EzGCM on the Web

EzGCM is a cloud computing-based software toolkit, access via a web-based interface, that gives students an opportunity to use an Earth System Modeling framework and experience how NASA's scientists study climate changes of the past and future, and even the climates of other planets. EzGCM combines and enhances traditional earth and atmospheric science curricula to teach the fundamentals of climate change in an engaging fashion that excites students while they learn. It allows them to operate complex models and explore NASA data that would otherwise require high level computing skills.

The assignments in which students participate using EzGCM emphasize all three phases of NASA’s climate modeling research process including running simulations, processing “big data,” and using scientific visualization to analyze results. This straight-forward approach makes it possible for students to participate in all of the key methods of authentic climate modeling research, while remaining within a structured and step-by-step setting that allows students to complete projects with just a few days of instruction. An easy-to-learn graphical interface allows students to begin working on projects quickly (usually the first day of instruction), but its focus on epistemic learning means that it has tremendous scalability and prepares middle school students for more advanced science curricula in high school up to AP-level courses.

In addition to the student-facing software, EzGCM has built-in utilities for teachers to track student activities (including remotely), and for students to collect and annotate their work as they advance through an assignment or build research projects.

EzGCM can be found at http://ezgcm.org Permission to create accounts for individuals and institutions may be obtained by writing to: [email protected]