The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been awarded NASA IDEAS Grant Number

ID05-691, “Astronomical Research Projects Utilizing NASA and Robotic Telescope Data”.

IDEAS is a program operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute.

The IDEAS team is:

Principal Investigator: A. D. Grauer [U. Arkansas Little Rock]

Co-Principal Investigator: W. Richter [Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts]

WebMaster: A. W. Neely [N.F. Observatory, Silver City, Mexico]

Educational Coordinator: S. Clardy, [U. Arkansas Little Rock]

Educational Coordinator: C. Neely [N.F. Observatory, Silver City, Mexico]

Classroom Teacher: L. Barnes [Ouachita River School District, Oden, Arkansas]

Classroom Teacher: S. Blake [Aldo Leopold High School, Silver City, NM]

Classroom Teacher: R. Gilmore [La Plata Middle School. Silver City, NM]

Classroom Teacher: M. Hastings [Reserve, New Mexico Schools]

Classroom Teacher: M. Merchant [La Plata Middle School. Silver City, NM]

Classroom Teacher: W. Richter [School for Mathematics, Sciences,& the Arts]

Classroom Teacher: K. Skaggs [Cliff School, Cliff, NM]

Classroom Teacher: D. A. Young [Fayetteville Public Schools, Fayetteville, AR]

System Administrator: A. Everett [U. Arkansas Little Rock]

Adviser: S. Crawshaw [U. Arkansas Little Rock]

Adviser: C. H. Stanberg Lacy [U. Arkansas Fayetteville]

Adviser: L. Miller [CIBNOR, La Paz, Mexico]

Adviser: D. Sears [U. Arkansas Fayetteville]

Editor: A. Grauer [Desert Light Photography and Publishing]

Awarded $49,960 May 2006 [with Cash Match $10,000 UALR and $10,000 UAF]

Abstract:

A carefully selected set of activities employing NASA data and observations from the NFO WebScope will empower students to do authentic science projects with real data. By comparing NASA and ground-based data they will understand, in a personal way, the value of space based observations. They will learn about objects in space, obtain images from NASA sources including the digital sky survey, request and process color imaging data, study the Moon and planets from space and from the ground, measure distances using Cepheid variable stars, and do research on near Earth objects using space and ground-based data. We propose to initiate a pilot program to develop, implement, and evaluate curricular materials and software that allow students (5th-> 12th grade) to use NASA data as well as to directly interact with the operation of a robotic research-grade telescope at a remote location (NFO WebScope, webscope.nfo.edu). We will use process and outcome methods of evaluation to improve the educational activities. The project's teacher leaders and website will be used to disseminate our educational products. Entry-level students will be able to begin to do real science projects on their own. Our program will be a motivational launch pad to help students enter the wonderful world of NASA web sites and data.