Not a Science Buff, But Want to Be? Learn From Satellite TV

It's hard to admit for some people, but sometimes science just doesn't make sense. With more and more talk of global warming and climate change, asteroids and carbon footprints, the more it is hard to ask for a time-out to define terms and understand historical contexts. To make sense of all the terms thrown out by modern media take so much work, a lot of times the science jargon goes right over our heads. Fortunately for all of us, we live in a technological age, which is brim full not only with science, but also the resources needed to understand it. Especially if you have school age children, doing your own homework will teach them that learning is a lifelong process, and that it can also be fun.

In your house do you watch a little more NFL Sunday Ticket than the Discovery Health Channel? It makes sense; sports play a huge part in our culture and certainly shouldn't be ousted any time soon. The great thing about living in an age of satellite tv is that your time in front of the tube can be as educational as it is entertaining. Complement ESPN recaps with programs featuring scientific adventure, exploration, culture and natural history. Especially if you have a HD flatscreen, you will be in awe of the spectacular imagery that will be broadcasted into your home. Maybe tonight you will learn of migration patterns of endangered species or perhaps see images of Mayan ruin. Whatever the topic, educational TV can prompt conversations and keep everyone learning.

Many television programs, like "Nova" or "Bill Nye, the Science Guy," make investigating scientific concepts fun and present activities that you can do at home. Interactive programming transforms your TV from a stationary image transmitter into a dynamic learning tool. Moreover, popular programs on the Learning Channel and the Discovery Kids Channel demonstrate many phenomena that are not easily studied at home or school, and are excellent visual supplements to science textbooks.

Many public television stations provide viewers with program guides that correspond to daytime programming, including discussion items, questions, activities, supplemental readings, and evaluation materials. Especially in the summer months, when school isn't in session, keep yourself and your kids mentally active right in your living room with the likes of Animal Planet and he National Geographic Channel. Show your kids that learning happens at all ages and watch environmental and educational programs together and model to them that learning can certainly be entertaining.

Kids can plan science projects around certain educational programming, and use their high definition TV as a research tool. Surely they will get excited when they see that there are tons of people around the world thinking and speaking about science. Maybe what starts with a county fair science project will one day evolve into important scientific literature.