Preparing Students for Preparing Students for STEM Careers: STEM Careers: The NRAO-EPSCoR The NRAO-EPSCoR Connection.Connection.

Talk Outline:Talk Outline:

• The National Radio Astronomy The National Radio Astronomy ObservatoryObservatory

• Overview of EPO programsOverview of EPO programs

• WV Governor’s School for Math WV Governor’s School for Math and and ScienceScience

• Pulsar Search CollaboratoryPulsar Search Collaboratory

Founded 1956.Founded 1956.

Funded by the Funded by the NSF.NSF.

Provides state-of-Provides state-of-the-art telescopes the-art telescopes and support to and support to astronomers world-astronomers world-wide.wide.

Robert C. Byrd Green Bank TelescopeRobert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope

The GBT is The GBT is the NRAO’s the NRAO’s newest newest instrument.instrument.

World’s World’s largest fully-largest fully-steerable steerable telescope.telescope.

NRAO EPO Program GoalsNRAO EPO Program Goals• Enlarge the pipeline of students ready to enter Enlarge the pipeline of students ready to enter

college and graduate with a degree in STEM (NAS, college and graduate with a degree in STEM (NAS, 2007).2007).

• Increase the number of well-qualified and highly Increase the number of well-qualified and highly effective STEM teachers in the classroomeffective STEM teachers in the classroom (NSB, (NSB, 2007).2007).

• Involve students in research/inquiry-based science.Involve students in research/inquiry-based science.

• Increase public’s appreciation of STEM.Increase public’s appreciation of STEM.

Program Funding Impact

Teachers Summer Institutes NSF (1987-2002) NASA ( 2003-present) >1000 teachers, 300K students

Research Experience for Teachers NSF (2000-present), NASA (2005) 24 teachers to date.

Chautauqua NSF, Schools, Fees (annual since 1989) > 600 professors

NEW: GLOBE State funding 20 teachers

*** Pulsar Search Collaboratory NSF, EPSCoR launch in 2008-60 teachers, 1800 students

Students Field Trips, Institutes programs are free 3500 in 2006, 2400 used the 40 Foot

High School Mentorship free, 2-6 students per year, local ~40 high school students

GEAR UP Camp US Dept. of Education 60 high school students (2004-2006)

REU NSF 25 undergrads since 1991, many more!

*** WV Governor's School WV EPSCoR 60 students/yesr, ~180 to date

*** Pulsar Search Collaboratory NSF, EPSCoR launch in 2008-60 teachers, 1800 students

Public Tour Program marketing funds WV Tourism ~45,000 in 2006

StarQuest Star Party Fees 150-200 per year ( 2004-2007)

Society of Amateurs Space is Free At least 1200 since 1985

Outreach Mountain Radio Astronomy show produced by NRAO reaches 10,000 people, plus podcast

Quiet Skies NASA IDEAS grant will reach 600+ per year

NRAO Ambassadors SARA, NRAO 1400 in 2006/2007

Cosmic Radio Show Corp. of Public Broadcasting launch in October 2007

EPO Programs at NRAOEPO Programs at NRAO

West Virginia Governor’s SchoolWest Virginia Governor’s School• Partnership with the National

Youth Science Foundation.• 2-week residential program at

NRAO.• 60 rising high-school

freshman/year.

Key ComponentsKey Components

•ResearchResearch

•Directed StudiesDirected Studies

•Whole Group challengesWhole Group challenges

•Outdoor ActivitiesOutdoor Activities

•Carpe Diem!Carpe Diem!

NATIONAL RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY  

Research Problem  

  You and your colleagues are from the Galactic Structure Scientific Institute. You have received observing time on the 40 foot radio telescope in order to investigate the galactic plane. The following questions may be used as a starting point for your research: 1. Can the plane of the galaxy be observed with the 40 foot? 2. From your data, what can you say about the nature of the radiation coming from the galactic plane?3. How does the picture of the galactic plane change when continuum, spectral line data and optical data are compared. You are to design a set of questions and experiments that will allow you to accurately explore this region of the sky. A staff advisor will be available to help guide your research, however, generating questions and performing the required experiments to yield answers to the questions are your responsibility. At the end of your observing run your team will be asked to give an oral and written report to your colleagues and the observatory staff. The reports will contain a detailed outline of the steps taken to arrive at the presented results, as well as recommendations for future investigations. You are NOT expected to be finished with your research, but should tell us what you know based on what you did. Be prepared to defend your results during the question and answer session that will follow .

Radio Astronomy Research at the 40 Foot and GBTRadio Astronomy Research at the 40 Foot and GBT

Directed StudiesDirected Studies

Whole Group -Outdoor ActivitiesWhole Group -Outdoor Activities

Is it Working?Is it Working?EvaluationEvaluation

1. Research Self-Assessment: The Research Self-Assessment is designed to assess the research attitudes, skills and confidence of GSMS students.

• Pre/Post Likert Survey. • Gauges progress in self-esteem, confidence, ability to work

with others, and knowledge of the value of scientific research.

2. Student Survey• Pre/Post Likert Instrument • Indicates changes in student’s attitudes toward science,

knowledge of how science is done in the real world3. GSMS Program Evaluation.

