Space-Age Technology: A Catalyst for Content Literacy
Joan N. Maier and Judy Lucas (Technical assistance by Ray Sanders and Carmen Peņa of the
University of Houston - Clear Lake)
Abstract
Although photographs of the Earth taken from space shuttles have been available as an instructional tool for years, teachers needed to learn how to effectively use these photographs in geography instruction. The authors describe a teacher-training institute designed for this purpose and provide an example of a geography lesson that uses the photos as a resource to promote content-area literacy in secondary school.
Contents
Introduction: NASA Shuttle Photography | Rationale for Teacher Training | Geography Institute | Overview of Institute Design | Model for Learning Shuttle Photography Interpretation | Judy's Lesson: Studying Water Problems From Space | Summary | Resources
Author Biographies
Joan N. Maier (e-mail: maier@uhcl4.cl.uh.edu) is an assistant professor of education at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Clear Lake, Texas, USA. She teaches curriculum and instructional design, and
elementary and secondary social studies methods and global geography. She also is the director of the Geography Institute for teachers.
Judy Lucas (e-mail: jlucas@tenet.edu) is a teacher and department chair of social studies at Clear Brook
High School in Friendswood, Texas, USA. She also is a teacher consultant for the National Geographic Society.