Support Program for Instructional Competency in Astronomy (Project SPICA)

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The Support Program for Instructional Competence in Astronomy (SPICA) project proposes a unified, national support program for teachers interested in teaching astronomy by developing a cadre of 32 expert high school teachers each year for three years through intensive summer institutes each of four-week duration. The institutes will provide the participants with a variety of experiences necessary for the participants to give short workshops to less well-prepared elementary, junior high and high school teachers. This project follows the model established by American Association of Physics Teachers as the Physics Teacher Resource Agent program. At the summer institutes, the participants will hear presentations from those scientists who are involved with current optical, radio and x-ray research, building the next generation of observational instruments, and developing the theoretical models which will direct the course of future astrophysical research. Teachers will be able to talk with these scientists informally as well. Participants will work with optical and radio telescopes. Teachers will be trained in the latest science education methods and will have hands- on experience with a wide range of astronomy education materials previously developed under Project STAR, the Lawrence Hall of Science, and the Education Development Center. They will learn how to most effectively work with those who teach at grade levels other than their own. These expert teachers will return to their home schools as "agents-of-change." They will conduct local, area and regional astronomy education workshops in their home areas during the three years following their workshop participation. The project will evaluate not only the institute participants' experiences, but the effectiveness of their workshops and the resultant impact on student learning and attitudes. The institution will cost-share the project in an amount which represents about 34% of the National Science Foundation request.