LIGO Science Education Center:

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO Science Education Center:

Partnering

• Research Labs

• Universities

• Education Agencies

• Informal Learning Centers

John Thacker May 19, 2005

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Exploratorium

LaSIP/La GEAR UP

LIGO

SUBR

LIGOSEC

OurPartnership

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Exploratorium

Teaching & Learning

Over 650 exhibits

An educational center

Informal learning environment

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Southern University

College of Sciences

• Dept of Physics

• Dept of Mathematics

College of Education

• Course Redesign

• E-Learning

• Pre-service Teacher training

• Docent training

• Student Field Trips

A Leading producer of teachers in LA

Largest HBCU System in the nation

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LIGOLA GEAR UP

Louisiana Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

statewide K-16+ educational reform agency

school connections

Teacher Professional Development

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LIGO

The mission of LIGO (LASER Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) is to detect and study astrophysical gravitational waves.

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LIGO SEC Floor Plan

Informal and Formal Science Teaching and Learning

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LIGO Science Education Center

Objectives include:• Pre-service and in-service

teacher training

• Reach a broad audience of students in Louisiana and regional area

• General public outreach

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Teacher Professional Development

Inquiry based

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Exhibit Training

Project MISE

Project RIPPLE

Project PRISM=HQT

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Reaching a Broad Audience of Students

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LIGOGeneral Public

The Historical Society models the space-time continuum.

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Research Lab

Schools

Museums

Making Research Findings “Available” at Appropriate Level

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Research

Lab

Schools

Choosing Appropriate Science Content Themes

ResonanceInterference

WavesGravity

Light

AstronomyOscillations Feedback

LIGO Science

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Choose exhibits that build on your science themes

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LIGO SEC Summary

• Multi-faceted approach to outreach

• LIGO SEC facility will be fully used for student learning and teacher PD

• “Focused science” themes

• Interactive Exhibits will be used to anchor students and teachers in LIGO science themes

• Regional resource: National Implications

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The LIGO SEC work is supported by the National Science Foundation grants Phy-0107417 and PHY-0355454