NASA LUNAR SCIENCE FORUM

July 19-21, 2011

JULY 2011

The Journey Program:NCESSE - National Center of Earth and Space Science

Original Goals:- Broaden STEM participation in under-served communities- Help students learn Science Standards content - Inspire students - Long-term teacher engagement (5-years)- Offer teachers Professional Development Credits- Introduce local astronomers to teachers and studentsGetting There:

• Five-year commitment from DOE and scientists• Adaptation of modules to align with (K-12) Hawaii Science Standards

Journey 2011(our seventh year)

February 10-18, 2011

51 Astronomy Educators 19 Schools

310+ classrooms 6,500+ students38 Ambassadors

Master Educator WorkshopTeacher’s Workshop

Two Family Science Events Chamber(s) thank you celebration

FLAGSHIP JOURNEY PROGRAM IN US!!!

NSTA Featured Article March 2011

NSTA Reports

Science in Sight: A Closer Look at Informal

Science Education

3/29/2011 - NSTA Reports—Debra ShapiroMany schools hold family science events, have scientists visit classes, and invite community members to events. But schools participating in a national K–12 science initiative called Journey through the Universe (JttU) have a national team of engineers, scientists, and master science educators—from research and education organizations nationwide—visit and hold programs for their entire community, provide professional development and modules of lessons to the teachers, and engage families and the public in learning science, using education programs in the Earth and space sciences and space exploration.The program grew out of “the recognition that it takes a community to educate a child and a network of communities to reach a generation,” says Jeff Goldstein, director of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) and JttU’s creator. “If you’re going to inspire, educate, and engage a child in science, you need to provide a personal and personable window on science as a human endeavor.” He says JttU was created because “it’s important for students and teachers to interact with researchers to get an idea of what research is all about,” and “this interaction could be very powerful and very inspirational” for them.JttU offers a veritable “[restaurant] menu of offerings a community can integrate as they see fit,” observes Goldstein. The program can be customized to state and district teaching and learning standards, grade levels, curriculum, types of audiences, and the needs of all involved, making it systemic, strategic, and “flexible enough to be the community’s program, not ours,” he explains. JttU can even be operated by just one school or district “without losing the power of the program,” he adds.The program is also designed to be sustainable, with ownership by the community’s local team of lead science educators. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s not that difficult” because all of the necessary “resources and assets are already there in the community,” says Goldstein, adding, “JttU often turned out to be the ‘glue’…a vehicle to get education stakeholders at the local level talking to one another” to discover “what we can do together if we all come together.” JttU provides the national resources and helps the community identify local organizations that could underwrite the costs of the program.JttU has become “a flagship educational program” in Hilo, Hawaii, says Janice Harvey, community outreach and education programs leader at Gemini Observatory, one of the 13 observatories and science centers on Hilo’s Journey Team. When “Journey Week” takes place there—as it has for the past seven years—“the whole town participates,” says Harvey, including two Chambers of Commerce, the Hawaii Department of Education, legislators, students and faculty from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and representatives from local businesses and science organizations. Gemini and the Department of Education primarily fund the program, with supplemental funding from local businesses and government, “to the point that [the program] is self-sustainable,” she explains.During Journey Week 2011 in February, 47 astronomy educators, both local and national, visited more than 380 classrooms at 18 schools in Hilo, reaching more than 8,000 students, according to Harvey. Each school also has a JttU Master Teacher. “I just sit there in amazement at what they teach these students,” she reports. “It’s hands-on activities—that’s what the kids respond to—not just a slideshow,” she points out. “That’s the key to learning.”The astronomers give presentations during two family science events at which “3,000 to 4,000 community members show up,” she notes. While Hilo has chosen astronomy as the centerpiece of its JttU program, Corpus Christi, Texas, will focus on planetary science when the program begins there in March, explains Goldstein.Hilo’s JttU has the support of superintendent Valerie Takata. “This grassroots effort of the education entity, astronomy centers, and the business/community working together toward common goals has been absolutely stellar,” says Takata. “What an amazing opportunity for all of us to tap the resources within our community and to make a difference! We are investing in our students, teachers, and community…and in our future; therein lies the potential and strength.”Master Teacher Christine Copes says she has “benefited both professionally and personally [from JttU], from the quality of teacher workshops to the connections with world-class scientists and educators.” She continues, “When students are given the opportunity to engage in relevant, exciting, and age-appropriate science activities, they remain attentive, focused and involved. Because of this involvement, they comprehend the content, and very often follow up with the quest for more information on the topic.”To learn more, visit http://ncesse.org/journey and the Hilo JttU site at www.gemini.edu/journey.

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Journey through the Universe Master Teachers construct a Galileoscope™ from a kit during their training workshop. The teachers are then prepared to share the telescopes with fellow teachers and their students. (Joy Pollard, Gemini Observatory/Aura)

http://nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id=58331&print=true

Janice Harvey (Gemini), State Superintendent Matayoshi, District Superintendent Takata,

Scott Fisher (NSF)Quoted by State Superintendent Matayoshi regarding the NSTA article on Journey through the Universe:

■“FYI: Please see the link to the article in Janice Harvey's email. I was able to attend one of the sessions at my alma mater in Hilo - inspiring. AND it is the whole community that is involved and supporting hands on and engaging - showing students and community the real research that is happening at the telescopes, exploring the field of astronomy and more.

■It's a model that is being copied in other parts of the nation - and it started in Hilo. We hope to expand that model, and this kind of approach is already being incorporated into Ass't Superintendent Bellino's plans for expanded STEM programs with even greater partnerships in STEM and other areas.”.

Astronomy Educators Workshop

Teachers Workshop

Teacher’s Workshop Galileoscope - used to observe the moon

Ambassadors Workshop

Chamber of Commerce celebrates Journey with the business and astronomy community

Doris speaking on behalf of Lunar Science Institute at the Chamber of Commerce

Celebration

Alyssa Caryl meeting Governor’s liaison and District Superintendent at

Chamber of Commerce Celebration

Discovering the Moon!!

Brian Day at Family Science Day at Imiloa

Brian Day at Family Science Event University of Hawaii at Hilo Theatre

In the classroom

Brad Bailey in the classroom

Text

What does the future hold for NASA’S participation in Journey through the

Universe?

We want NLSI as part of our Journey team for

MANY YEARS TO COME!