Education: Initiatives Education: Initiatives & Opportunities& Opportunities

R. HollowR. Hollow

ATNF Outreach WorkshopATNF Outreach Workshop

2 Dec 20042 Dec 2004

My RoleMy Role1.1. Develop educational resources and outreach Develop educational resources and outreach

programs – primarily for high school programs – primarily for high school students and teachersstudents and teachers

• Teachers Workshops in astronomyTeachers Workshops in astronomy• Resources for internet incl NSW HSC PhysicsResources for internet incl NSW HSC Physics• Running innovative educational programsRunning innovative educational programs

2.2. Coordinate program of public talks by ATNF Coordinate program of public talks by ATNF staffstaff

3.3. Develop & promote activities for National Develop & promote activities for National Science WeekScience Week

4.4. Support special events such as Open DaysSupport special events such as Open Days5.5. Support outreach efforts at Parkes and Support outreach efforts at Parkes and

NarrabriNarrabri

Target GroupsTarget Groups

SchoolsSchools– Teachers (Teachers (key groupkey group))– StudentsStudents– Stages 2-3 (Primary), 4-5 (Yrs 7-10), 6 (Yr 11-Stages 2-3 (Primary), 4-5 (Yrs 7-10), 6 (Yr 11-

12)12) PublicPublic Other specific groupsOther specific groups

– Trainee teachersTrainee teachers– Under/Post graduatesUnder/Post graduates

Key educational Key educational groupsgroups

NSW Department of Education and NSW Department of Education and TrainingTraining

NSW Board of StudiesNSW Board of Studies Australian Science Teachers’ AssociationAustralian Science Teachers’ Association NSW Science Teachers’ AssociationNSW Science Teachers’ Association Association of Independent SchoolsAssociation of Independent Schools Catholic Education OfficesCatholic Education Offices Australian Government Quality Teacher Australian Government Quality Teacher

Program (funding?)Program (funding?)

Relevant CoursesRelevant Courses

Initial web focus

Initial Teacher workshop

Initial Projects:Initial Projects: 1. Teacher 1. Teacher WorkshopsWorkshops

Parkes, May 04, three days Parkes, May 04, three days for Junior Science teachersfor Junior Science teachers

Emphasis on practical, Emphasis on practical, “hands-on” activities that “hands-on” activities that teachers can use in teachers can use in classroom.classroom.

Teachers interact with Teachers interact with astronomers & engineersastronomers & engineers

Relate to syllabus Relate to syllabus outcomesoutcomes

Provide resourcesProvide resources

Workshop Workshop developmentsdevelopments

Future workshops for Physics teachersFuture workshops for Physics teachers Regular program of workshopsRegular program of workshops Rotate location, eg Parkes, Narrabri, + Rotate location, eg Parkes, Narrabri, +

Coonabarabran? Interstate?Coonabarabran? Interstate? One-day or weekend Sydney workshopsOne-day or weekend Sydney workshops Presentations at other events, eg Syd Uni Presentations at other events, eg Syd Uni

Science Teachers Workshop, STANSW and Science Teachers Workshop, STANSW and ASTA conferences. ASTA conferences.

Participants develop new materials and Participants develop new materials and projectsprojects

Initial Projects:Initial Projects:

2. Online material for 2. Online material for HSC PhysicsHSC Physics

Complete course for Complete course for AstrophysicsAstrophysics option option – Integrated into syllabus Integrated into syllabus

requirementsrequirements– Include up-to-date data Include up-to-date data

& images& images– Content + activities and Content + activities and

problemsproblems– Mixture of print-outs and Mixture of print-outs and

onlineonline– Ready for May 04.Ready for May 04.

Extend to other Extend to other sections of syllabus, eg sections of syllabus, eg Cosmic EngineCosmic Engine

Other web projectsOther web projects

Case studies of Australian scientists Case studies of Australian scientists (multi-level). Extensive set of pages (multi-level). Extensive set of pages linked to relevant science (linked to relevant science (high needhigh need). ).

Aboriginal astronomy unit for Yrs 7-10 Aboriginal astronomy unit for Yrs 7-10 ((high need for 2005high need for 2005))

Material for EES & Senior ScienceMaterial for EES & Senior Science Material for Stage 4-5 Science on eg Material for Stage 4-5 Science on eg

electromagnetic spectrum and radio electromagnetic spectrum and radio astronomyastronomy

Public talksPublic talks

Provide support and Provide support and education education background for background for speakersspeakers

Link with educational Link with educational authorities and authorities and groupsgroups

Other tasksOther tasks

Develop simple printed Develop simple printed resources and class kits, eg resources and class kits, eg Crux poster, updated Crux poster, updated information and activity sheetsinformation and activity sheets

Student Research Scheme – Student Research Scheme – work with astronomers to work with astronomers to identify suitable projects.identify suitable projects.

Innovative ProgramsInnovative Programs

Science teachers need better Science teachers need better understanding of process of science and understanding of process of science and researchresearch

Teacher Research schemesTeacher Research schemes - Science - Science teachers practising “science”teachers practising “science”– Eg Teacher Leaders in Research Based Science Eg Teacher Leaders in Research Based Science

Education, Education, TRLBSETRLBSE, an NOAO/NSF scheme, an NOAO/NSF scheme– Research Experience for Teachers, Research Experience for Teachers, RET RET

Program, an NRAO scheme at Socorro and Program, an NRAO scheme at Socorro and Green BankGreen Bank

– Use Mopra & possibly Siding Spring telescopes?Use Mopra & possibly Siding Spring telescopes?

Innovative Innovative programsprograms

Student research schemes – Student research schemes – students doing sciencestudents doing science– CSIRO Student Research SchemeCSIRO Student Research Scheme– SEARFESEARFE– Eg GAVRT; 32 m ex-DSN dishEg GAVRT; 32 m ex-DSN dish– Linkages with Faulkes TelescopeLinkages with Faulkes Telescope– Radio observations of meteorsRadio observations of meteors

– – – Bathurst Observatory/CSUBathurst Observatory/CSU

Trainee teachers & Trainee teachers & educational researcheducational research Foster links with Science Teacher Foster links with Science Teacher

trainers, eg UTS, Macquarie, CSUtrainers, eg UTS, Macquarie, CSU– Provide support/tour/info for trainee Provide support/tour/info for trainee

teachers and teacher trainersteachers and teacher trainers– Utilise trainees for project Utilise trainees for project

developmentdevelopment– Help them with implementation of Help them with implementation of

schemes in schoolsschemes in schools

International International PerspectivesPerspectives Foster links with other Foster links with other

observatory/education groups, eg observatory/education groups, eg NRAO, Jodrell Bank, Gemini, NRAO, Jodrell Bank, Gemini, NOAO – avoid reinventing the NOAO – avoid reinventing the wheel.wheel.

Monitor trends in astronomy Monitor trends in astronomy education and contribute to education and contribute to dissemination of the researchdissemination of the research

Key pointsKey points

Effective programs and resources are Effective programs and resources are those that target syllabus & teacher those that target syllabus & teacher needs.needs.

Educational trends have moved from Educational trends have moved from contentcontent to to processprocess, ie not just Science , ie not just Science as facts, rather how is it doneas facts, rather how is it done

Need to integrate skills with contentNeed to integrate skills with content Must foster links with educational Must foster links with educational

groups and teachersgroups and teachers