1 Luke Findley Professor Lucia Bortz CSC 155 25 March 2014 NASA Digital Learning Network Digital Learning

Network: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/dln/index.html On the evening of Thursday, March 20th, I was given the unique opportunity to participate in a live video feed with Dr. David Alexander of the NASA Digital Learning Network (DLN). The NDLN is a tremendous educational initiative established on the principle that ascertains, as the United States begins its second century of flight, the Nation must maintain its commitment to excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to ensure that the next generation of Americans can accept the full measure of their roles and responsibilities in shaping the future. In his presentation, Dr. Alexander guaranteed that the DLN will continue NASAs tradition of investing in the Nations education programs whilst supporting us, the countrys forthcoming educators, who will soon play a key role in preparing, inspiring, exciting, encouraging, and nurturing the young minds of today and the workforce of tomorrow. Dr. Alexanders joy filled charisma was undoubtedly genuine and therefore evoked a due sense of passion and vigor.

2 NASA Education (Grades 9-12): http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/9-12/index.html NASA Education, a scholastic resource site, provides students and teachers with supplemental tools used to develop engaging lessons and activities in the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This specific link is to that of the grade 9-12 archive. With tabs for both students and educators, this page offers a wide variety of materials ranging from lessons on art and cosmic connections to interactive video tutorials on space meteorology. All lessons may be further developed by use of NASAs video conferencing software. Through such technology, students are given the opportunity to participate in cooperative interdisciplinary collaboration with diverse peers from around the world. Some lessons, facilitated by a NASA professional, go so far as to grant students that additional first-person resource. When government funding provides this phenomenal service free of charge, any teacher would be a fool to ignore its existence.