| For your convenience, JASON Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) are divided into three categories: FAQ about The JASON Project FAQ about the JASON Mission Center (JMC) FAQ about JASON's Professional Development program
If you any additional questions, please contact The JASON Project at 888-527-6600 or e-mail info@jason.org.
FAQ about The JASON Project
Q: What is The JASON Project?
A: A nonprofit subsidiary of the National Geographic Society, JASON connects young students with great explorers and great events to inspire and motivate them to learn science. Its core curriculum units are designed for 5th - 8th grade classrooms but are flexible enough to be adapted for higher or lower grades. Read more about JASON.... Q: How and when was JASON established?
A: The JASON Project was founded by Dr. Robert Ballard, the scientist and oceanographer who, in 1986, discovered the wreck of the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Ballard's breakthrough development of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) enabled scientists located far from a research site to remotely observe and record scientific phenomena otherwise inaccessible to them. Impressed by the many requests he received from students who wanted to learn more about his Titanic expedition, Dr. Ballard began to explore ways to bring the excitement of real scientific discovery into the classroom. In 1989, he established The JASON Project, a pioneering organization that uses multimedia tools and cutting-edge technology to engage students in scientific research and expeditions led by leading scientists. Q: How many students and teachers has JASON reached?
A: Over JASON's 20-year history, we have had more than 12 million students and teachers participate in JASON through the print curriculum, broadcasts, and the Internet. Q: Does JASON partner with educational or government organizations?
A: JASON has a long history of collaboration with NOAA, NASA, the U.S. Departments of Education and Energy, as well as prominent foundations and philanthropies. Q: Why is the organization called JASON?
A: The JASON Project gets its name from the Greek myth of the Argonauts, a group of adventurers who traveled with a hero named Jason to explore the far reaches of the ancient world in a ship called the Argo. Dr. Robert Ballard, founder of the organization and a modern-day "Jason," gave the organization its name when he dreamed of creating an educational program to spark the imaginations of students with real-life science. The JASON Project taps into the Argonauts' spirit of adventure to engage today's learners with great explorers and great events that expand our knowledge of the world in the 21st century. Learn more about The JASON Project's philosophy. Q: How can I order JASON for my school district, school, classroom or home?
A: The preferred method is to purchase JASON materials directly from our online store. Teacher Packs, Classroom Packs, School Packs, Individual Student Editions and on-site professional development courses are all available for purchase. Student curricula are also available free online in the JASON Mission Center. JASON materials may be customized to meet the specific needs of schools and districts. For more information about how to include JASON curricula in your school or district, please refer to our Products and Services page. Q: Does JASON offer professional development for educators? Where do I go to learn about training sessions?
A: Yes, the JASON Professional Development program offers on-site curriculum and content training for JASON offerings. On-site workshops are available at a variety of locations. We can also arrange for a JASON trainer to come to your site. Visit the JASON Professional Development page for more information. Q: What grade levels are JASON curricula designed to serve?
A: JASON's standards-based Operations curricula are geared to students in Grades 5 through 8, although JASON's materials can be easily adapted for lower or higher grades. Q: Do JASON materials align to national model standards and state curriculum requirements?
A: Yes, visit one of our standards pages to see JASONs alignments to National Science Education Standards: Operation: Infinite Potential, Operation: Resilient Planet, Operation: Monster Storms. State standards alignments are available in the JASON Mission Center, log in for free now! Q: Does JASON offer home-schooling opportunities?
A: Yes. Many home-schooled students participate in JASON in a variety of ways. Teacher Editions and Student Books can be purchased individually through our online store. Home-schooled students can also participate in all online message boards and interactive events through the JASON Mission Center. Additionally, the JASON Mission Center Web site includes numerous extensions and message boards for home-school educators to share tips and tricks. Home-school students can also apply to be Student Argonauts. Q: What are the components of a JASON Operations curriculum program?
A: The basic Teacher Pack includes one two-color Teacher Guide, one full-color Student Edition, one DVD video, and access to the JASON Mission Center. Additional packages with various additional materials are available from our online store. For more information on what is available with our curricula, visit our curricula overview page. Q: How often does JASON offer a new curriculum?
A: JASON engages students in a new and exciting Operation each year. With the help of multimedia resources and cutting-edge technology, students become part of a virtual research community, accompanying real researchers as they explore everything from monster storms to oceans to polar regions and volcanoes. Q: Can I obtain materials from previous JASON curricula?
A: Yes, some of our past Expeditions are available for purchase. For more information call 888-527-6600. Q: What is the cost to participate in The JASON Project?
