Children observe a GLOBE sign, lab setup, cloud poster, students huddle, soil test, and lab experiment.

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) SPARKS Course was developed by GLOBE Mission Earth (GME) with WestEd as the lead development partner. GME is a collaborative of GLOBE partnerships across the United States supported by the NASA Science Mission Directorate.

GLOBE offers students unique hands-on science learning opportunities within a global context. In addition, students can contribute meaningfully to our understanding of planet Earth, which is both motivating for students and useful to the scientific community.

Our aim is to help you get started and point you to resources for using GLOBE in your own programs. We also want to welcome you to the GLOBE community and hope you will find open and committed colleagues with whom to share the experience. This course offers a Certificate of Completion upon completing two minimum requirements: 1) setting up a GLOBE account and 2) completing and submitting an implementation plan, or a specific lesson or project plan. You will have the option to share your implementation plan, lesson plan, or project plan with other educators, and review their materials!

The time required to complete the course can vary, depending on both how many modules are covered and the depth to which each module is explored. Below are estimates of the time it might take to complete each module.

Explore your personalized journey through the course using the Course Experience Document. Whether you're new to the content or bringing prior experience, this guide outlines flexible pathways to help you engage meaningfully and successfully.

Enjoy the course!

Module	Module Description	Estimated Time*
Module 1: Orientation	Introduces students to the GLOBE Program, its resources, and the Canvas learning management system.	15-30 minutes
Module 2: Who is this Course for?	Explores who the course is designed for through educator personas, testimonials, and student profiles to help participants understand the purpose of incorporating GLOBE.	.5-1 hour
Module 3: Joining the GLOBE Community and Accessing Resources	Guides participants through joining the GLOBE community, setting up accounts, accessing resources, and connecting with subject matter experts.	2-2.5 hours
Module 4: Doing Science through GLOBE - Introducing our Structure	Introduces the scientific practices used in GLOBE and the Urban Heat Island Effect as a theme for the course.	15-30 minutes
Module 5: Observing the World	Focuses on observation skills as the foundation of scientific inquiry, using all senses to engage with the environment before collecting data.	30 minutes
Module 6: Asking Questions and Planning and Carrying out Investigations	Teaches how to develop investigable research questions and plan scientific investigations using GLOBE protocols.	1 hour
Module 7: Working with Data – Uploading, Downloading, Analyzing, and Interpreting	Covers the entire data cycle including uploading, downloading, analyzing, and interpreting GLOBE data.	1-1.5 hours
Module 8: Constructing Explanations and Communicating Conclusions	Explores how to construct scientific explanations based on evidence and effectively communicate findings and conclusions.	1 hour
Module 9: Preparing a GLOBE Implementation Plan	Guides participants in creating personalized implementation plans that align with educational standards, establish timelines, and identify necessary resources.	Variable**
Module 10: Preparing a GLOBE Lesson Plan	Provides guidance on creating GLOBE lesson plans that can be integrated into various educational contexts.	Variable**
Module 11: Preparing a GLOBE Project Plan	Focuses on developing full GLOBE projects using project-based learning approaches with comprehensive planning tools.	Variable**
Module 12: Course Wrap-Up and Celebration	Concludes the course with lesson plan submission, final survey, and certificate of completion.	30 minutes

*Course facilitators may encourage additional activities, which would require more time.

**Review of course text would be brief; variation will depend on time spent on creating an implementation plan, lesson plan, or project plan.

If you have any questions at any time, please email GLOBE.SPARKS@wested.org.

This course was developed by GLOBE Mission Earth, and its partner, WestEd. The course content is offered under a CC Attribution license. Content in this course can be considered under this license unless otherwise noted.