Chabot Space & Science Center, in Oakland, CA, is an innovative teaching and learning center focusing on astronomy and the space sciences. Formed as a Joint Power Agency with the City of Oakland, the Oakland Unified School District, the East Bay Regional Park District, and in collaboration with the Eastbay Astronomical Society, Chabot addresses the critical issue of broad access to the specialized information and facilities needed to improve K-12 science education and public science literacy. Up to 2,000 K-12 teachers annually take part in Chabot’s professional development programs, in turn reaching up to 60,000 students each year. Through the Chabot/Stanford partnership, we are developing, testing, and evaluating classroom activities and laboratory research projects targeted to high school and community college-level classrooms. The outcome will be a 3-day Teacher Training Workshop which will eventually be provided as an online/DVD training course accessible to educators around the world. Space Weather Monitors Preparing to Distribute Scientific Devices and Classroom Materials Worldwide for the IHY 2007 SID: The Low Cost Monitor Chabot Space & Science Center Curriculum Partners Benjamin Burress Stanford Solar Center Deborah Scherrer Cal State University East Bay Ray Mitchell, Chief Engineer Deer Valley High School, Antioch, CA Jeff Adkins, Master Teacher Chabot Community College, Hayward, CA Timothy Dave, Master Teacher Stanford Solar Observatories Group Philip Scherrer Deborah Scherrer, Stanford University; Benjamin Burress, Chabot Space & Science Center Preassembled and pretuned Students build their own, simple antennas Sample rate of 1 per 5 seconds Data handled and plotted by Excel or gnu-based software (provided) Changeable frequency boards tuned to receive particular VLF transmitters around the world Easy to set up and use Suitable for use in high school and community colleges Low cost (~$175 per monitor) Based on AAVSO original concept Monitors track signal strength of distant VLF transmissions as they “bounce” off the Earth’s ionosphere. Students receive their data as a signal strength value and a timestamp. The data collected are easily read and graphed, with solar events showing up as spikes in the signal strength. Educational Strands: Ionization, the ionosphere, and reflection of VLF waves Understanding data: comparison with satellite and spacecraft data; determining correlation and causation with other events Energy & particles from the Sun; space weather effects Prediction of flares based on solar farside imagery Designed to capture ELF/VLF frequencies, ~30 Hz-50kHz Dual use system -- Daytime: monitor solar activity Nighttime: monitor atmospheric phenomena, e.g. lightning Precision timing/phase accuracy So sensitive that nearly any signal above the ambient Earth noise floor can be detected Broadband; sample rate of 100KHz on each channel Preassembled but students build their own antenna Data appropriate for high school and college as well as solar and ionospheric researchers Moderate cost (~$3100 per monitor) Based on existing technology with an established research base ( Stanford’s Solar Center, in conjunction with the Space, Telecommunications and Radioscience Laboratory and local educators, have developed inexpensive Space Weather Monitors that students around the world can use to track solar- and lightning- induced changes to the Earth’s ionosphere. Two versions of the monitor exist: one low cost and designed for high schools; another of research quality and targeted to community colleges. In partnership with Chabot Space & Science Center, we are designing, developing, and assessing classroom and educator support materials to accompany distribution of the monitors worldwide. Curriculum materials, designed and tested by Master Teachers, developed for both high school and community college levels. Activities and labs will be inquiry-based and aligned with the American NAS/NRC’s National Science Education Standards. Online and CD/DVD/video teacher training will be available. Extensive web-based background materials Centralized (at Stanford) database and communications hub for communication amongst teachers and students worldwide Access to scientists for discussions about problems, data, and research Professional assessment of materials and project Materials will be translated into the six official languages of the United Nations: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. Educator Support AWESOME: The Research Monitor Through the United Nations Basic Space Science Initiative (UNBSSI) and the IHY Education and Public Outreach Program, our monitors have been designated for deployment to 191 countries for the International Heliophysical Year To the extent possible, schools hosting monitors will be paired with researchers serving as Scientist Mentors. Funding is being sought from private foundations.