Project ASTRO San Diego Teacher Information 2013-14

A Program to match 3^rd-9^th-grade educators in San Diego area schools and community groups with amateur and professional astronomers

Thank you for your interest in being a Project ASTRO teacher partner! These pages provide further information on the project. You can also check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The application deadline for the 2014-15 school year is OCTOBER 1, 2014. The training workshop will be held on OCTOBER 18 (Saturday) at R. H. Fleet Science Center. (Late applications will be considered; however we may run out of astronomer volunteers). The application form can be found here.

Each year, 3^rd-10^th grade teachers and youth group educators from the San Diego area are paired with volunteer astronomers who have an interest in working with local schools and community organizations.

The educators should have an interest in teaching astronomy and hands-on science, but do not need to have any astronomy experience to participate. Astronomer volunteers include retired professors, full-time researchers, and graduate students from local colleges in addition to experienced amateur astronomers - all of whom enjoy the opportunity to share their enthusiasm and knowledge.

Together, educators and astronomers participate in a 1-day summer workshop, receive astronomy resource materials, and develop their own strategy for working together in and out of the classroom.

These partnerships involve more than just one-time visits. Astronomers and educators commit to at least four site visits per year. For each visit, partners plan their hands-on activities in advance, with the teacher providing direction regarding curriculum requirements, students' abilities and time constraints. (The activities are mostly selected from the ASP's 800-page activity guide Universe at Your Fingertips, which is provided to all participants at the training workshop). On the day of the visit, the astronomer and teacher guide the students through the activities together. The astronomer also takes the time to answer students' questions, and talks about his/her own work, interests and background. Some partners also set up evening observing sessions, create astronomy clubs, organize field trips, or help create science fair projects.

Project ASTRO's goals are:

• to encourage ongoing partnerships between educators and local astronomers.
• to provide training for educators and astronomers in the use of hands-on astronomy activities with students
• to provide activities and resources that reflect science education reform goals and strategies.

Project ASTRO teachers:

• are matched with a volunteer astronomer from your local area
• attend the summer training workshop, and an optional follow-up workshop later in the school year.
• learn how to use astronomy and space science activities to engage and motivate students
• receive a wide-range of activities and materials
• receive follow-up support and assistance from the local site coordinator
• become part of a growing national network of Project ASTRO partners.

Project ASTRO teachers commit to:

• attend the summer training workshop
• obtain support of their school or district administrator, or Executive Director
• arrange a minimum of four site visits by a local astronomer during the academic year
• teach some astronomy during the school year, either as a unit or throughout the year. (This includes topics such as: phases of the moon, seasons of the year, and energy from the Sun)
• help evaluate Project ASTRO activities and project materials by providing feedback on their effectiveness and collecting student work.

Teacher Selection for the Program

• Availability of a volunteer astronomer near the educator's locale
• Enthusiasm and need for astronomy education in the teacher's classroom and school. NOTE: Experience in teaching astronomy is NOT necessary! In fact we are especially keen to help those teachers and students who are less confident about astronomical subject matter.
• Support from school or district, or Executive Director
• Balanced representation of grade levels and student demographics.

Coordination

Coordination of the site is a part-time effort shared by Prof. Ron Angione and Dr. Philip Blanco at SDSU, both of whom are available to provide information and assistance during the school year.

Contact information:

Additional information related to project management and funding can be obtained from: