Transcript Activities in Green Bank

Preparing Students for
STEM Careers:
The NRAO-EPSCoR
Connection.
Talk Outline:
• The National Radio Astronomy
Observatory
• Overview of EPO programs
• WV Governor’s School for Math and
Science
• Pulsar Search Collaboratory
Founded 1956.
Funded by the
NSF.
Provides state-ofthe-art telescopes
and support to
astronomers worldwide.
Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope
The GBT is
the NRAO’s
newest
instrument.
World’s
largest fullysteerable
telescope.
NRAO EPO Program Goals
• Enlarge the pipeline of students ready to enter
college and graduate with a degree in STEM
(NAS, 2007).
• Increase the number of well-qualified and
highly effective STEM teachers in the classroom
(NSB, 2007).
• Involve students in research/inquiry-based
science.
• Increase public’s appreciation of STEM.
EPO Programs at NRAO
Program
Teachers
Funding
Impact
Sum m e r Ins titute s
NSF (1987-2002) NASA ( 2003-pre s e nt)
>1000 te ache rs , 300K s tude nts
Re s e arch Expe rie nce for Te ache rs
NSF (2000-pre s e nt), NASA (2005)
24 te ache rs to date .
Chautauqua
NSF, Schools , Fe e s (annual s ince 1989)
> 600 profe s s ors
NEW: GLOBE
State funding
20 te ache rs
NSF, EPSCoR
launch in 2008-60 te ache rs , 1800 s tude nts
Fie ld Trips , Ins titute s
program s are fre e
3500 in 2006, 2400 us e d the 40 Foot
High School M e ntors hip
fre e , 2-6 s tude nts pe r ye ar, local
~40 high s chool s tude nts
GEAR UP Cam p
US De pt. of Education
60 high s chool s tude nts (2004-2006)
REU
NSF
25 unde rgrads s ince 1991, m any m ore !
*** WV Gove rnor's School
WV EPSCoR
60 s tude nts /ye s r, ~180 to date
*** Puls ar Se arch Collaboratory
NSF, EPSCoR
launch in 2008-60 te ache rs , 1800 s tude nts
Tour Program
m ark e ting funds WV Touris m
~45,000 in 2006
StarQue s t Star Party
Fe e s
150-200 pe r ye ar ( 2004-2007)
Socie ty of Am ate urs
Space is Fre e
At le as t 1200 s ince 1985
M ountain Radio As tronom y s how
produce d by NRAO
re ache s 10,000 pe ople , plus podcas t
Quie t Sk ie s
NASA IDEAS grant
w ill re ach 600+ pe r ye ar
NRAO Am bas s adors
SARA, NRAO
1400 in 2006/2007
Cos m ic Radio Show
Corp. of Public Broadcas ting
launch in Octobe r 2007
*** Puls ar Se arch Collaboratory
Students
Public
Outreach
West Virginia Governor’s School
•
•
•
Partnership with the National
Youth Science Foundation.
2-week residential program at
NRAO.
60 rising high-school
freshman/year.
Key Components
•Research
•Directed Studies
•Whole Group challenges
•Outdoor Activities
•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 GBT
Directed Studies
Whole Group -Outdoor Activities
Is it Working?
Evaluation
1.
2.
3.
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.
Student Survey
•
Pre/Post Likert Instrument
•
Indicates changes in student’s attitudes toward science,
knowledge of how science is done in the real world
GSMS Program Evaluation.
•
Post only. Open ended
•
Reveals additional information about positive and negative
aspects of the program.
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
Item
RSA Results. N=109 2006 only. 2007 only.
Pre
Mean
Post
Mean
t-Test
Prob.
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
Item
Item Description
Positive Results
Student Survey N=109 2006 Results 2007 Results
What’s next?
Pulsar Search Collaboratory
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 Collaboratory
– involves teachers and students in the search
for new pulsars.
– “Distributed community of researchers”.
– Partnership between WVU physics, computer
science, and education departments, WV
EPSCoR, and NRAO.
History:
1999 Higher Ed Symposium in
Charleston.
Offhand conversation with Bob
Gillespie (aka master nagger)
about “Pulsars at Home” with
the soon to be finished GBT.
The years go by. Annual nag
by Bob.
2006: Two new faculty at
WVU-- pulsar astronomers!
2007: summer shutdown
pulsar survey-- over 100 TB of
raw data.
Program Elements
– Summer residential program at NRAO: PSC Leaders
• 12 day teacher institute (20)
• 5 day experience for teachers and students (30)
– Academic 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 WVU
• Poster presentations, student and professional talks.
• Tours and activities of WVU STEM schools.
– Students can remain in PSC throughout high school
career.