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SOFIA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors: Partnerships at 43,000 Feet. D. Backman, P. Harman, C. Clark. FOSTER Flight Staff. Mission Director. Scientists. Teachers. Reporter. It’s 3 AM onboard the KAO. AAA = Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors. GOALS: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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1Universities Space Research Association
SOFIA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors:Partnerships at 43,000 Feet
D. Backman, P. Harman, C. Clark
2Universities Space Research Association
It’s 3 AM onboard the KAO ...ScientistsTeachersReporterMission DirectorFOSTER Flight Staff
AAA = Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors
GOALS:
(1)Educators achieve better understanding of scientific research processes;
(2)Pass understanding along to their students, colleagues, and fellow citizens.
• Teams of 2 educators selected to fly on SOFIA
(One team member must be an in-service grade 7-12 science teacher.)
• National annual calls for applications
• Applications must describe post-flight plans; peer reviewed
• Ambassadors trained to understand flight research project
• Ambassadors supported afterward by SOFIA E/PO to fulfill proposals
• Ambassadors become a growing on-line support community.
4Universities Space Research Association
Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors2011 “Pilot” Program
May 26, 2011 June 1, 2011June 1, 2011 June 3, 2011
• Six educators from across the U.S. were chosen in May 2011 to serve as the first class of SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAAs).
• Each AAA proposed specific plans for using their SOFIA experiences to inform their teaching and to share their knowledge with other educators.
• We provided a DVD with AAA program information video & slide files to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at his request.
5Universities Space Research Association
U.S. AAA flights – May 26, June 1, June 3, 2011
M. BeardSan Jose, CA
M. BlessingHerdon, VA
C. DeWolfRemus, MI
K. J. FredettePalmdale,CA
T. PaulsenMellen, WI
M. PiperFrankfort, IL
German AAA flight -- July 14
Jörg TrebsThomas Mann Oberschule - Berlin ReinickendorfDr. Wolfgang Vieser
Christoph-Probst-Gymnasium, Gilching @ Munich
Slide prepared byDr. Dörte Mehlert, DSI
Deutsches SOFIA Institut S
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7Universities Space Research Association
Some results from WestEdPost-AAA pilot program evaluation report
• All six teachers felt highly engaged throughout
• All six received important science content knowledge
• All six felt strong enthusiasm & and empowerment to:– Be ambassadors of the SOFIA mission and NASA– Develop revised/additional curricula
• Teachers were surprised by diverse range of personnel and career paths involved in “big mission” science
8Universities Space Research Association
Airborne Astronomy AmbassadorsCycle 1 Schedule & Plans
• January, 2012: AAA 2012-13 educator teams selection were publicly announced (NASA news release)
• February-May 2012: AAA educators received on-line course instruction
• August 2012: AAA educators begin communicating with their astronomer partners (Guest Investigators = GIs)
• December 2012 – December 2013: Cycle 1 GI & AAA flights
SOFIA E/PO Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors
Cycle 1 cohort selections announced Jan. 2012 (to fly in 2012-13):
Melvin Gorman & Gordon Serkis, Chinle JHS, Chinle, Ariz.Ira Harden & Vincente Washington, City Honors CS, Inglewood, Calif.Clifford Gerstman & Susan Groff, Middle College HS, Santa Ana, Calif.Mike Cimino (Heritage MS) & John Clark (Deltona HS), Deltona, Fla.Randi Brennon (Hawaii Acad. of Arts & Sci., Pahoa, Hawaii) &
James Johnson (Children’s Center for Treatment & Education, Custer City, Penn.).Jo Dodds (Twin Falls HS, Twin Falls, Idaho) & Ralph Peterson (North Gem HS, Bancroft, Idaho).Jennifer Carter & Claudett Edie, Rowan County HS, Morehead, Ky.Chelen Johnson (Breck School, Golden Valley, Minn.) &
Constance Gartner (Wisconsin School for the Deaf, Delavan, Wisc.).Matt Oates (Dilworth STEM Academy, Sparks, Nev.) &
Dan Ruby (Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center, Reno, Nev.).Ryan Munkwitz & John Walsh, Southampton MS & HS, Southampton, N.Y.Adriana Alvarez & Mariela Aguirre, Alicia R. Chacon International School, El Paso, Texas.Sarah Scoles (National Radio Astronomy Observatory) &
Anne Smith (Green Bank MS), Green Bank, W.V.David V. Black (Walden School of Liberal Arts, Provo, Utah) &
Carolyn Bushman (Wendover Jr./Sr. HS, Wendover, Utah).
Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors – Cycle 1 cohort
11Universities Space Research Association
SOFIA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors:Opportunities for Informal Educators
and Amateur Astronomers
C. Clark, P. Harman, D. Backman
12Universities Space Research Association
Recognizing the Informal Educator Contribution &Opportunities for Unique Partnerships
13Universities Space Research Association
Kuiper Airborne Observatory:Building on an E/PO Prototype
C. Clark, P. Harman, D. Backman
• September, 1995• First live link from plane in flight to ground• Tested equipment for Live From the
Stratosphere• Over 250 students participated in event at
the Exploratorium
• September, 1995• First live link from plane in flight to ground• Tested equipment for Live From the
Stratosphere• Over 250 students participated in event at
the Exploratorium
14Universities Space Research Association
AAA = Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors
Goal: Educators to better understand scientific research processes and pass that understanding along to their students, colleagues, and fellow citizens
• Teams of 2 educators: formal (classroom) educators, informal (museum, etc.) educators, and public outreach specialists (e.g. amateur astronomers) selected to fly and work on SOFIA as partners with teams of researchers.
• Chosen via national call for proposals, aligned with GI calls
• Criteria in peer review of AAA proposals:
– Quality of plans for post-flight impact back home
– Geographic and demographic diversity
• Ambassadors trained to understand flight research project, involved in SOFIA flight series w/ research partners.
• Ambassadors supported by SOFIA Outreach after flights to fulfill their proposed STEM education initiatives back in their home communities.
• Ambassadors become a growing on-line support community.
15Universities Space Research Association
Goals of Including Informal Educators in AAA Program
• Recognize the Significant Contribution of the Informal Educator
• Foster the Ability for Innovative Partnerships with Spectrum of Educators
• Increase Potential Educational Impact on Participants/Students
• Utilize existing infrastructure/networks
16Universities Space Research Association
Who is Eligible for AAA?
Engineer volunteers once a year with a local rocket club
Amateur Astronomer views skies once a week in their backyard
Amateur Astronomer active with local club, volunteering with public events and in classrooms
NO
NO
17Universities Space Research Association
SOFIA E/PO Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors
Cycle 1 Cohort Teams with Informal Educators
Matt Oates (Dilworth STEM Academy, Sparks, Nev.)
Dan Ruby (Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center, Reno, Nev.).
Sarah Scoles (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)
Anne Smith (Green Bank MS), Green Bank, W.V.
18Universities Space Research Association
SOFIA Needs YOU!
• Spreading the News
• Informing of deadlines
• Empowering innovative partnerships
• Encouraging applications
19Universities Space Research Association
>> Airborne Astronomy AmbassadorsAirborne Astronomy Ambassadors
- About 60 educators per year- About 60 educators per year will fly on SOFIA in full-scale program will fly on SOFIA in full-scale program - Classroom teachers - Classroom teachers - Planetarium & science center staff - Planetarium & science center staff - Community college faculty - Community college faculty - Amateur astronomers with robust public - Amateur astronomers with robust public
outreach programsoutreach programs
>> Next application opportunity: spring 2013 Next application opportunity: spring 2013
(to be announced via SOFIA website, e-mail (to be announced via SOFIA website, e-mail newsletter, and other media)newsletter, and other media)
> Apply as teams of 2; one member of the team > Apply as teams of 2; one member of the team must be a currently active middle- or high must be a currently active middle- or high school science teacher.school science teacher.
20Universities Space Research Association
Further information:
SOFIA Science Center home page
– http://www.sofia.usra.edu
SETI Institute
– http://www.seti.org
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
– http://www.astrosociety.org