| JASON Project | |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1989 |
| Founder | Robert Ballard |
| Website | http://www.jason.org/ |
The JASON Project is a middle school science curriculum program that is designed to motivate and inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The JASON Project's approach to science education immerses students in challenging, real-world situations where they are connected with – and mentored by – top scientists from organizations like NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Energy and parent company National Geographic Society. JASON creates these connections using multiple technologies – including educational games, videos, live interactivity and social networking – to embed its partners' cutting-edge research in rigorous curricula.
The JASON Project was started in 1989 by Dr. Robert Ballard, the oceanographer who discovered the wreck of the RMS Titanic.[1] The JASON Foundation for Education was founded in 1990 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization to administer the project. The Foundation became a subsidiary of the National Geographic Society in 2005.[2]
Since its founding in 1989, JASON completed a top-to-bottom redesign of the program in 2007; since then, JASON's new curriculum line has won multiple national technology awards.[3] The JASON curricula are available in print and free online, aligned to national and state standards. A technology platform - the JASON Mission Center - contains all student and teacher content, communications systems, digital experiences, and tools to manage, assess and track student performance and online usage.
JASON curricula are available free online, free print-on-demand and in print editions for purchase.
Today, JASON is inspiring and motivating diverse students around the world – rural and urban, special needs, mainstream, gifted and talented – to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.