• Post only. Open ended• Reveals additional information about positive and negative

aspects of the program.

Item Item Description Pre

Mean Post

Mean t-Test Prob.

Total Score 79.08 84.87 -6.66 0.00

Q1 I’m comfortable using the telescope. 3.16 3.82 -5.91 0.00

Q2 I am scared. 3.25 3.25 -4.77 0.00

Q3 Don’t have the background needed. 2.71 3.45 -6.24 0.00

Q4 Teammates know more than I do. 2.91 3.22 -3.32 0.00

Q5 I am exhilarated. 2.91 3.20 -3.03 0.00

Q8 I really want to succeed. 3.62 3.89 -3.42 0.00

Q9 I’m afraid of making a fool of myself. 3.00 3.49 -3.79 0.00

Q10 I know how to answer a research problem 3.15 3.57 -4.54 0.00

Q11 I’ll be able to apply this research to other areas of science. 3.16 3.47 -3.20 0.00

Q12 My team won’t be able to get right answer. 3.42 3.73 -4.25 0.00

Q13 I don’t know if I can get it done. 2.96 3.62 -5.91 0.00

Q16 Scientists will help me when I need it. 3.38 3.56 -2.01 0.02

Q17 I feel like I don’t know anything. 3.29 3.58 -2.75 0.00

Q21 Afraid we won’t replicate results. 3.05 3.47 -3.94 0.00

Q23 Using the scientific method is essential 1.87 2.15 -2.22 0.02

Q24 I’m worried about getting project completed. 2.84 3.20 -3.03 0.00

Q25 I feel confident about doing research 3.16 3.56 -3.67 0.00

Q26 Getting the right answer is important 2.15 2.53 -2.81 0.00

RSA Results. N=109 2006 only.2006 only. 2007 only.2007 only.

Item Item Description Pre

Mean Post

Mean t-Test Prob.

Positive Results

Total Score 86.47 93.18 -5.06 0.00

Q4 Being a scientist would be fun 2.85 3.05 -2.03 0.02

Q8 I really want to succeed 3.37 3.54 -1.92 0.03

Q9 I solve problems 3.30 3.50 -2.03 0.02

Q10 I ask questions 3.11 3.33 -2.00 0.03

Q13 I use computers 3.33 3.50 -1.76 0.04

Q14 I use equipment 3.07 3.28 -1.90 0.03

Q15 I record my observations. 2.47 3.13 -5.35 0.00

Q16 I worry when results do not match those of my classmates 2.57 2.82 -1.86 0.03

Q17 I make graphs or charts using my results. 2.60 3.07 -4.44 0.00

Q18 Science is a list of facts 2.41 2.67 -2.04 0.02

Q20 Science is testing ideas. 1.85 3.13 -8.48 0.00

Q21 Science never changes 1.85 3.25 -8.47 0.00

Q27 Science is a way to prove theories 1.67 3.11 -9.26 0.00

Q28 Trial and Error is unscientific. 1.69 3.36 -9.60 0.00

Q29 What is known in science should be questioned. 2.95 3.16 -2.12 0.02

Student Survey N=109 2006 Results2006 Results 2007 Results2007 Results

What’s next?What’s next?

Pulsar Search CollaboratoryPulsar Search Collaboratory

NSF ITEST:NSF ITEST:

“…increase the opportunities for students and teachers to learn about, experience, and use information technologies within the context of STEM courses.”

Pulsar Search CollaboratoryPulsar Search Collaboratory

– involves teachers and students in the search involves teachers and students in the search for new pulsars.for new pulsars.

– ““Distributed community of researchers”.Distributed community of researchers”.– Partnership between WVU physics, computer Partnership between WVU physics, computer

science, and education departments, WV science, and education departments, WV EPSCoR, and NRAO.EPSCoR, and NRAO.

History:History:

1999 Higher Ed Symposium in 1999 Higher Ed Symposium in Charleston.Charleston.

Offhand conversation with Bob Offhand conversation with Bob Gillespie (aka master nagger) Gillespie (aka master nagger) about “Pulsars at Home” with about “Pulsars at Home” with the soon to be finished GBT.the soon to be finished GBT.

The years go by. Annual nag The years go by. Annual nag by Bob.by Bob.

2006: Two new faculty at 2006: Two new faculty at WVU-- pulsar astronomers!WVU-- pulsar astronomers!

2007: summer shutdown 2007: summer shutdown pulsar survey-- over 100 TB of pulsar survey-- over 100 TB of raw data.raw data.

Program ElementsProgram Elements

– Summer residential program at NRAO: PSC LeadersSummer residential program at NRAO: PSC Leaders• 12 day teacher institute (20)• 5 day experience for teachers and students (30)

– Academic Year ActivitiesAcademic Year Activities• Whole class activities• School based Collaboratory Team (~5 students)• Activities Timing and implementation guided by Project Director• Online tools: Collaboratory

– Capstone PSC seminar at WVUCapstone PSC seminar at WVU• Poster presentations, student and professional talks.• Tours and activities of WVU STEM schools.

– Students can remain in PSC throughout high school career.Students can remain in PSC throughout high school career.