| | A message from the Director of Informal Education Informal (Science) Education provides stimulating experiences for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, learning outside of formal classroom environments through media, exhibits, and community-based programming. Its goals are to increase interest in, understanding of, and engagement with, STEM disciplines by individuals of all ages; to establish linkages between informal and formal education; and to stimulate parents and others to support their children's STEM learning endeavors and to become informed proponents for high-quality, universally available STEM Education. Our goals are to: - Engage the public in shaping and sharing the experience of exploration and discovery.
- Improve public understanding and appreciation of science and technology, including NASA aerospace technology, research, and exploration missions.
Our plans target the following results by 2008: - Establish a national program to engage the informal education community with NASA Science and Technology.
- Provide instructional materials (and information) derived from NASA research and scientific activities that meet the needs of NASA's informal education partners.
- Provide professional development for NASA's informal education partners.
The Office of Education strives to ensure that underrepresented and underserved students participate in NASA education and research programs to encourage more of these students to pursue STEM careers.
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