Grades Education and Informal Science Literacy Nicholas Gross, Roberta Johnson, Deborah Scherrer, Patricia Reiff Boston Univ.NCAR, Stanford Univ., Rice Univ. Grades 6-14 Education Web Presence and e-Learning Space Weather Monitor Program Teacher interns working in collaboration with CISM researchers have developed inexpensive space weather monitors targeted for under-served high school and community college use. The monitors track disturbances to the Earth’s ionosphere caused by solar activity. Interns tested by incorporating the monitors into classrooms, and are providing supporting documentation, curricula, and activities. Students from high schools and community colleges participated by developing software and beta-testing. 2 versions of monitors – – SID, for wide distribution (~$250) – AWESOME, research quality (~$3000) 100 monitors placed in schools most likely to reach under-represented students Leverage from CISM Education Partners – Teacher workshops – University application (Alabama A&M) – Integration into teacher-training courses (Rice U.) – Development of web-based training (NCAR, Exploratorium, Stanford) Professional formative & summative assessment All materials standards-based Supplemental funding obtained from NASA for IHY distribution. Monitors now in place in a dozen (12) countries for IHY Professional Development Several collaborative professional development efforts are ongoing, which seek to achieve the outcomes identified above: Classroom activities and educator training materials for the Space Weather Monitors have been jointly developed by Stanford U., UCAR, and the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, CA. Materials and training will be formally evaluated and distributed as well as being incorporated into Rice University's Ham Radio Course for teachers and NCAR's Professional Development program. NCAR also offered professional development on space weather and magnetism through workshops at educator conferences. 11 workshops were held reaching 700 educators. Rice offers “Teaching Earth and Space Science” for teachers that includes significant space weather content. The United Nations and organizers of the International Heliophysical Year, 2007, have designated these Space Weather Monitors as official IHY instruments, to be placed in 191 countries around the world. Windows to the Universe: Space Weather Pages ( UCAR project staff are working to develop a new, updated, and comprehensive Space Weather website that: Highlights CISM science results and work of education program partners Consolidates and expands existing extensive Space Weather content, currently dispersed through the website into one comprehensive, up-to-date, and multilevel section (including entry-level undergraduates) CISM pages have had 730,000 visit in the last year with 1.7 million pages served Space Weather on the Exploratorium Website CISM researchers at Stanford and UC Berkeley have collaborated with the Exploratorium Science Museum in San Francisco to develop a Space Weather website ( ) including: imagery and animations from CISM, interviews with CISM scientists, and ready access to live CISM and other solar data. Approx. 78,000 visits with 204,000 pages served Introduction Implementation Strategies: Leveraging existing programs at the UCAR, Rice University, and Stanford Collaboration with external partners to achieve large- scale effects with limited funding. Internal collaboration, ensuring that higher impact is attained than would be possible without the STC Legacy: A cadre of teachers who use space weather materials to meet science education standards. A public that is sensitive to the effects of space weather on human activities. The CISM Education Program includes an objective to provide space weather resources and professional development for grades 6-14 teachers and information about space weather to the general public. This poster summarizes these program activities. Museum and Planetarium Learning A visualization of CISM simulation results is being used in a major planetarium show being presented at the Hayden Planetarium in New York Major Planetarium Show: In March 2006, the Hayden Planetarium premiered a show that included a visualization of CISM simulation results. Five researchers from 4 CISM institutions (Rice, BU, FIT and Stanford) were credited. In one year it is estimated that 1 million visitors have seen the show and it has been distributed to 9 planetariums nationally and internationally. The museum-based science literacy effort includes planetarium shows and space weather CD-ROMS. Kiosks/CD-roms: With CISM support, Rice has updated their "Space Weather" CD-ROM with nearly 600 MB of images and animations. CISM supported the distribution of over 3000 CDs at teacher meetings including NSTA, CAST, SACNAS, AMS, and AAPT. Portable Planetarium Shows: Rice, in conjunction with HMNS, has developed an inflatable, portable, full dome projection system. Stanford and Rice team members have been collaborating with the Lawrence Hall of Science to develop a solar planetarium program and PASS (Planetarium Activities for Student Success) guide. This program is now in beta test. Multiple CISM Education Program partners are working to bring CISM space weather content to the public, students and teachers through the web, building on the strengths of their existing programs for maximum impact. E-Newsletters Two electronic news letters reach over 6000 educators worldwide. CISM research is highlighted through the Rice “e-teacher” s, to over 2800 teachers nationwide (with support from IMAGE). CISM space weather resources have been highlighted through the monthly Window to the Universe e-newsletter that currently reaches 3400 teachers around the world, including 2700 in the US. Yearly Total: nearly 300,000 visitors with over 700,000 pages served Real Time Space Weather Predictions With CISM Support, Rice University has updated their “real time space weather” pages ( with links to real-time space weather prediction pages. Outcomes Teachers using CISM materials in their classes. Teaching professionals participating in CISM sponsored activities. Members of the general public participating in CISM sponsored programs and accessing CISM materials.