturoni Cortez, NASA JSC | Daniel Kainer, Lone Star Community College
In May 2019, a community college student’s dream became reality, when the algae experiment she had growing in her kitchen window became a NASA payload aboard the International Space Station. Life science and biology educators are encouraged to attend this session to find out how to become collaborators in NASA’s ongoing MicroAlgae investigation. Grow your own algae, compare it to NASA data sets, and share your findings with NASA!
[label type=”label-primary”]Grade Level: K-12[/label]
Animate Your Space!
Presenters: Sharon Rigsby, Beaumont ISD | Lisa Stewart, Killeen ISD
Use Animation Studio and Stop Motion to create short animations of Earth/Space concepts and models. Backdrops, props, and clay will be provided. Download the free Stop Motion app and/or bring your laptop. Learn how to set up an animation station in your classroom. The door prize – an Animation Studio kit.
[label type=”label-primary”]Grade Level: K-12[/label]
Any Bot, Any Place, Any Time: Creating Custom Robotics Competitions
Presenters: Maryann Hebda, Gardner Edgerton School District | Kate Sample, FIRST – For Inspiration And Recognition Of Science
Robotics isn’t always “one size fits all.” This session’s focus is helping educators to use any available robotic technology (from Ozobot to Vex) to allow all kids to participate in a fun, inclusive, teamwork-oriented robotics competition. Presenters have created custom robotics competitions at the local and regional level that are free for kids to attend and easy for educators to organize. Participants will try out a space-themed robotics task and then create a new task based on current NASA missions.
[label type=”label-primary”]Grade Level: 3-12[/label]
Creating Your K-8 STEAM Lab/Makerspace with Confidence & Under Budget 2.0
Presenters: James Falletti, Corpus Christi School | Dana Mason, Henry E. Harris Community School
Join the presenters in a high energy and fun hands-on workshop that focuses on how to effectively create a STEAM Lab/Makerspace on a budget by using everyday materials. In addition to experiencing space-themed STEAM lessons, you will learn how to obtain donations, funding, and add digital resources to challenge advanced students with the basics of HTML and coding.
[label type=”label-primary”]Grade Level: K-8[/label]
Designing and producing VR habitats
Presenters: Javier Montiel, International Aerospace Academy | Lisa Spence, Retired NASA Program Strategist
Have your students ever done space habitats using cardboard, cups, and straws? Imagine how cool would it be to make them bigger, to get inside and walk around them. Great and exciting things are happening in the virtual reality industry every day. Learn about the HERA mission at NASA Johnson Space Center and use this mission to trigger solutions to build space habitats in virtual reality from scratch without previous experience. Acquire new skills to produce virtual reality projects. Bring a laptop and phone.
[label type=”label-primary”]Grade Level: 6-12[/label]
Graphing a Rocket Launch
Presenters: Twila Schneider, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center | Shannon Raleigh, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
This session will present information about the Space Launch System, NASA’s rocket for launching humans to the Moon, and include an activity to determine if the amount of air (fuel) in a balloon (rocket) changes the distance it travels. Data will be collected and graphed to visualize test results.
[label type=”label-primary”]Grade Level: K-2[/label]
Touching Space – Providing Adaptations for Blind and Visually Impaired Students
Presenters: Dan Oats, SCIVIS (Space Camp) | Stephanie McMahon, Space Center Houston
This session will examine the objectives, adaptations, and low-cost materials and activities needed to provide a successful space science learning environment for students with low vision and blindness.
[label type=”label-primary”]Grade Level: K-12[/label]
Working under Pressure
Presenters: Katrina Roddenberry, Crew/Wakulla Middle School | Jessica Strauss, Space Educator Expedition Crew | Paul Boehm – NASA Johnson Space Center
How would you do performing critical space duties during an extravehicular activity (EVA)? The engineering of spacesuits has the issue of dealing with the pressure of an inflated suit and having astronauts work safely and effectively inside a pressure bladder in extreme environments. Working against this pressure is challenging and tiring for the crew. In this session, participants will engage in simulated EVA tasks in four station rotations where dexterity and grip strength are critical to safely and efficiently completing the mission tasks. Participants will experience firsthand what it is like working under pressure and completing EVA tasks like an astronaut.
[label type=”label-primary”]Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8[/label]
The Human Body in Space – Intro to Changes
Presenters: Jenni Campbell, CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD/Salyards MS | Kelly Parente, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD/Salyards MS
Take away new ideas on how to effectively teach Astrobiology and integrate flexible regrouping practices with your grade level students with ease. Students have an opportunity to be an explorer (discovery based), an engineer (design based), an artist (including multiple mediums), or a researcher (information based).
[label type=”label-primary”]Grade Level: 6-8[/label]
