April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

E/PO Activities in the HEASARC

James LochnerUSRA CPSS

HEASARC E/PO Lead

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

What We Do• Publish Imagine the Universe! web site

– Teacher and Student Resources for grades 7-14

• Host StarChild web site (grades K-8) • Develop curriculum support materials• Develop and give teacher workshops• Work with GSFC Education Office, Universe

Forum, and other Universe E/PO teams

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

Why We Do It• Our work fulfills a need for resources.• Higher Ed. and Pipeline goals require qualified

high school and interested middle school students.

• We further our position in the E/PO community as a respected member and resource.

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

Who Does It• Scientist Lead, web programmer, distribution

assistant, with support from Division E/PO specialists, graphic artist, and volunteer scientists.

• Educator Ambassador (Sonoma State) – Cheryl Niemala (WA) trained on our materials and

gives local/regional workshops.

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

Milestones• 10 years of Education Presence on Web

– High Energy Astrophysics Learning Center debuted April 17, 1996.

– Imagine! site celebrating with retrospective of “What we know now vs. What we knew then”

• Published 9th and 10th editions of Imagine CD (with StarChild and APOD)– Expanded to 2-disc set– Added features suggested from 2004 Evaluation.– AstroCappella on 9th edition; Groovie Movie on 10th

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

New Publishing Environment• In Jan 2005, NASA HQ introduced new

requirements for publications:– All NASA print materials must pass Communications

Materials Review panel• Standards for style, look, and feel

– All Education print materials must pass Education Product Review.

• Materials reviewed by educators and scientists.• Previously this review was voluntary.• Includes new materials and materials up for re-printing.

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

Impact of New Publishing Environment• We updated Teacher Guides and Posters

previously submitted to Ed. Product Review – Guided by Prod. Rev. recommendations

– “Hidden Lives of Galaxies”• With assistance from EA Cheryl Niemala.

– “What is Your Cosmic Connection with the Elements?”

• With assistance from Stan Woosley and Rob Hoffman.

– 0.15 FTE for each revision

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

Impact of New Publishing Environment • “Legacy” Materials

– “Anatomy of Black Holes” poster requires revision in accordance with Ed. Prod. Rev.

– “Life Cycles of Stars” (1998) never submitted to Rev. Chandra published their own Life Cycles poster.

– “Gamma Ray Bursts” (2000) never submitted. Teacher Guide in need of updating (but superceded by Swift.)

– StarChild materials never submitted, and remain under domain of Laura Whitlock (LSU).

Should Legacy Materials go out of print?

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

Materials in Development

“Cosmic Times”• Trace the understanding of the nature of the

universe through the 20th century.– Start in 1919 with confirmation of Einstein’s theory of

gravity (and its implications for the nature of the universe).

– Continue through to discovery of Dark Energy, our current state of knowledge, and stepping stones to future.

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

Teacher Focus Group• In March 2005, we convened a group of

teachers to discuss potential use of Beyond Einstein topics in classroom.

• They identified “Science as Process” as a key theme inherent in BE science topics.

• They recommended we tell the story of one of the science themes as an example of scientific methodology.

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

Scientific Themes in “Cosmic Times”• Our understanding of the Expansion of the

Universe• Nature of Supernovae• The size and scale of the Universe

A number of other themes will also appear.– Role of Women in early astronomy.– Impact of improved technology.

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

Cosmic Times Posters

“Newsletter version” for individual student use

April 12 - 13, 2006HEASARC Users Group

James Lochner

Collaborative Work

• GSFC Education Office– High School Intern Program– Space Day Hands-on Activities

• Universe Education Forum– Development and presentation of “Modeling the

Universe” Short Course.– Presentation for Year of Physics Museum Network.