Big Astronomy in Chile through Dome+

作为其整体战略的一部分，以加强在非正式环境中的学习，推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）计划旨在推进新的方法，并以证据为基础的理解，在非正式环境中的STEM学习的设计和开发。这包括提供多种途径，以扩大获得和参与STEM学习经验，推进非正式环境中STEM学习的创新研究和评估，以及发展参与者对深入学习的理解。 Associated Universities Inc.的成员。(AUI)密歇根州立大学（MSU）、加州科学院（Academy）、太平洋天文学会（ASP）和天文学研究大学协会（AURA）将汇集天文学、STEM教育和天文馆表演制作方面的专家。这项工作将讲述使“大天文学”成为可能的人和地方的故事，特别是对系外行星的搜索和对行星如何形成的理解。该展览和相关材料将在美国和国际上的数十个场馆展出。通过天文馆表演和超出剧院范围的学习体验，该团队将带领游客前往位于智利山区的NSF地面天文台的极端地点，并与各种各样的人会面，他们在天文学上有惊人的发现。此外，该项目还开发了Dome+模型，确保参与不会随着天文馆而结束。Dome+将包括额外的内容，每周与STEM专业人士的虚拟会议，以及一套紧密联系的外展活动。Dome+将作为一个模式，以扩大参与，并增加未来天文馆展览的影响力。项目目标包括：1）提高人们对智利NSF资助的天文台正在进行的天文学研究的认识，2）提高人们对美国大型天文台和相关机构的各种STEM职业机会的认识和兴趣，3）增加大型天文台的科学知识，4）增加Latinx作为可以在大型天文台工作的人的看法，以及5）开发Dome+模型并确定实施的最佳实践。 密歇根州立大学的合作者对该项目的迭代和总结性评估将解决四个主要问题：圆顶+模型如何影响参观者对STEM职业多样性的看法？Dome+模型如何影响游客对智利作为天文学理想观测地点的兴趣和理解？Dome+模型如何支持游客对系外行星科学的兴趣和理解？天文馆如何实施Dome+，以及实施如何影响游客的结果？ 该项目的影响评估部分分四个阶段进行。第一阶段的目标是利用研究团队的专业知识为天文馆展览的创建提供信息，并建立一个强大的研究议程，以在项目的第2-4年实现。第二阶段的目标是收集游客对天文馆展览内容的反应的初步数据，并利用这些信息就展览的编辑提出建议，并开发门户网站和教育材料的内容和格式。第三阶段的目标是收集数据，了解Dome+模型的三个组成部分（天文馆展示，门户网站，教育材料）的技术丰富的环境如何有效地协同工作，以实现改变游客对STEM多样性的看法，吸引游客与系外行星天文学内容的预期目标，并向游客展示智利天文学研究的奇迹。第四阶段的目标是进行数据分析，综合研究结果，并为实践者提供未来实施Dome+模型的建议。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

As part of its overall strategy to enhance learning in informal environments, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance new approaches to, and evidence-based understanding of, the design and development of STEM learning in informal environments. This includes providing multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences, advancing innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments, and developing understandings of deeper learning by participants. The team of Associated Universities Inc. (AUI), Michigan State University (MSU), California Academy of Science (the Academy), Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), and Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), will bring together experts in astronomy, STEM education, and planetarium show production. This work will tell the story of the people and places that make "big astronomy" possible, particularly the search for exoplanets and understanding of how planets form. The show and related materials will be presented in dozens of venues around the USA and internationally. Through a planetarium show and learning experiences that extend beyond the theater, the team will take visitors to extreme sites of the NSF ground-based observatories on the mountains of Chile and meet the diverse people who enable amazing discoveries in astronomy. In addition, the project develops the Dome+ model, which ensures engagement does not end with the planetarium. Dome+ will include additional content, weekly virtual sessions with STEM professionals, and a suite of closely linked outreach activities.Dome+ will serve as a model to extend engagement and increase the impact of future planetarium shows. Project goals include 1) increasing awareness of the research in astronomy being made at the NSF-funded observatories in Chile, 2) increasing awareness and interest in diverse STEM career opportunities at large observatories and related institutions in the USA, 3) increasing knowledge of science enabled by big observatories, 4) increasing Latinx perceptions as someone who can have a career at a major observatory, and 5) developing the Dome+ model and identify best practices for implementation. Iterative and summative evaluation of the project by collaborators at MSU will address four main questions: How does the Dome+ model affect visitors' perceptions of diversity of careers in STEM? How does the Dome+ model affect visitors' interest and understanding of Chile as an ideal observing location for astronomy? How does the Dome+ model support visitors' interest and understanding of the science of exoplanets? How do planetariums implement Dome+, and how does implementation affect the outcomes for visitors? The impact assessment component of this project takes places in four phases. The goals of the first phase are to leverage the expertise of the research team to inform the creation of the planetarium show and to set up a robust research agenda to be achieved in Years 2-4 of the project. The goals of the second phase are to collect preliminary data from visitors on their responses to planetarium show content and to use this information to advise on edits to the show and to develop the content and format of the web-portal and educational materials. The goal of the third phase is to then collect data on how effectively the technology-rich environments of the three components of the Dome+ model (planetarium show, web-portal, educational materials) work in concert to reach the intended goals of changing visitors' perceptions of diversity in STEM, engaging visitors with astronomy content on exoplanets, and exposing visitors to the wonders of astronomy research in Chile. The goal of the fourth phase is to perform data analysis, synthesize findings and make recommendations for future implementations of the Dome+ model for practitioners.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.