1. NASA eClips 4D (May 31, 2017) Programmatics
PI/Institution: Shelley Spears, National Institute of Aerospace PI Period of Performance: 1/4/16-1/3/21 Summary Description: NASA eClips™ 4D is a multi-dimensional approach to improve student science literacy by addressing identified science misconceptions. Program attributes include: research-based approaches to teaching and learning; student-produced multi-media content; STEM career connections; field-testing within an under-served population; bi-lingual content development; broad dissemination network; established audience and reputation. NASA eClips™ is a widely utilized, proven and effective multi-media educational program. Developed by the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) over the past nine years, the suite currently contains 201 videos, 35 resources (educator guides, Guide Lites, and Engineering Design packets), and has ~88,000 web views and downloads monthly. Science Focus: Cross-cutting Audience(s): Formal, Informal, K-12, Lifelong Learner Region(s) Served: National initiative with global access to all online resources, including professional development. Website(s) if any: and
Current Partnerships Team Members and Institutions
Hampton City Schools
Arlington Public Schools (Career Center)
Newport News Public Schools
Promethean /Classflow
The GLOBE Program
Virginia Latino Higher Education Network (VALHEN)
NASA Museum Alliance
Shannon Verstynen, NIA – Co-I and Program Manager
Becky Jaramillo, NIA – Co-I
Sharon Bowers, NIA
Joan Harper-Neely, NIA
Victoria O’Leary, NIA

2. NASA eClips 4D (May 31, 2017) cont.
Evaluation Opportunities
The internal evaluator, Dr. Hilarie B. Davis of TLC Inc., is using a mixed methods approach (Frechtling, 2010).
Pilot study using a quasi-experimental design in progress on Spotlite videos and interactive lessons with 9 science teachers and 300+ students to be completed by mid-June, reported in early July. Teacher interviews have begun.
Teacher focus group feedback on student-produced SME2 (career and science content questions posed by students) videos completed by end of academic year.
Reviewed NASA eClips video topic selection process to meet needs-based criteria (avoid duplication of content within NASA resources, gap analysis within NASA eClips suite, etc.).
Reviewed NASA eClips video subject matter expert selection process to ensure identification of a wide-variety of NASA personnel are considered for on-camera roles.
Expanding # of districts, teachers and students working with the NASA eClips 4D team in the development of Spotlite videos to correct common science misconceptions.
Pursuing additional dissemination and collaboration partnerships with professional organizations (ie, VCEC, VTEEA, ITEEA).
Exploring new state (VA) initiative to include career connection as a potential audience of SME2 videos as supporting resource for core academic instruction and career counseling.
Utilizing WGBG survey data to inform program improvements.
Leveraging NASA Langley’s 100th RASC-AL Mars Ice Challenge: Filming SMEs participating this June for eClips and SME2 productions. Working with NASA 360 team and SMD PAO.
Spotlite Summer Camp at NIA for high school students to produce additional video segments and aid in refining the production process.
Leveraging NASA eClips assets related to the total solar eclipse.
Supporting total solar eclipse efforts in local outreach and on the path of totality in South Carolina.
Risks/Areas of Concern
Changes recommended by IGES Review after videos are complete and captioned may impact budget; Updated quality assurance (QA) process makes every effort to catch issues and receive approvals throughout production.
Project schedule reliant on unforeseen changes to the academic calendar; may affect new product roll-out and related metrics.
Video effectiveness for intended audience. Mitigation plan included rigorous review of current research and best practices to inform video format and audience.

3. NASA eClips 4D Monthly Status (May 31, 2017)
Measurable Achievements/Accomplishments
Submitted Solar Images Guidelite to IGES Spring review.
Internal review of 10 SME2 drafts produced by Newport News Telecommunications Program students completed; final video delivery by end of academic year.
Internal review complete of 5 Spotlite drafts produced by HCS and APS digital media students; final video delivery by end of academic year.
Production complete of Real World: Earth Systems video segment. Release and dissemination plan in progress.
Launchpad: Life Cycle of a Star received approval from IGES review after minor revisions were included and resubmitted.
Completed new product dissemination plan utilizing NASA social media platforms, educational distribution lists, partners, etc.
Developed NASA eClips new video production style guide supported by research and best practices.
Identified new audience for SME2 videos with VA Department of Education; coordinating efforts with DOE on content.
Executed a culminating event for ~50 Spotlite producers (digital media students) from Hampton City Schools and Newport News Public Schools at Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton University. (SMD Nugget submitted)
Interacted with ~500 students and families at the NASA Langley Centennial Mini Maker Faire held on May 2nd at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. Hands-on activities supporting the 2017 total solar eclipse (NASA eClips Guidelite, “Solar Images”) and the NASA eClips “Launchpad: Solar Eclipses” video were featured. (SMD Nugget submitted)
Participated in the 3rd Annual STEM Symposium on April 22nd at the Hampton Performing and Creative Arts Center. Approx. 80 students interacted with the NASA eClips team, learning about the 2017 total solar eclipse. (SMD Nugget submitted)

