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Icon for: David Lockett

DAVID LOCKETT

National Radio Astronomy Observatory NRAO, CTIO

Observatories at the Extreme Chilean Telescopes and Southern Sky Experience

NSF Awards: 1439408

2017 (see original presentation & discussion)

Grades K-6, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Undergraduate, Graduate, Adult learners, Informal / multi-age

The Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program (ACEAP) is a program that brings amateur astronomers, planetarium personnel, and K-16 formal and informal astronomy educators to US astronomy facilities in Chile. The ambassadors visit Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), Gemini-South Observatory, and the Atacama Large Millimeter-submillimeter Array (ALMA) along with smaller tourist observatories. The ambassadors also participate in local school outreach. The program is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. In 2016, nine ambassadors were chosen from across the United States and Puerto Rico to travel to Chile and learn about the observatories, researchers, and science being conducted.

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Discussion from the 2017 STEM for All Video Showcase (14 posts)
  • Icon for: Tami LaFleur

    Tami LaFleur

    Facilitator
    K-12 STEM Coordinator
    May 15, 2017 | 09:03 a.m.

    I appreciate the term you used- "challenge-based learning" vs project-based learning. This makes sense when working on engineering projects. How do educators get involved in the Observatory in Chile? Do educators need to have an astronomy background beforehand? Is this an on-going project with more ambassadors being chosen? What a great opportunity for educators to share with students in the US.

     
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    David Lockett
  • Icon for: David Lockett

    David Lockett

    Lead Presenter
    STEM Teacher
    May 16, 2017 | 01:00 p.m.

    Formulating challenges student will address is the cornerstone of challenge based learning. Educators can get involved with the observatory in many ways thru star parties, solar eclipse studies, and more. The ambassador program is ongoing with a new cohort scheduled to visit in Summer '17.

  • Icon for: Michael Kolodziej

    Michael Kolodziej

    Facilitator
    Associate Vice President
    May 18, 2017 | 10:18 p.m.

    David,

    I wish I had the opportunity to participate in this as a student!  Also, It's great that you are continuing to engage the participants after the fact and it sounds like you have a variety of ways in which this is accomplished. Do you have any sort of web presence or social community that supports the ongoing engagement?    

     

  • Icon for: Deborah Silvis

    Deborah Silvis

    Graduate Student
    May 15, 2017 | 11:47 a.m.

    It is great that one learning objective sounds like to understand the role of astro-tourism in the region. This emerging sociopolitical/scientific issue seems really important for young people to encounter in a transnational project like this. I wonder what kinds of local responses you have seen in this regard to the telescope infrastructure broadly and specifically to your project? 

     
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    David Lockett
  • Icon for: David Lockett

    David Lockett

    Lead Presenter
    STEM Teacher
    May 16, 2017 | 01:02 p.m.

    Astro-tourism brings together the exciting sphere of travel, exploration and expedition with an equally exiting sphere of astronomy. The domains are derivatives of ‘exploration’ the fundamental trait of astronomy.

  • Icon for: Tami LaFleur

    Tami LaFleur

    Facilitator
    K-12 STEM Coordinator
    May 15, 2017 | 08:22 p.m.

    Yes, have you gotten local responses?

     
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    David Lockett
  • Icon for: Dale McCreedy

    Dale McCreedy

    Facilitator
    Vice President of Audience & Community Engagement
    May 15, 2017 | 10:26 p.m.

    Wow - I had no idea there were so many facilities in Chilé! This sounds like a rich and intensive learning experience for all! Can you say more about what happens after? It sounds like the ambassadors may not be located near one another?  How do they share their learning with others upon their return?  Do they have objectives, requirements, obligatory presentations??  Just wondering as the connection of planetarium folks, amateur astronomers and K-16 teachers - especially after having spent this time together - could be especially interesting if they work together upon their return in some way? 

     
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    David Lockett
  • Icon for: David Lockett

    David Lockett

    Lead Presenter
    STEM Teacher
    May 16, 2017 | 01:05 p.m.

    Ambassadors are from all parts of the country. Ambassadors share their learning through scheduled outreach at conferences, webinars, etc...Many ambassadors have presented joint projects as well as designed planetarium shows around the Chile' visit. 

  • Melissa Sheffer

    Undergraduate Student
    May 16, 2017 | 12:50 p.m.

    I see in your description that you do school outreach while the ambassadors are learning at the facilities. What types of outreach programs you do you do? Are the programs for student's challenge based for the students just as they are for the ambassadors? Additionally, how long do the ambassadors stay in Chile for the experience?

     
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    David Lockett
  • Icon for: David Lockett

    David Lockett

    Lead Presenter
    STEM Teacher
    May 16, 2017 | 01:07 p.m.

    I served as an ambassador as well as provide STEM outreach. My focus recently is STEM integration, upon which I will return this summer and work with a local school. The experience typically lasts for a week. The programs for students allow for workable capstones for their project, work on solutions, and publishing those solutions online.

  • Icon for: Tami LaFleur

    Tami LaFleur

    Facilitator
    K-12 STEM Coordinator
    May 16, 2017 | 08:18 p.m.

    David, what ages are the Chilean students? What has been their response?

     
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    David Lockett
  • Icon for: David Lockett

    David Lockett

    Lead Presenter
    STEM Teacher
    May 17, 2017 | 09:29 p.m.

    Great question. We are planning on working with high school students this summer. 

  • Icon for: Dale McCreedy

    Dale McCreedy

    Facilitator
    Vice President of Audience & Community Engagement
    May 17, 2017 | 11:18 p.m.

    Do you have a strategy for following the implementation of efforts at the institutions represented in your visit? I saw a past colleague in the group - wondering what is happening at that institution and around the world...

     
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    David Lockett
  • Icon for: David Lockett

    David Lockett

    Lead Presenter
    STEM Teacher
    May 20, 2017 | 07:53 p.m.

    Implementing astronomy based activities around local educational outreach is paramount. We look to strengthen the existing curriculum as well bolster efforts for future outreach activities. 

  • Further posting is closed as the event has ended.