Program components include:

1. E-mailing (mandatory)
   Students are assigned an e-pal from one of their overseas partner schools through our online GFTSE messaging system (http://www.gftse.org/epals.html ). As many schools do not allow students to directly e-mail one another, we use a secure teacher-moderated messaging system that requires teachers to approve all messages sent between students.  Students are able to talk to their e-pals about the current PSSP projects they are working on in school, and their own cultures and lives.  This promotes not only science education, but cultural understanding.  Each week students receive a newsletter that includes the latest in space news, fun facts, pictures, games, and stories about what other PSSP classes are doing.
   
   
2. Studying NASA Digital Learning Network material (mandatory)
   NASA-designed space education projects are offered online at the NASA website under the NASA Digital Learning Network.  Students can study science topics in a unique way through NASA activities; teachers can also incorporate activities into their class curriculum.  The study of the NASA topics will be conducted during regular school hours or as an after-school activity, depending on how the teacher chooses to work it within the curriculum.
   
   
3. Videoconferencing (mandatory)
   Three-way videoconferencing between NASA and the two partner schools in different countries offers participants the opportunity to meet face to face and to personalize their partnerships in a meaningful way. Videoconferences enable students to see each other in real time and have the opportunity to share their science projects with NASA and each other.
   
   
4. Attending E-Pal Week at Space Camp Turkey (highly recommended)
   Program participants have the opportunity to meet their “e-pals” during a special six-day session in July at Space Camp Turkey called E-Pal Week. In this session, campers will have the opportunity to interact with students from many countries and to share their team projects during a “Science Fair”.  Three days of sightseeing are added for American students, giving them the opportunity to further their understanding of different cultures.
   
   

PREREQUISITES

EXPECTATIONS
Teachers and the school principal of partner schools must agree to the following to participate in the Partner School Science Program.

Correspondence
	Participating in the PSSP for one academic year.
	Assigning students to e-pals with whom they will correspond throughout the year through our e-pal messaging system.
	Encouraging students to e-mail their e-pals frequently (minimum of twice a month) and to send regular letters once during the school year by regular mail.
	Monitoring e-mails to prevent transmission of inappropriate content. Our system will automatically stop any bad language and redirect that e-mail to the teacher in charge of that student.
	Exchanging school calendars and national holidays at the start of the school year to help schedule videoconferences.
	Using the online NASA Digital Learning Network to choose and study topics offered at http://nasadln.nmsu.edu/dln/content/catalog/
	Completing a minimum of two NASA topics during the school year on NASA’s Digital Learning Network.
Videoconferencing
	Having access to a videoconference facility (at or outside school).
	Coordinating dates for videoconferencing with partner school and NASA requests that dates and times be kept between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
	Informing GFTSE staff about proposed videoconferencing dates and time, 1.5 months in advance for GFTSE to register with NASA. All registrations for videoconferences with NASA will be done by GFTSE and not by individual schools.
	Participating in at least two videoconferences, one with the partner school and one involving NASA as well.
	Conducting first videoconference (the “meet and greet VC”) with one’s partner school to meet each other, without NASA involvement.
	Completing lesson plans for each topic provided by the NASA Digital Learning Network to qualify for the videoconference with NASA, and partner school.
	Presenting at least one of (ideally both of) the NASA topics via a three-way conferencing with partner school and NASA.
	Informing GFTSE staff of students’ questions to NASA two weeks in advance and preparing students for the videoconference.
Documentation
	Documenting correspondence and keeping a record of testimonials from students and teachers during the school year and after E-Pal Week.
	Keeping a record of PSSP projects and posting photos, progress and updates on the Global Friendship website.
Attending E-Pal Week
	Making every effort to meet one’s partner school at E-Pal Week at Space Camp Turkey during the summer.
	Bringing in and sharing PSSP projects for a Science Fair at Space Camp Turkey.
	Our program has a limited number of participants.  For a application or for further information, please contact Tolga Yildirim, Partner School Science Program Coordinator, at tyildirim@gftse.org  or in the USA,  Marilyn Anderson marilyn@gftse.org.

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