4. NASA eClips 4D Monthly Status (May 31, 2017)
Need(s) or Areas to Watch Updates/Changes
Progress of pilot groups; currently on track – complete end of June.
Progress of student production teams; currently on track – complete by end of academic year.
Resource allocation between new product development and dissemination of new and existing NASA eClips suite.
New format, length, and audience of our video products in progress.
Look Ahead Cross-Collaboration Status/Opportunity
Newport News Telecommunications Program completing production of 7 new Subject Matter Expert as Educator (SME2) interviews as a STEM career resource by end of academic year.
Hampton City Schools and Arlington Public Schools digital media students completing production of Spotlite video segments by end of academic year.
Implementation of Product Dissemination Plan to increase successful roll- out of new products and increase usage of existing resources.
Release NASA eClips video on “Real World: Earth Systems.”
Production of NASA eClips video segments
#5 Our World: The Sun’s Position
#6 Our World: Green Propellant
#7 Real World: Cubesats
Completion of interactive lessons for new Spotlite topics based on IGES Review feedback:
Seasons (Grades 3-5)
Heat and Temperature (Grades 3-5 and 6-9)
Effects of Gravity on Falling Objects (Grades 3-5 and 6-9)
Quasi-experimental evaluation results from pilot group.
Planning culminating event in June with Goddard Space Flight Center’s Science Visualization Studio (SVS) for Arlington Public Schools digital media students. Students will receive professional feedback from NASA staff on their Spotlite video production and interact with SVS staff.
NASA eClips resources are shared weekly with the Challenger Learning Center network through their e-newsletter beginning May 30th.
Weekly collaboration with the Museum Alliance to provide supporting resources for their Voyagers in Space “weekly listserv” . This month the following videos aligned with the MA telecon topics:
“Real World: Citizen Science”
“Launchpad: History, Benefits and Safety of Radioisotope Power Systems”
Discussion with R. Connelly (WGBH) on leveraging NASA eClips assets in its programming and utilizing their survey data to inform improvements to new NASA eClips resources.
Corresponding with the Collective on suggested topics for NASA eClips production and identifying how the SciAct partners plan to utilize the new and existing NASA eClips videos and resources.

5. NASA eClips 4D Monthly Status (May 31, 2017)
2017 Outreach and Conference Plan
Feb Virginia Children’s Engineering Convention (VCEC), Roanoke, VA (science and engineering teachers)
Feb 18 Black History Celebration at the Virginia Air and Space Center, Hampton, VA (community)
Apr 22 Time Out 4 STEM Symposium, Newport News, VA (students)
May 5 Homeschool Day at the Virginia Air and Space Center, Hampton, VA (students)
May 6 LaRC Centennial Mini Maker Faire, Hampton, VA
May 20 STEM Community Day, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA (K-16 and community)
July Summer Reading Program at four Hampton Public Libraries, Hampton, VA (up to 800 students, sharing resources related to the total solar eclipse)
July Virginia Technology and Engineering Education Association (VTEEA) Annual Conference, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
Aug 1-4 VALHEN Hispanic College Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA (sharing resources related to the total solar eclipse, highlighting NASA eClips video segments, and running a focus group to determine what teachers would like to see in the Spanish vocabulary lessons)
Nov Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST) Annual Professional Development Institute, Roanoke, VA
* Alignment with SMD Conference Calendar in progress

6. NASA eClips Student Producers Visit Hampton University
On Thursday, April 20, 2017, over 40 high school digital media students from Hampton City Schools and Newport News Public Schools in Virginia were recognized for their effort in creating NASA eClipsTM Spotlites and Subject Matter Experts as Educators (SME2) videos to increase science understanding and promote STEM careers. An awards ceremony was held at Hampton University by Shelley Spears (PI) and Joan Harper-Neely of the National Institute of Aerospace, where certificates were presented. Afterward, current Hampton University students guided tours of the Scripps-Howard School of Journalism and Communications, and university representatives gave a talk to highlight careers in communicating science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through journalism and broadcasting.
PI: Shelley Spears; POC: Shannon Verstynen;

7. National Institute of Aerospace Educators Share NASA eClips™ at Local STEM Symposium
Educators from the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) participated in the 3rd Annual STEM Symposium held at the Hampton Performing and Creative Arts Center in Hampton, VA on Saturday, April 22, More than 80 students and many of their families attended the event, sponsored by Time Out 4U, a local nonprofit youth engineering program committed to increasing underrepresented youth’s interest in STEM education and careers.
The NIA educators facilitated two hands-on workshops and a closing presentation to share NASA eClips™ videos and activities related to solar eclipses and to disseminate information about the upcoming Hampton Roads Maker Faire.
PI: Shelley Spears; POC: Shannon Verstynen;

8. NASA eClips™ Teaches “Solar Images” at Hampton Roads Mini Maker Faire
On Saturday, May 6, 2017, the National Institute of Aerospace’s NASA eClips™ team exhibited at the Hampton Roads Mini Maker Faire, a flagship event for the NASA Langley Centennial. The booth promoted three activities as part of a newly developed “NASA eClips™ Guidelite” lesson on solar images, the Sun’s corona, and the 2017 total solar eclipse. Over 3,000 people attended the Hampton Roads Mini Maker Faire, while roughly 500 parents and children participated in creating solar images and UV-detecting bracelets, and in demonstrating the use of a lollipop coronagraph. Sixteen high school students volunteered in shifts at the booth to help facilitate the activity.
PI: Shelley Spears; POC: Shannon Verstynen;