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November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic- ray.org ASPIRE http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org K-12 Science Education and Public Outreach for The High Resolution Fly’s Eye Cosmic Ray Research Group
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
ASPIREhttp://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
K-12 Science Education and Public Outreach for
The High Resolution Fly’s Eye Cosmic Ray Research Group
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
Motivations "... we cannot expect the task of
science and math education to be the sole responsibility of K through 12 teachers while scientists and graduate students live only in their universities and laboratories. There is no group of people who should feel more responsible for science and math education in this nation than our scientists and scientists-to-be."
Hon. Rita Colwell, Director, NSF
D.C. Science Writers Association, September 8, 1998
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
Motivations
Heavy Books Light on Learning: Not One Middle Grades Science Text Rated Satisfactory By AAAS's Project 2061
Roseman, J.E., Kesidou, S., Stern, L., & Caldwell, A. (1999, November/December). Heavy Books Light on Learning: AAAS Project 2061 Evaluates Middle Grades Science Textbooks. Science Books & Films, 35 (6), 243-247.
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
Motivations
How can we best serve the K-12 community?
Create an interactive website that contains curriculum & interactive content that is free for teachers and students.
http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
Team
• Scientists
• Teacher
• 2 Student Programmers
• Student Artist
• Project Coordinator
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
K-12 Outreach: Online Lessons & Labs
ASPIRE has created one of the most engaging and interactive science education websites on the Internet today. Interactive content is created with Flash and Java technology.
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
K-12 Outreach: Online Lessons & Labs
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
K-12 Outreach: Online Lessons & Labs
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
K-12 Outreach: Online Lessons & Labs
• Create realistic, physically-based models• Condense time• Provide a ‘hands-on’ experience that would
be difficult or impossible to create in the classroom
• Integrate curriculum and lab into one classroom activity
• Support Local and National Education Standards
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
K-12 Outreach: Online Lessons & Labs
• Lessons created using Inquiry-based methods and techniques (open and guided)
• Written to support local Utah State Office of Education Core Curriculum Standards
• These standards based on National Standards and Project 2061
• Now creating Spanish-translation versions of our labs; considerable interantional use
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
Macromedia Flash• 99% of web users have the Flash plug-in• Creation of highly immersive experiences• Affordable to program• Considerable production time savings
K-12 Outreach: Online Lessons & Labs
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
K-12 Outreach: Online Lessons & Labs
• Java labs created by ASPIRE website
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
K-12 Outreach: Direct Outreach Efforts
• Group Internship
• Individual Internships
• Liason between students and scientists for science fair projects
• Training inservices for teachers
• Provide classroom visits for ASPIRE and HiRes
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
K-12 Outreach: Direct Outreach Efforts for Minority Students
• Partnership with Roosevelt Junior High School in Vernal, UT
• Partnership with Applied Technology Education Program in Salt Lake City School District to provide science opportunities.
• Concerted effort by ASPIRE and HiRes to provide outreach to southern Utah teachers and students
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
Public Outreach“The Mystery of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays”
documentary shown over the past yea:• University of Utah• Salt Lake City Library• Aspen, CO during Snowmass• Multiple classroom visits• Utah State Fair• Millard County Fair• Jersey Films resource material – Carla
Shamberg, producer of “Erin Brokovich”
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
Highest Honors
• Acceptance to SIGGRAPH 2002 Educator’s Panel – 1 of 8 papers presented in forum– 25,000 attendees
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
Highest Honors
• Accepted by the NSTA SciLinks program
• Submitted by publishers and teachers for sites with the highest science education standards
• Rigorous review
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
Current Production
• USOE’s Earth System Core Curriculum standard “Earth within a System”
• 9 Complete Units – containing 22 separate activities
• Production continues for 3 more Units and around 15 separate activities
• Long term production to complete - 3 more units and about 10-15 more activities
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
Where we’ve been
• Boise, ID AAPT convention• San Antonio 2002 – SIGGRAPH• Philadelphia, PA AAPT convention• Presentation at the University of Utah
for visiting scholars from Nayang Technological University
• Multiple teacher inservices• Multiple classroom visits
November 22, 2002 http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org
Future Objectives
• Completion of the dynamic website• Completion of Lessons for USOE Core
Curriculum 3600-008• Providing broader coverage of training to
teachers in the Intermountain West• Expanding users for the ASPIRE website.• Providing even more direct opportunities to
students, particularly minority students through classroom events and science fair project mentorships
