Meteorologists to Experience STORM-E
CET Fri Oct 15 2004

A presentation on the NASA-sponsored Classroom of the Future’s weather simulation, STORM-E, has been accepted at the 85th annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society.

Jane Neuenschwander, coordinator of the Educator Resource Center at Wheeling Jesuit University and a curriculum writer for STORM-E, will conduct her presentation Jan. 10, 2005, at the society’s meeting in San Diego. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Building the Earth Information System.” The conference will explore the role that science can play in decision-making for society. Neuenschwander is the first speaker of 10 in the category entitled “K-12 Popular Initiatives.”

STORM-E, which targets students in grades 4-6 at schools with videoconferencing capabilities, was created at the Classroom of the Future. It offers two scenarios. In the newest one developed, kids evaluate weather maps and data from a winter storm. The nor’easter may cause problems for the annual New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City’s Times Square. Students, like the meteorologists they imitate, must use science and mathematics to support their recommendations. In the other scenario students must determine whether to hold an air show in Dayton, OH, as a tornado looms. Both events are based on major storms that actually occurred.

NASA Explorer Schools from Florida, Illinois, Indiana, and Mississippi will connect this school year via videoconference to “Weather Central” at the Classroom of the Future to participate in this weather simulation. During the last school year hundreds of students from five states worked through STORM-E’s Dayton scenario. STORM-E is available to any school with videoconferencing capabilities.

November 10, 2004