A: Support from private organizations and government agencies such as NASA, NOAA, and National Geographic enables JASON to offer its innovative educational resources online for free in the JASON Mission Center. The cost of hard copy and DVD materials as well as professional development courses may vary regionally, depending on state subsidies and local grants. For purchasing information, visit our online store. Q: How many JASON units will I need for my school or classroom?
A: The JASON Teacher Pack provides hard copies of one Teacher Guide, one Student Edition, and one DVD video. The Classroom Pack includes one Teacher Guide, 30 full-color Student Editions, one DVD video, and access to the JASON Mission Center. The School Pack includes three Teacher Guides, 100 Student Editions, three VHS or DVD videos, and access to the JASON Mission Center. Individual Student Editions can also be purchased if more are needed. To order any of these, please visit our online store. Q: What equipment will I need to participate?
A: The minimum system requirements are a PC running Windows 2000 or higher or a Macintosh running Mac OS X 10.2 or higher. The computer must have at least 256 MB of RAM and 15 MB free hard-drive space; a connection to the Internet; and either Internet Explorer 6 or higher (IE 7 or higher for best experience), Firefox 1.5 or higher, or Safari 2 or higher. Cookies and JavaScript must both be enabled in your browser. Screen resolution should be set to 1024 x 768 or better. Adobe Flash 9, Apple Quicktime 7, and Adobe Acrobat Reader plug-ins are recommended for the best experience. Q: Does every student need a classroom/lab computer to participate in The JASON Project?
A: No. To allow students to take advantage of all of the online resources available through the JASON Mission Center (the online portion of the JASON Operations), teachers may create separate accounts for each of their students. Students may then access their accounts as time and resources allow - working at school, at the public library, at home, or from any computer offering access to the Web. Q: Do I need to start using the JASON materials by a certain date?
A: We begin shipping curricula in late summer for the upcoming school year. You may implement your curriculum at any time during the year. However, we encourage early implementation to allow maximum time and usage in the classroom. Q: How can I get more information?
A: Just contact us at info@jason.org or call us at 888-527-6600.
FAQ about The JASON Mission Center (JMC)
Q: What is the JASON Mission Center (JMC)?
A: The JASON Mission Center (JMC) is an online community that starts with the excitement of the JASON curriculum Operations and lets students and teachers discover more about all the wonderful science that JASON brings to the classroom. And best of all, registration is free. The JMC also includes a suite of powerful online tools like creating virtual classrooms, online journaling, the ability to rapidly search and save JASON resources, message boards and more. Learn more at the JASON Mission Center information page. Q: How do I create a JASON Mission Center account?
A: Creating a JMC account is fast, easy, and best of all free! To sign-up, simply look for the JASON Mission Center "Register" button on the upper-right of any page, or click here. From there you'll choose whether you're a teacher, student, parent, or administrator; fill out some simple contact information; and choose your unique username. You will then have access to the JASON Mission Center at any time by returning to www.jason.org and logging in.
After completing the registration process and setting up their own accounts, teachers can create and manage JASON Mission Center accounts for their students. To access an existing account, a returning user visits www.jason.org and enters his or her login ID and password in the upper-right log-in area. If you need assistance with the registration or log in process, please contact the JASON Help desk at help@jason.org or at 800-608-9578; or refer to the JASON Mission Center information pages in your curriculum. Q: During registration, I can't find my school in the lists. What do I do?
A: We use the most up-to-date lists to which we have access, but even so, some U.S. public schools are not included. During the registration process, if you can't find your school, please click the link that reads, "If you cannot find your school/organization, click here" and fill out the required information. Q: What equipment will I need to participate in the JASON Mission Center?
A: The minimum system requirements are a PC running Windows 2000 or higher or a Macintosh running Mac OS X 10.2 or higher. The computer must have at least 256 MB of RAM and 15 MB free hard-drive space; a connection to the Internet; and the latest version of Internet Explorer (6.0 or higher, 7.0 or higher for best experience), Firefox (1.5 or higher), or Safari (2 or higher). Cookies and JavaScript must both be enabled in your browser. Screen resolution should be set to 1024 x 768 or better. We recommend the following plug-ins for the best experience: Q: Is the JASON Mission Center safe for students?
A: Absolutely! The online community within the JMC is fully staffed by a dedicated team of moderators constantly making sure students are safe and having a fun, educational experience. Additionally, no student contact information is posted within the JASON Privacy Policy. Q: I would love to see what the JASON Mission Center looks like.
A: Now that registration is free, the only thing between you and the JMC is creating your account! To get started simply register for an account or log in if you already have one. Take the JASON Mission Center Tour. Q: What is Team JASON Online?
A: Team JASON Online was the predecessor to the JASON Mission Center: a suite of online tools and resources aimed at supplementing the JASON curricula. Team JASON Online has since been retired. All of the features of Team JASON Online have been transitioned into the JASON Mission Center, and supplemented with numerous extensions, upgrades, and new features. Q: Does my Team JASON Online account work with the JASON Mission Center?
