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Preparing for the Journey to Space: Energy
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ISS Power System!
The second of two Web Seminars on NASA: Preparing
for the Journey to Space: Energy was held on Wednesday, May 24, 2006, from 6:30
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. The presenter was Dave McKissock, engineer at NASA's
Glenn Research Center. Among the participants were some teachers who had attended
the face-to-face symposium at the NSTA National
Conference in Science Education in Anaheim, CA.
The session started with a general overview of the NSTA Web Seminar tools and how
they can be used to facilitate interaction between the participants and the presenter.
Thirty-eight participants were present in addition to the presenter and the NSTA
staff. Participating educators represented the states of California, Georgia, Hawaii,
Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. One participant joined
the program from Mexico.
Dave talked about the International Space Station (ISS) and how its solar arrays
work. It was interesting to learn that the complete set of solar arrays has not
yet been delivered to space. Like all the other components that make up the ISS,
the solar arrays are built on Earth, transported to orbit by the Space Shuttle,
and attached to the Station by astronauts. Because the solar arrays are so large
structures, they have to be folded during transport and unfurled after installation
on the ISS.
As the International Space Station orbits our planet, McKissock explained, the Sun
is blocked by the Earth for half the time. During these times, the Station uses
power stored on batteries that are charged periodically while the solar arrays are
facing the Sun. Throughout the presentation there were several opportunities for
the participants to interact with each other and with the presenter by answering
poll questions, chatting, stamping, and marking. The presenter spent over 20 minutes
after the session ended answering questions from the participants via the chat.
Here are some comments provided by the participants at the end of the Web Seminar:
- "I absolutely LOVE the seminars. I am unable to attend NSTA most of the time.
I'm in a rural area in Louisiana and wouldn't get the chance to do this sort of
thing otherwise. Thanks again!"
- "I loved feeling connected to so many educators on the internet. I learned how
the ISS is supplied with energy, and I learned a few other interesting little facts.
This is my first web seminar, and I thoroughly enjoyed it."
- "It's fun to do something real time...and interact with people from all over.
Learned a bit more about series and parallel circuits."
- "I learned a lot about the space station, how solar energy is made and stored.
I like this seminar and this format. I can come without leaving home or being out
of school."
Thanks to the participants and Dave for the learning opportunity, the interactions, and a job well done!
Web Seminar II Resources
Archive
See a recorded
version of the Web Seminar.
PowerPoint Presentation
- PC Download: To view online select link below to display in browser.
To download PowerPoint slides to your desktop right click on the link below and
select "save target as" from the drop down menu.
- MAC Download: To download PowerPoint slides to your desktop control
+ click on the link below and select "Save Linked File As..."
Download File Web Seminar II
- PowerPoint Presentation
(720 KB)
Websites
For more information contact symposia@nsta.org
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