Talk of the Town: NASATalk Continues to Grow
Perhaps the fastest growing project in 2010 was NASATalk. Begun originally in 2008 as the EdTech Collaborative, a NASA-funded website where educational technology users could go to learn about all the various technologies available and how people were using them, the site changed in 2009 to NASATalk. The new site's Web 2.0 approach gives educators a virtual place to talk about the many opportunities available from NASA. As a collaborative, the site invites teachers, parents, or informal educators such as Scout or 4-H leaders to fully participate, whether communicating with other educators, reading blogs from fellow teachers and educational researchers, or even creating their own blog. The vibrant site thrives through the contributions of its participants.
Those contributions have become many. A number of educators have created blogs and collaboratives on the site to discuss topics in educational technology and STEM teaching and learning. In 2010 the site presented its first two STELLAR Award winners. The STELLAR Awards recognize excellent uses of NASA science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) materials by educators in classrooms or informal settings.
A number of sections provide paths to NASA resources. The NASA Connections area lists educational programs and products NASA provides. Other sections deal with tech topics, articles, blogs, and NASA careers.