A: No. All TJO users must create a new account within the JASON Mission Center in order to use JASON's online offerings. Remember, registration for the JASON Mission Center is completely free! Q: What makes the JASON Mission Center better than Team JASON Online?
A: By utilizing the latest Web technologies, the JASON Mission Center is like the Team JASON Online you always wished you had access to. Instead of the simple curriculum extensions found on TJO, the JMC contains the entire Operation: Monster Storms, Operation: Resilient Planet and Operation: Infinite Potential student curricula in online format. Additionally the JMC features a robust search engine called the JASON Digital Library, which allows users to search for all JASON resources by standard, subject, or any number of criteria.
Also, the JASON Mission Center allows user to perform any number of actions on the JASON resources. You can find them, save them, assign them, and share them. Using the JASON Lesson Builder, teachers can lay out custom JASON lessons using our resources and assign them to students.
Other aspects of our educational offerings are further enhanced online using the JASON Mission Center. Assessments are now customizable and can be taken online by students. Resources can be rapidly updated, aligned with standards, and placed online as soon as we create them. Finally, the look and feel of the JASON Mission Center has been upgraded substantially over Team JASON Online. If you have any further questions, comments, or concerns, e-mail help@jason.org.
FAQ about JASON's Professional Development program
Q: What professional development is available from The JASON Project?
A: JASON offers a series of onsite workshops, including:
- Curriculum workshops to help teachers build their 21st century skills, as well as implement JASON in the classroom
- Train-the-trainer workshops
- Customized training sessions
- Summer Academy science camps for teachers and students
For more information on each of these options, please visit the JASON Professional Development page. Q: How do I request/order JASON Professional Development?
A: When ordering professional development, you first will complete a JASON Request for Training form. Completing the form provides JASON with key information that will allow us to understand clearly what Professional Development you require but does not complete your order. Instead, after JASON receives the Request for Training form, a JASON representative will contact you and will work with you to define your requirements and complete the order. Q: What do I do in a typical on-site curriculum training session?
A: JASON workshops are hands-on and designed to provide attending teachers with skills and resources to tackle the challenges of 21st century education. Using JASON Curricula as a primary resource, teachers explore and practice inquiry-based learning, technology integration, student motivation, differentiated instruction and more. In addition, teachers gain sound and practical experience implementing JASON with students. Workshop attendees will typically work with groups of colleagues to perform a series of hands-on JASON activities in order to experience for themselves how these activities can be used by students. In addition to performing the activities, attendees also spend time in whole-group discussion to reflect upon core science concepts, teaching implementation tips and classroom management strategies related to the activities performed. Finally, teachers also receive a JASON Overview and are afforded hands-on experience with the JASON Mission Center and technology, including the Digital Library, Lesson Builder, Alignment, and Assessment tools. Learn more by visiting our JASON on-site curriculum training page. Q: What are the requirements and policies for requesting JASON Professional Development?
A: The following is a non-comprehensive list of requirements for ordering JASON professional development. - On-site workshops must be set up at least 45 days in advance of the training date. Workshops may be cancelled up to 30 days before the workshop, with a full refund given. Thereafter, there are no cancellations/refunds.
- The customer must provide a site which includes a training room for hands-on activities and access to no fewer than one computer per 2 attendees, which adhere to the JASON technical requirements.
- The customer must identify a site contact that JASON Staff and Trainers may work with to establish logistics for the session.
- One day prior to the training session, the customer will allow access to the JASON Lead Trainer for set-up.
- At least one hour prior to the session, access will be given to the JASON Lead Trainer.
For more information, please see our Technical Requirements section. Q: How can I become a JASON Lead Trainer or a JASON field trainer?
JASON Lead Trainers:
JASON is always looking for qualified educators to lead curriculum workshops. Periodically, JASON accepts applications for JASON Lead Trainers, paid consultants who lead curriculum workshops ordered from The JASON Project. JASON Lead Trainers attend a rigorous training workshop in Ashburn, Virginia from JASON staff and receive ongoing mentoring throughout the year. If you are interested, please send us an email to pd@jason.org.
JASON Field Trainers:
Those interested in conducting trainings locally - not as a paid consultant, but rather as a local educator rolling out JASON regionally for their schools, districts, or other organization - may become a JASON Field Trainer. While not paid consultants of JASON, Field Trainers have attended a JASON "Train-the-Trainer" seminar led by a JASON Lead Trainer and have access to JASON Professional Development resources, training, and evaluation tools. For more information on JASON trainers, please visit our JASON Trainers page. |
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