NASA Science Mission
Directorate
Space Science Education
Product Reviews
Call for Products and
Review Schedule
March 2007
Contents:
A. Overview
of NASA Space Science Education Product Review Process
After education materials
are submitted to the NASA education product review, peer review panels are
identified. These panels are selected to include educators (i.e., experts
on national science education standards, science curriculum developers/specialists,
classroom teachers, etc.) and at least 3 scientists with expertise in the
discipline areas of the materials being reviewed. The NASA Space Science
Education Forums help identify appropriate scientists for these panels. Typically
a panel includes approximately 6-7 reviewers.
Reviewers receive copies of the materials to be reviewed, including the submission
forms that were completed by the product developers. Before they begin reviewing
the materials, new reviewers participate in an instructional teleconference
to go over the review process, instructions, review forms, and background
information. Reviewers then have approximately five-six weeks in which
to review the materials theyÕre assigned and complete their evaluation forms.
After individually reviewing products and completing a review form for each
product, the reviewers are convened by panel, where they discuss each product
in detail, gaining insight and information from each other. As a group,
the panel determines a recommendation to NASA for each product. Space
Science Education Forum representatives sit in on these panel discussions,
and are able to ask questions to clarify the panel comments. In cases
where the review panels recommend revisions to a product, the Space Science
Education Forums are responsible for working with the product developers to
communicate the panel results and to determine whether the developerÕs response
(e.g., revisions that they make to the product or reasons provided for not
revising the materials) are adequate for addressing the review panel recommendations.
B. Product
Submission Form (Microsoft
Word | PDF
)
Download and complete one
submission form for every product submitted to the review. NOTE: Reviewers will
receive a copy of these completed submission forms. Providing complete information in these forms will help
reviewers evaluate products and provide them with background information that
may not be readily apparent from the product. Reviewers consistently note that this information is very
helpful and in many cases either provides information that improves a productÕs
rating or answers questions or concerns that could potentially lower a
productÕs rating.
NOTE: You must complete and submit a Product Submission Form Checklist when you submit a product submission form.
On behalf of NASA, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) convenes panels of educators, curriculum and instructional design specialists, teacher trainers, national education standards experts, and space scientists to review new NASA space science education products. This review is a requirement for passing the NASA Communication Materials Review (CMR) in order to print and distribute NASA education materials. Products that pass the education product review will also be eligible for distribution through the NASA portal (www.nasa.gov), as well as NASA education workshops and national education conferences.
The following table shows the upcoming review schedule and deadlines.
|
Notice of Intent to Submit* |
Products to |
Review Results to Developer No Later Than: |
|
Sept. 1, 2006 |
Sept. 19, 2006 |
Dec. 8, 2006 |
|
Nov. 10 , 2006 |
Dec. 1, 2006 |
Feb. 26, 2007 |
| March 2007 | March 2007 |
*
Providing a Notice of Intent is
optional, but strongly encouraged.
The education product review is limited to space science education products that are sponsored by NASA.
This review does not take the place of formative evaluation of education materials. Before entering the review, products should have already gone through an appropriate formative evaluation, including field testing by teachers and/or students, as well as review by space scientists for scientific/technical accuracy.
Products submitted for this review are not expected to be in final, printed format – design and conformance to NASA publications style guide will be addressed through the NASA CMR. Reviewers will be instructed to look beyond formatting and design, and focus on content and pedagogy.
Product developers are
requested to provide a ÒNotice of IntentÓ that they plan to submit a product to
the review. This is optional, but
strongly encouraged; having this information will help IGES plan appropriate
review panels and expedite the review process. The ÒNotice of IntentÓ can be sent in for any future review
cycle and is requested no later than two weeks before the deadline for
submitting a product. Please
provide the following information to john_ensworth@strategies.org:
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
ATTN: NASA Space Science Education Product Review
1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 901
Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 312-0823
NOTE: Reviewers will receive a copy of these completed submission forms and checklists. Providing complete information in these forms will help reviewers evaluate products and provide them with background information that may not be readily apparent from the product. Reviewers consistently note that this information is very helpful and in many cases answers questions or concerns that could potentially lower a product's rating.
Products
are reviewed by panels of educators and space scientists. Educators and scientists use different
criteria to assess the products.
Links to the review forms that are used are provided below.
| K-12 Curriculum Materials (Educators) | Word | HTML | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education Resources/Informal Education | Word | HTML | |
| Science Reviewer Form | Word | HTML |
H.
Guidelines for Developing NASA Space Science Education
Products
The
Visual Standards for NASA Communications Products is available at http://communications.hq.nasa.gov. This site is only accessible within
NASA. A copy of the guidelines is
also available for those outside NASA at: http://www.strategies.org//SMD_CommunicationsReview/NASA_StyleGuide_Nov06.pdf.
J.
NASA Space Science Education Forum Contacts
The
following NASA Space Science Education Forum contacts will have approval of
which products will be reviewed. IGES will send out a confirmation email to the
product developer regarding whether their product has been accepted to the
review. Please cc the appropriate
NASA Space Science Education Forum contact when you email your completed
submission form to IGES.
Sun-Earth Connection
Elaine
Lewis: (lewis@mail630.gsfc.nasa.gov)
(301-286-3337)
Solar
System Exploration
Rosalie
Betrue: (Rosalie.Betrue@jpl.nasa.gov)
(818-393-5388)
Structure
and Evolution of the Universe
Sandra
Daly: (sdaly@cfa.harvard.edu)
(617-496-4784)
Astronomical
Search for Origins
Denise Smith: (dsmith@stsci.edu) (410-338-4434)
For
more information about the review, including the review criteria and
guidelines, contact John Ensworth at john_ensworth@strategies.org.