Using the cutting-edge research and researchers of its longtime partners - National Geographic, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - The JASON Project provides inspirational connections to great explorers and great events through core curriculum units and a global online community for students, teachers, and scientists.
The power of great explorers and great events to fire students' imaginations was the driving force behind JASON's founding by Dr. Robert D. Ballard, soon after his discovery of RMS Titanic. In the wake of that historic event, JASON pioneered educational telepresence to create a "being there" experience for students to work side by side with scientists and researchers on exciting, real-world missions. Telepresence is now embedded in JASON's inquiry-based curriculum through videos, podcasts, Web casts, live chat sessions, and interactive computer simulations - all aligned to national science standards and seamlessly integrated into the framework of a four-color, magazine-style print curriculum. JASON involves students in science learning.
Throughout the year, JASON gives every student opportunities to join real expeditions without leaving their classrooms. We think that, once inspired, students internalize the desire to learn, overcome obstacles to improving their proficiency, and are more apt to make science part of their future. By providing educators with those same inspirational experiences - and giving them the tools and resources to better teach science - JASON seeks to energize them for a lasting, positive impact on students.