Aside from Ruby (and the Captain, o' course!), my other passion is teaching science. I gave up teaching science about 7 years ago to take up training teachers - because, as a nation, we STINK at teaching science. Science is an activity - not a collection of facts. You can't teach science by watching YouTube videos or reading a text and then taking a quiz, and yet that's how most of my young teachers-to-be have been taught. What kind of things to I train teachers to do? Look at the photo of the planet models below. Instead of an $800 plastic model of the planets (no kidding!), I train 'em to have the students make planetary models from ping pong balls and markers for about $0.75 per child.
I holler all the time about how horrible Standards-based education is.... I guess someone was listening. I've been asked to be part of a panel discussion on the need for Hands-On science education in schools. I'm going to be on with a JPL scientist and NASA veteran, Dr. Stephen Edberg this Wednesday at 9 am pacific time, 11 am central, noon eastern. The Explore Scientific website has links to lots of social media where the program will be streamed live, and the program will be recorded and available later if you're interested but cannot join us. You can even chat with us and ask questions. (PS: in the poster below, I'm the smiling bald guy! )