1. A Partnership between English Language Learners and a Team of Rocket Scientists: EPO for the NASA SDO Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) Susan Buhr and Mark McCaffrey, CIRES, University of Colorado Maria Murillo, Skyline H.S., St. Vrain Valley School District Frank Eparvier, LASP, University of Colorado EVE EPO and MESA Contacts: Susan Buhr susan.buhr@colorado.edu 303-492-5657 Maria Murillo Murillo_Luisamaria@stvrain.k12.co.us 720- 494-3741 Mark McCaffrey Mark.Mccaffrey@Colorado.EDU 303-735-3155 Course Topics New Steps for EVE-MESA Course objectives A key EVE-MESA goal is for students to develop an understanding that the authentic scientific process of research resembles that described in the “inquiry wheel” at right. The course was designed to meet learning objectives in space science and physics, mathematics, engineering and technology. Students conducted hands-on activities, hosted visits from scientists and the press, built equipment, monitored solar activity, and went on field trips. The Inquiry Wheel EVE-MESA Outcomes Introduction to EVE and MESA Programs EVE Education and Public Outreach (EPO) promotes an understanding of the process of science and concepts within solar science and sun-earth connections. EVE EPO also features working scientists, current research and career awareness. The Math, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) mission is to prepare students for undergraduate careers in math, engineering, science and technology. MESA has a particular focus on students from groups that are under- represented in science and other math-based careers. MESA courses are held through after- school sessions or in elective classes held during the regular school day. Over 90% of the MESA class of 2005 enrolled in the college of their choice. Eight states participate in MESA. The St. Vrain MESA program in Colorado has grown from one program with 20 students in 1999 to 47 programs with over 900 students participating in 2007. The Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft and the EVE instrument Introduction to the EVE-MESA Skyline H.S. Course The EVE-MESA project was piloted iover two semesters as an elective course at Skyline H.S., St. Vrain Valley SD, CO. The course was offered to recent immigrants and English Language Learners as part of the regular school day. For many of the students, this course was the ONLY science course open to them due to language limitations. Dr. Murillo (Skyline H.S.) introduced science content in English, but used Spanish as needed for discussion and questions. Final student presentations were given using Powerpoint in English. A student builds an antenna for use in monitoring solar activity and the ionosphere. The scope of topics in the course included: Introduction to Space Weather Introduction to Computers Basic Powerpoint Characteristics and Dynamics of the Sun Measuring and Working with Angles States of Matter Solar Rotation Magnetic Field The Ionosphere Monitoring Solar Activity and the Ionosphere Rocketry Presentation Skills Highlights of the course included: Visits from working scientists and engineers Field trips to the Denver Museum and Fiske Planetarium Building and deploying SID monitors to study the effect of solar activity on the ionosphere Participation in the Challenger Learning Center “Space Station Alpha” activity Next steps for EVE EPO Students were exposed to opportunities that would not have been possible wiithout the EVE-MESA project. Impacts on students included increased career interest, increased content knowledge, increased attendance at school, and noticeable gains in other coursework. The students were awarded a Colorado MESA “Program of Excellence” Award for their work. Students improved their scores from 18% to 54% on a pre- and post- assessment of their content knowledge, with no notice or review preparation. The EVE-MESA course was profiled in a Longmont Times-Call newspaper article entitled “Science for All”. The course was recommended for continuation by other department chairs and teachers. “What do I need to do to be a scientist like you? Question asked of Dr. Eduardo Araujo-Pradere, a Spanish-speaking CIRES/NOAA scientist “MESA has been wonderful for the ELL Newcomer students. I have them in [a math course] and have seen these improvements: Students are not afraid to do an open exploration of math concepts in activities where they may not know exactly what they’re going to find. In other words they are much better at jumping in on experiments and seeing what the data suggest. They use English more and more all the time. They have definitely improved on their graphing skills, their data analysis skills and their ability to state conclusions.” MESA students’ math teacher “Thanks for making our students excited about this! I had many who were very happy to go and others who wished they were going. It’s nice to hear them excited about something school-related!” From the ELL deparment chair on the success of a MESA field trip to CU Boulder: The Skyline H.S. pilot course is being offered again in the Spring. The course has been adapted into smaller modules for an after -school environment, and is being piloted at after-school MESA sites this year. Teachers receive a “kit” of activities, equipment and scientist support to implement EVE-MESA at new sites. The piloted after -school modules will be packaged into a portable “kit” which can be used by EVE scientists anywhere. The kit could be suitable for Girl and Boy Scouts, Family Science Events and other MESA sites. An evaluator has been observing MESA events. A systematic evaluation of teacher and student experiences is beginning this semester. A CIRES videographer has filmed portions of the EVE-MESA course. This footage will be used as a resource within the kit. The MESA after-school modules will be made available on-line for use by other MESA sites across the country. We intend to partner with MESA sites in Maryland as the modules mature. Professional development for teachers has been implemented and more is planned. The ionosphere monitors (SID) have been the basis of professional development for teachers during a summer workshop, and are being deployed in four classrooms. In 2008, LASP EPO and CIRES will lead a workshop for journalists to help prepare them for solar science reporting. See a description of previous workshops on the LASP website. Web Links: http://cires.colorado.edu/education/k12/ http://lasp.colorado.edu/eve/ http://solar-center.stanford.edu/SID/ http://lasp.colorado.edu/education/journalists/index.htm A New York teacher consults with students on optimal antenna configurations following a professional development workshop. An EVE-MESA student presents her studies in English and in Powerpoint. A MESA event attendee reads press about the EVE-MESA project An EVE-MESA student learns background knowledge and computing skills. A LASP scientist provided support throughout the semester